For many people seeking permanent U.S. residency, the EB-5 program is the simplest immigration path. The EB-5 visa isn’t based on applicants’ skills or professional abilities or on some other seemingly unattainable quality—anyone who can meet the investment requirements of the EB-5 program can qualify for an EB-5 visa.
The program is designed to stimulate the U.S. economy though foreign direct investment, so the two primary EB-5 program requirements are making a qualifying EB-5 investment and creating 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers through that investment. The current investment amounts are $1.05 million for investments in regular EB-5 projects and $800,000 for investments in EB-5 projects in targeted employment areas (TEAs).
Considering what’s at stake—not only a substantial investment amount but also a new life in the U.S.—performing thorough due diligence is a key aspect of making an EB-5 investment. As part of this diligence, prospective investors can greatly benefit from hearing the experiences of other investors who have worked with project developers and regional centers and can provide insights from their own EB-5 visa journeys.
