Escaping Long Wait Times for an EB-2 Green Card: Interview with EB-5 Investor Anoop From India

My name is Anoop, and I recently made an EB-5 visa investment in EB5AN’s Rocky River project.

After starting my career in India, I decided that I wanted to make the United States my permanent home, so I went through a number of temporary visas. But none of them would allow me to become a permanent resident without extremely long wait times.

That’s when I decided to look into the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

In this post, I share my experience with the EB-5 program and my advice for other EB-5 applicants. As long as you choose the right immigration attorney, regional center, and EB-5 project, your EB-5 investment can result in both a Green Card and a return on your capital.

My Journey to the United States

I worked in Bangalore for eight to ten years. In December 2015 I moved to San Jose, California. I came on an L‑1B visa through an intra‑company transfer. My wife and our two‑year‑old son came on L‑2 visas. Both my wife and I got work permits soon after. At first we thought we had only a four to five year wait for a green card. At that time the priority dates showed 2009 to 2011. We believed we would secure our green card within that span. We did not know about the backlog growing deeper over time. From the moment we arrived, keeping our legal status was a constant concern.

In 2018 I entered the H‑1B pool through the lottery. It took three years before I got my H‑1B visa and an approved I‑140. Since then I have been in the EB‑2 priority category.

My Early Visa Journey and the EB-2 Backlog

When I first arrived I had little insight into the green card queue. My plan was simple: wait four or five years, get permanent status, and aim for citizenship. I thought the priority dates would keep sliding forward. I did not realize the backlog would slow progress for decades.

By 2018 I switched from L‑1B to H‑1B. That process depended on a lottery. It took until 2018 to secure both the permit and the I‑140 approval. Once my I‑140 cleared, I joined the EB‑2 waiting list. I watched priority dates stall, then inch forward during the pandemic. Then they slid back again. That push‑and‑pull taught me that relying on EB‑2 alone could leave me in limbo for many more years.

Exploring EB‑5 and Other Options

I looked into EB‑1 for a while, but I did not fit the profile. I would have needed one to three years to build a case strong enough for EB‑1A. That timeline felt too long. Late in 2024 I began to research EB‑5. I learned how regional centers pool investments to meet job creation rules. I saw that a regional center’s track record can help smooth out the process. I spent weeks reading online guides, project summaries, and USCIS updates. I reached out to several regional centers, including EB5AN. At the same time I started talking to immigration attorneys who focus on EB‑5. I did not limit myself to California firms alone. I wanted to weigh all options.

Researching Immigration Attorneys

I planned to interview at least three or four attorneys. I spoke mostly with Bay Area lawyers. Many were generalists handling H‑1B, EB‑1A, and family‑based cases. I wanted an attorney whose daily work revolves around EB‑5. I needed someone familiar with every detail of source‑of‑fund rules and project due diligence. I found Anahita George through testimonials on the EB5AN website. Her online reviews mentioned deep EB‑5 experience. I reached out by email and we scheduled a call. From our first conversation I felt an instant connection. Her answers were clear and detailed. I decided to hire her within days.

After my initial call with Anahita Georga, I signed her retainer quickly. I needed someone responsive. Immigration cases hinge on tight deadlines and precise paperwork. Anahita answered my questions on timing and risks. She laid out a plan to keep my file moving. I knew I could trust her to flag any issues early. Her focus on EB‑5 made me confident I would not see basic errors. She promised to oversee every step until I reached conditional green card approval. Hiring her felt like the right move.

Gathering Source of Funds Documentation

With Anahita’s team, gathering my source‑of‑funds proof took about three to four weeks. My funds came from U.S.‑based stock units: sale of company‑granted RSUs. I had clear bank statements showing those deposits. Anahita reviewed every transaction and summed up the totals in a neat summary. That part went smoothly.

We did hit one snag with our birth and marriage certificates. The USCIS requirements demanded specific wording and translations. We had to obtain corrected versions from the local registry in India. Once those arrived, we completed the set in a few days. By the end of the month I had all my documents neatly organized for the I‑526 petition.

Comparing Regional Centers

I talked with multiple regional centers to gauge their professionalism. Many had thin websites with only basic project pitches. EB5AN stood out. Their site offered detailed project updates, construction photos, and clear timelines. They shared quarterly status reports open to the public. That transparency impressed me.

