Where to Start When It Comes to EB-5 Investments? Tips for Investors from Laval, Quebec

EB-5 visa projects sponsored by EB5 Affiliate Network (EB5AN) are great investment opportunities for those from Laval, Quebec interested in making EB5 investments.

EB5 Affiliate Network provides valuable guidance and support for EB5 investors, from the beginning stages of selecting projects to the EB-5 visa program application. Investors from Laval should read below to find out how EB5AN can be of assistance to them in their pursuit of EB5 investments.

How to Contact Professionals from EB5 Affiliate Network (EB5AN)

EB-5 investors living in or originally from Laval, Quebec can meet with an EB5AN consultant to discuss the EB-5 visa process and get more information about investment options. Investors from Laval who are still in Canada have the option to attend an event held in Canada by EB5AN. Events are held on several occasions throughout the year; investors are invited to register for one that fits their schedule.

What Can Green Cards Do for Investors from Laval and Their Families?

Green Cards can provide those who make EB5 investments and their families with several opportunities. Many of the major perks of U.S. residency are listed below.

Investors Can Become Residents and Even Citizens

  • The EB-5 program is one of the most expedited paths to take for those living abroad who want to become U.S. residents. By making EB-5 investments, investors from Laval can secure Green Cards for themselves, their spouses, and their children under 21 who are unmarried.
  • When they reach retirement, Green Card holders from Laval will be permitted to access their pension funds that they earned in Canada as well as any earned in the United States. They may also be eligible for programs like Medicare.
  • After living in the United States for at least five years, Green Card holders are eligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Investors Can Take Advantage of More Employment Opportunities

  • With Green Cards, EB5 investors and their families can live and find employment anywhere in the United States.
    • Some may prefer the countryside while some prefer the big city. Investors will find both environments in the United States. From the beaches of Florida to the coastal towns of Maine to the ski slopes of Colorado, there are many geographies and climates to choose from in the United States.
    • Residents of some states, like Tennessee and South Dakota, do not have to pay state income taxes.
  • Those with Green Cards do not need a visa sponsor or employment sponsor to live and work in the United States.
  • No one with a Green Card is required to have an H-1B work visa to be eligible to work for U.S. employers.

Investors Can Travel Domestically and Abroad

  • Green Cards allow U.S. residents to leave the United States for up to 12 months without fearing denial of reentry upon their return. However, note that some travel restrictions apply.
  • EB5 investors will be able to explore the entire United States with Green Cards, as well as choose to live anywhere in the country.
  • If a political shift or other disruptive event took place in Canada, EB-5 investors and their families could rest assured knowing that they would be able to gain immediate entry to the United States with their Green Cards.

Investors Can Use the U.S. Education System

  • Green Cards let EB5 investors access the U.S. public school system. They will be able to enroll their children in free public schools in the United States, meaning their children will be able to receive a free education from elementary through high school. U.S. resident status also makes EB5 investors eligible to pay lower, in-state tuition amounts for public colleges and universities.
  • When applying for college, students with U.S. resident status have up to a 350% greater chance of being admitted to U.S. universities compared with international applicants.
    • Green Cards make families eligible to pay in-state tuition prices at some higher education institutions. In-state tuition is a discounted tuition offered to families whose students attend a college located in the state where they live. Students who are residents are also eligible for a wider range of scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
    • Permanent resident status makes it easier for students to seek work while in college. They can hold both on- and off-campus jobs, take internships, and apply for employment after graduating without worrying about having to change their status or apply for additional visas.

What Types of Requirements Do EB-5 Investments Have to Meet?

EB5 investments are required to meet the following conditions:

  • EB-5 investors must provide at least $800,000 in investment capital when they invest in projects located in targeted employment areas (TEAs). The minimum amount of capital required for EB-5 investments in projects not located in TEAs is substantially higher, at $1,050,000. Fortunately for investors who partner with EB5AN, all EB5AN’s investment projects are in TEAs, which means investors are eligible for the lower $800,000 amount.
  • EB-5 investment funds must create at least 10 jobs with full-time hours for workers authorized to work in the United States. Each job must last at least two years.
  • Investments must be in a new commercial enterprise or troubled business. In the case of investing in a troubled business, further requirements apply.
  • Funds used for an EB-5 investment must be legally acquired and stay at risk. The investor must be able to prove that both of these requirements have been met.

How Can Investors Be Sure They Choose Strong Projects for EB-5 Investments?

When they begin considering projects for EB5 investments, investors from Laval should always keep in mind both immigration and financial risk. Remembering to think about these two factors will give the investor a better chance of selecting an investment project with a strong plan that will have a good outcome.

While capital put toward an EB-5 investment must remain at risk the whole time funds are invested, this does not mean that investors must put money toward projects that could be considered “risky.” This regulation is in place only to ensure that true investments are made. It is still important to try to pick a project minimizes financial and immigration risk. This is why investors should always do their due diligence before committing to a specific EB5 investment project.

Because they wanted to help EB5 investors make good investment choices, EB5AN and Klasko Immigration Law Partners came up with an EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Tool that is available online. This assessment helps investors consider projects through the lenses of financial and immigration risk and provides them with the tools to assess projects and make the best choice.

Download our EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Questionnaire

What Is the Appeal of EB5 Investments in Regional Center Projects?

Those who make EB-5 investments in projects sponsored by EB-5 regional centers will enjoy a simplified EB5 visa application process. This is largely due to the fact that a special rule applies to regional center projects, in that they are allowed to utilize an indirect method to calculate jobs resulting from EB-5 investments. With this method, an economic study is used to calculate the impact of an investment. Up to 90% of jobs associated with a project can be indirect jobs under this rule. For EB-5 investors, this is significant because they will have to prove only that the regional center project used their capital according to plan, rather than having to enumerate direct, W-2 employees.

There are many regional centers throughout the United States that are managed by EB5 Affiliate Network. This prepares EB5AN to quickly sponsor strong investment projects in partnership with investors from Laval, Quebec.

Further Assistance and Resources for Investors from Laval

EB-5 investors from Laval and other cities in Canada should get in contact with EB5AN professionals to learn more about how they can receive support during the EB5 journey and to inquire about regional center projects currently ready to receive investments.

Investors from Laval can reach out to EB5 Affiliate Network by calling 1-800-288-9138 or sending an email to info@EB5AN.com.

Laval, Quebec: What’s It Like?

Who Lives in Laval?

As of 2016, Laval had a population of 422,993. French is spoken as a first language by 60% of Laval residents; however, several other languages are spoken as well, including English, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Armenian. There is a substantial West Asian minority population in Laval, as well as significantly large populations who immigrated from Haiti, North Africa, and Southern Europe.

What Is the Economy Like in Laval?

Laval has a diverse economy. Large industries in Laval include the technology, pharmaceuticals, industrial, and retail sectors. There are four Industrial Parks located in Laval.

Where is Laval?

Laval is located to the north of Montreal in the southwestern part of Quebec, Canada. Laval is the thirteenth-largest city in all of Canada and the biggest suburb of Montreal. The Riviere des Mille Iles cordons off Laval from the rest of the mainland in Quebec to the north, and the Riviere des Prairies separates Laval from the island of Montreal on the southern side of the city. Laval is located on a series of river islands, including the Ile Jesus and the Iles Laval.

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