{"id":107384,"date":"2024-07-09T10:16:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T10:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/wordpress\/?p=107384"},"modified":"2024-07-10T09:42:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T09:42:15","slug":"freedom-to-live-and-work-in-the-u-s-through-eb-5-sids-story-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/freedom-to-live-and-work-in-the-u-s-through-eb-5-sids-story-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom to Live and Work in the U.S Through EB-5: Sid\u2019s Story (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>My name is Sid, and I\u2019m originally from India. I moved to the U.S. in 2016 on a temporary work visa to pursue new career opportunities. <\/p>\n<p>Soon after arriving in the U.S., I realized that I wanted <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/8-reasons-to-invest-in-u-s-permanent-residency-through-the-eb-5-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a more permanent immigration solution for my wife and myself<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>After filing my I-526E petition in March 2023, I\u2019m pleased to say that my <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/abouteb5\/#process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EB-5 immigration process<\/a> has been a success.<\/p>\n<p>My wife and I received employment authorization documents (EADs) and advance parole (AP) travel documents <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/03\/11\/multiple-investors-in-eb5ans-twin-lakes-project-receive-work-and-travel-authorization-as-quickly-as-30-days\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in only 60 days<\/a>. And, in June 2024, USCIS <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/01\/multiple-i-526e-approvals-in-12-months-for-eb-5-investors-in-twin-lakes-georgia-fastest-approval-in-only-9-5-months\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">approved our I-526E petition<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>In this post, I\u2019ll share my strategies for making a successful EB-5 investment. I hope my experiences will help you and your family make <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2023\/07\/21\/before-you-invest-in-an-eb-5-project-check-its-financial-statements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an informed investment decision<\/a> and ultimately enjoy living in the U.S. as permanent residents. <\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PuHKuNO-eDA?rel=0;&amp;autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&amp;loop=1&amp;\" width=\"100%\" height=\"678\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"butu\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 40%; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/sid-from-india-part-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch Sid\u2019s Full Interview (Part 2)<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"form-guide\">\n<h6 id=\"heading1\"><a href=\"#h1\">My Background and Why I Made an EB-5 Investment<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6 id=\"heading2\"><a href=\"#h2\">Choosing My Immigration Attorney and the Source-of-Funds Process<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6 id=\"heading2\"><a href=\"#h3\">Why I Chose EB5AN and the Twin Lakes Georgia EB-5 Project<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6 id=\"heading2\"><a href=\"#h4\">Receiving Our EADs, APs, and I-526E Approval<\/a><\/h6>\n<h6 id=\"heading2\"><a href=\"#h5\">My Advice for New EB-5 Investors<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"h1\">My Background and Why I Made an EB-5 Investment<\/h3>\n<p>My wife and I met around 2015. She was pursuing her master&#8217;s in the U.S. as a dentist, so we decided to get married and moved here in 2016. She applied for H-1B and was selected, while I applied for my H-4. <\/p>\n<p>In 2018, her employer <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/25\/how-can-you-get-a-green-card-without-employer-sponsorship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sponsored her Green Card application<\/a> under EB-2. Since then, I&#8217;ve been on H-4 EAD and working, while she&#8217;s been working on H-1B tied to her employer.<\/p>\n<p>The backlog for EB-2 is huge, with a priority date of 2018 and over a hundred years of waiting time. EB-1 wasn&#8217;t an option, so we explored multiple options. <\/p>\n<p>Then, the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (the RIA) was signed into law. I got to know about it later that year, and realized that EB-5 was a promising option. <\/p>\n<p>The RIA gave investors from India like me an opportunity to invest and get on the route for a Green Card and eventual U.S. citizenship.<\/p>\n<p>Selecting an EB-5 immigration attorney was the first step. It was important to find someone knowledgeable and experienced. I did my research, consulted with a few attorneys, and chose one who had a good track record and could guide me through the process.<\/p>\n<p>Next was picking a project. I chose the Twin Lakes Georgia rural EB-5 project. It was a big decision, but I felt confident after reviewing the project details and understanding the potential benefits. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/29\/how-i-got-an-ead-an-ap-and-an-i-526e-approval-in-only-months-hardiks-story-part-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Getting our EADs and APs<\/a> was a big milestone. This allowed me to work and travel freely while my Green Card application was processed. <\/p>\n<p>And I recently received my I-526E approval, putting us in line for our U.S. Green Cards.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h2\">Choosing My Immigration Attorney and the Source-of-Funds Process<\/h3>\n<p>Choosing an EB-5 immigration attorney took me about a month and a half. I didn&#8217;t just Google \u201cEB-5 attorneys\u201d and pick the first option. