EB-5 investors understandably want to minimize their financial risk; they must expend a significant sum, typically $1,050,000 or $800,000, to qualify for an EB-5 visa. Additionally, they want to increase their chances of receiving conditional permanent residence status. As the EB-5 investment process requires much effort and takes several years, it is crucial for investors to thoroughly research potential projects so they can invest with confidence.
Investors have a variety of resources at their disposal for evaluating EB-5 projects. Immigration attorneys who have experience working with the EB-5 program can offer investors the best guidance during this process, helping them to minimize their immigration risk and ensuring that potential projects fulfill all of USCIS’s numerous requirements. Since EB-5 investors need to be on guard against fraudulent or suspicious projects, immigration attorneys can provide invaluable advice.
To minimize their financial risk, investors should retain an investment advisor to do research on the project. The project’s loaned funds, amount of EB-5 investment capital, and percentages of developer equity are all important financial factors to consider.
Investors and their EB-5 consultants must look for various traits when evaluating potential projects. For instance, the project’s regional center should have a promising track record. It should not have a history of visa denials unless it can provide reasonable explanations for those denials. Regional centers that have already been working with USCIS for some time will likely know how to deal with any contingencies and successfully fulfill the program’s requirements for investors.
The project in question should be officially approved by USCIS, and any additional licenses or permits should be granted. Further, investors should make sure that the project is prepared to create more than the minimum required number of jobs (10 per investor). This way, investors will not fall short of the employment creation requirement if the project experiences unforeseen setbacks.