I also saw that EB5AN handled several projects at once, both rural and urban. Other regional centers showed only one upcoming deal. EB5AN gave me choice. Their team answered my questions about land acquisition, construction milestones, and job counts in detail. That contrast made EB5AN my clear pick among rivals.

Selecting the Rocky River Project

My top criterion was finding a project with maximum visa set‑aside under the rural category. Rural projects offer 20 percent of all EB‑5 visas, so I focused on those. EB5AN had at least two or three rural options when I started: Twin Lakes, Rocky River, and others. Twin Lakes was farther along and nearly full. EB5AN was honest that my money might not be used right away and jobs could take up to two years before they counted for me.

Cresswind Rocky River was an early‑stage deal with room for new investors. I believe I was among the first five to ten to sign on. The land deal had not yet closed when I wired my funds. That meant the project would use my investment right away once the deal closed. That stage made me feel my funds would work for job creation sooner. I did not want another two‑year wait before I could claim jobs. For me, Rocky River was the better fit.

Assessing the Business Model

Rocky River is a single‑family home development targeting retirees aged 55 and up. The builder, Kolter, has a strong track record of completing housing projects. I have some personal experience in residential real estate, so I understood the risks and timelines better than I would for a resort or hotel deal.

I looked at resorts and ski lodges too, but I preferred a housing model. Kolter had delivered six to ten prior EB‑5 loans without financial hiccups. Other developers sometimes tapped EB‑5 only after running low on funds. Kolter never did that. I felt confident they would finish on time and repay the loan. I also spoke with investors from the Twin Lakes project. Their reports on timely updates reinforced my choice. Everything about housing and Kolter’s track record made Rocky River my pick.

TEA Qualification and Timing

I did consider EB5AN’s urban projects like One Tampa. But I saw data from FOIA and industry reports. Urban applications were already piling up, especially from India and China. Rural visas are set aside at 20 percent, so rural backlogs move slower. Even though all categories were current when I applied, I sensed urban could slip into a backlog soon.

Choosing a rural TEA project lowered the risk of facing new queues. I read analyses showing urban filings outnumber rural by two to one. That drove my decision: rural and nothing else. By picking Rocky River, I aimed to keep my priority date current.

Subscription Process and Fund Transfer

After I chose Rocky River, I worked closely with Jordan at EB5AN. He set up calls to review project details, timelines, and expected job counts. He walked me through the subscription agreement and shared the escrow instructions.

I signed everything within a few days. My lawyer, Anahita, reviewed the packet the same day. I wired funds to the escrow account immediately. Two days later I had receipts from the escrow company. From my decision to completion of the subscription packet took only seven to ten days. Everything felt smooth and fast.

EB5AN also promised an investor portal, powered by Juniper Square, to track fund draws and construction progress. For now I get quarterly PDF updates. I look forward to using the portal soon for real‑time visibility on job reports and fund transfers.

Reflecting on EB‑5 and Advice for Others

EB‑5 has opened a gate for my family. Our EB‑2 path felt endless. EB‑1 was too far out of reach. EB‑5 gave us a clear route to conditional green cards. I know the program may change after 2026 or 2027, but for now Congress has approved it. Demand is rising for investors from India and China.

If you can invest the $800 000, EB‑5 can be a safe choice. I did not take a loan. I sold company equity and used those proceeds. I did not jeopardize my entire savings. My advice: plan for a multi‑year process. After filing the I‑526 you wait for approval. Then you apply for your conditional green card. That can take months or years. After two years you file to remove conditions. It is not a quick fix, but it is the only solid path for many of us.

My experience with attorney Anahita has been excellent. She stays on top of USCIS notices. When forms were rejected due to USCIS errors, she fixed them fast. She answers my calls and emails the same day or next day. Her deep focus on EB‑5 makes a huge difference.

The EB5AN team has been just as supportive. They guided me through project due diligence, escrow, and filing. They answered every question about land closings, I‑956 filings, and construction milestones. I would recommend Anahita and EB5AN to any investor. Their expertise and responsiveness gave me confidence at every step.