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, I <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/19\/which-eb-5-professionals-should-you-consult-before-investing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spoke with different regional centers<\/a>, which pointed me to several attorneys. I talked to about six to eight attorneys, most of whom were partners at big firms and very hard to reach. <\/p>\n<p>Then I met <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2023\/09\/22\/eb5an-partners-with-anahita-george-to-bring-transparency-to-eb-5-source-of-funds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anahita George<\/a>. Within 30 to 40 minutes of our first meeting, I knew I wanted her as my attorney. The EB-5 process involves multiple stages, like filing the I-526E, <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/07\/form-i-485-where-to-file-it-and-more-for-eb-5-investors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the I-485<\/a>, and the I-829. It&#8217;s a long-term relationship, and Anahita made it clear that she was the right person for the job. <\/p>\n<p>She explained everything simply, and even though my funds were from both the U.S. and a gift from my parents in India, she made the process easy. In the first meeting with her, she laid out exactly what we needed, showing her vast experience.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s crucial that your attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/03\/05\/eb-5-industry-veteran-and-immigration-attorney-ahmed-khan-shares-best-practices-for-eb-5-source-of-funds-documentation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">understands your source of funds<\/a>. Anahita, being from India, was perfect for us, but any attorney should be well-versed with the laws and documentation of your country of origin.<\/p>\n<p>She <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/an-eb-5-investors-guide-to-form-i-526\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">filed our I-526E petition<\/a>, handled all the documentation, and everything went smoothly. USCIS never questioned our source-of-funds documentation.<\/p>\n<p>The source-of-funds process, which I&#8217;ve heard can be long and stressful, was straightforward for us. Collecting all the documentation took about two weeks. <\/p>\n<p>Anahita was always available, even on WhatsApp, which made communication easy. She would text me at odd hours, showing her dedication. With other attorneys, I had to wait for replies, but Anahita always seemed to be available.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, other attorneys wouldn&#8217;t answer my questions until I signed an agreement, which was a red flag. Anahita, however, was always willing to help, even before I officially signed with her. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3\">Why I Chose EB5AN and the Twin Lakes Georgia EB-5 Project<\/h3>\n<p>I was new to <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/26\/history-of-the-eb-5-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the EB-5 program<\/a>, so it took me some time to understand the basics. For almost a month and a half, I tried to <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/16\/eb-5-investor-interviews-a-key-resource-for-eb-5-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">grasp the industry<\/a>, learn about different investments, and figure out how things worked. <\/p>\n<p>I spoke with many top regional centers. EB5AN was the last one I contacted. Before <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/13\/eb-5-investors-should-speak-directly-with-the-principals-of-a-regional-center-before-investing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">speaking with them<\/a>, I saw the Twin Lakes project on their website and thought it was <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/02\/how-to-invest-in-a-low-risk-eb-5-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">too good to be true<\/a>. I wasn&#8217;t sure about Twin Lakes at first.<\/p>\n<p>I considered a few other projects, but none were rural. Rural projects have <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/21\/rural-eb-5-investment-a-faster-path-to-u-s-green-cards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a lot of advantages<\/a>, especially for investors from India like myself. India has a large backlog of EB-5 applications, but rural projects qualify you for a special category of reserved visas. <\/p>\n<p>Therefore, investing in a rural project can mean the difference between being approved for your Green Card <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/20\/get-approved-for-u-s-green-cards-in-just-a-few-months-invest-in-a-rural-eb-5-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in a few months<\/a>\u2014or in many, many years. <\/p>\n<p>My experience with EB5AN was great. They were always responsive and knowledgeable about their projects. I sent them a list of questions, and they were kind enough to answer them in writing. They were available whenever I had questions and provided additional documentation when needed. For instance, I asked for details about the developer, Kolter, and some financial approvals. They always <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/03\/15\/eb5an-leads-the-eb-5-industry-in-investor-resources-best-practices-and-transparency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">provided the details I asked for<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>What really <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/03\/22\/how-i-found-a-transparent-and-trustworthy-eb-5-regional-center-sivas-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">set EB5AN apart from other regional centers<\/a> was its track record. Other regional centers had some <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/17\/what-to-do-in-the-case-of-eb-5-project-failure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">projects that failed<\/a> to create jobs or return investors\u2019 money, but EB5AN has never had such issues. Kolter, the developer they worked with, had a solid reputation. <\/p>\n<p>Also, EB5AN was very <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/02\/22\/eb-5-investor-bill-of-rights-10-rights-every-eb-5-investor-should-have\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transparent from the beginning<\/a>. Other regional centers didn&#8217;t always give the full picture of their projects. I felt they weren\u2019t being completely transparent about <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/05\/03\/deepaks-story-avoiding-a-high-risk-eb-5-project-and-choosing-a-reliable-regional-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">their projects\u2019 risks and downsides<\/a>. But with EB5AN, if something wasn&#8217;t done in a project, they were upfront about it. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h4\">Receiving Our EADs, APs, and I-526E Approval <\/h3>\n<p>After filing the I-526E application in March, my wife and I <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/05\/enjoying-work-and-travel-permits-through-eb-5-kaushal-and-ayushis-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">got our EADs and APs within 60 days<\/a>. That was really lucky because I thought it would take a few months. Using the AP, we were <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/06\/04\/advance-parole-how-eb-5-investors-can-travel-while-waiting-for-their-green-cards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">able to travel<\/a> back to India for the first time after five years. <\/p>\n<p>Returning to the U.S. was smooth, unlike with H-1B visas, where things can get messy. We landed in Chicago, showed our combo cards to the border security officer, and they just took us to the back room for a couple of minutes to stamp something on our passports. It was very easy traveling with an AP.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2022\/03\/14\/eb-5-concurrent-filing-will-let-investors-live-work-and-study-in-the-united-states-sooner-than-before-with-an-eb-5-investment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Having our EADs and APs<\/a> gives us the freedom to do anything we want. We now enjoy a sense of permanency here in the U.S. <\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve been here for about eight years with a lot of uncertainty. On a temporary non-immigrant visa (like H-1B or H-4), you can&#8217;t buy a house, make meaningful investments, switch jobs easily, or travel. But <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/23\/significant-work-and-travel-restrictions-for-h-1b-workers-and-their-families-should-you-consider-other-visa-options\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all of those headaches<\/a> go away with an EAD and an AP.<\/p>\n<p>And, at last, our I-526E petition was approved in June 2024. <\/p>\n<p>Since our priority date is March 2023, the chances of getting backlogged are next to none. Now, we just have to wait to receive our Green Cards, which I hope will happen in the next few months. <\/p>\n<p>The Green Card will be conditional for two years. Ninety days before it expires, we will file <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/02\/29\/i-829-petition-the-final-step-to-your-permanent-u-s-green-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Form I-829<\/a> to remove the conditions. Our I-829 approval will largely depend on Twin Lakes\u2019 job creation\u2014at least 10 jobs per EB-5 investor.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest advantages of the Twin Lakes project is that the jobs have already been created. This gives us a huge sense of relief. There\u2019s no question that the I-829 petition will be approved because. It\u2019s just about filing the form, paying the fees, and waiting for approval. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h5\">My Advice for New EB-5 Investors<\/h3>\n<p>I would always recommend making an EB-5 investment if you want to live and work in the U.S. permanently. Choosing a project with EB5AN and picking Anahita as a lawyer were the best decisions I made. <\/p>\n<p>One important point to keep in mind is that higher returns usually mean higher risk. I believe that, for EB-5 investments, the Green Card is the real interest. If an EB-5 project offers high interest, this might be <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2023\/07\/02\/eb-5-investment-transparency-a-guide-to-understanding-risks-and-identifying-red-flags\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a red flag<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re stuck in a Green Card backlog, like I was, or come from a country like India or China, EB-5 is now a safe opportunity. <\/p>\n<p>Many parents in India send their kids to the U.S. for higher education but worry about the uncertainty of the H-1B visa lottery. <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/18\/didnt-make-the-h-1b-lottery-stay-and-work-in-the-u-s-without-restrictions-on-an-eb-5-visa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The odds are bad<\/a>, and there are no guarantees. The EB-5 route secures your child\u2019s future and your family&#8217;s future if you want to move to the U.S. It&#8217;s one of the best options going forward.<\/p>\n<p>My wife and I feel that the EB-5 process has lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. We can confidently <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/03\/26\/my-eb-5-investment-opened-up-new-career-and-academic-opportunities-milans-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pursue our careers and plan our future in the U.S<\/a>., knowing that we will be able to stay here as permanent residents. <\/p>\n<p>If that is your family\u2019s goal, <a href=\"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/2024\/04\/05\/why-eb-5-is-better-now-klasko\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">I highly recommend looking into the EB-5 program<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My name is Sid, and I\u2019m originally from India. I moved to the U.S. in 2016 on a temporary work visa to pursue new career opportunities. Soon after arriving in the U.S., I realized that I wanted a more permanent immigration solution for my wife and myself. After filing my I-526E petition in March 2023, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"about-us":[],"eb-5-program-page":[],"class_list":["post-107384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107384"},{"taxonomy":"about-us","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/about-us?post=107384"},{"taxonomy":"eb-5-program-page","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eb5visainvestments.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/eb-5-program-page?post=107384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}