What is the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program?
In 1990, under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5) the US Congress created the fifth employment-based preference (EB-5) immigrant visa category. Each year, the provision grants 10,000 immigrant visas to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis that their investment in a new commercial enterprise that will benefit the US economy.
To encourage immigration through the EB-5 program, U.S. Congress created the Regional Center Pilot Program in 1993. The program specifically sets aside 3,000 visas each year for foreign investors who apply through a United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated Regional Center. An investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated Regional Center must generally make a qualifying investment of $1,000,000 USD. For businesses in rural areas or in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) with higher-than-normal levels unemployment, investors applying for an EB-5 visa may qualify with a lesser investment of $500,000. Additionally, the foreign investor must demonstrate that the investment created at least 10 U.S. jobs through direct, indirect, and induced effects. Green Card Fund specializes in EB-5 projects in Targeted Employment Areas that create jobs in excess of the USCIS requirement of 10 jobs per investor.
What is the minimum required amount of capital to be invested in order to apply for an EB-5 visa?
When investing through a Regional Center, the minimum capital investment requirement is $500,000 USD when you select a project in a designated rural area or Targeted Employment Area (TEA). For other projects not meeting these criteria, the capital investment requirement is $1,000,000 USD. Green Card Fund actively seeks quality projects that reside in rural or TEA areas specifically designated by the State of Arizona in order to ensure that our invest to immigrate opportunities are available to as many qualified investors as possible.
What is a Targeted Employment Area (TEA)?
A Targeted Employment Area, or TEA, is a geographic area in the United States which is either Rural (has a population of less than 20,000), is not part of an MSA, or has an unemployment rate that is 150% of the national average.
Do investors need to be actively involved in the day-to-day activities of Regional Center Projects?
In short, no. According to USCIS regulations, investors acting as limited partners in a limited partnership that conforms to the Uniform Limited Partnership Act are deemed to be sufficiently engaged in the EB-5 project. This means that as a limited partner, investors are not required to actively participate in the management or operation of the new commercial enterprise in order to qualify for a Permanent Green Card through the Regional Center Pilot Program.
If I want to move to the United States and invest in an EB-5 project with the Green Card Fund Regional Center, do I have to live in Arizona?
No. The EB-5 visa program allows investors to maintain their Permanent Residency by living anywhere of their choosing within the United States.
Who should invest in an EB-5 Regional Center?
The beauty of the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program is that there is no such thing as an ideal investor. Foreign investors who participate in the EB-5 program include people from a wide variety of countries, cultures, and personal or professional backgrounds.
Are EB-5 visas available to persons from any country in the world?
Technically, yes, a person from any country in the world is eligible to apply for an EB-5 visa. However, some countires have less than reliable tax and financial documentation which will require persons from those countries to actively work to provide adequate source of funds authentication to the USCIS.Where can I find copies of relevant forms, laws, and regulations to study?
All of the relevant forms can be found on the USCIS website or conveniently displayed in our EB-5 Resource Library here.What is the difference between a "conditional" and an "unconditional" green card?
Under USCIS regulations, an investor who gets approved for an EB-5 investor visa receives a conditional Green Card that is valid for two years. One year and nine months after the conditional Green Card is issued, a three-month window opens up during which an investor files another application with the USCIS to verify that all funds have been invested and that job creation requirements have been met. When the conditions are removed from the temporary Green Card, full resident status is granted and a permanent Green Card is issued to the investor. Otherwise, the two cards offer the same rights and privileges.
What are the steps for processing an EB-5 visa application?
In order to complete the EB-5 process and become a permanent U.S. resident, foreign investors must work through three steps:Step 1: USCIS Form I-526 - Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. This is your first official step in the EB-5 process after completing your Accredited Investor Questionnaire, choosing a Project, signing all of the proper documents to subscribe to a Regional Center Project, and placing your funds in escrow with the project. The I-526 Application is submitted to the USCIS by your immigration attorney along with supporting documentation that clearly demonstrates that your investment meets all EB-5 requirements.
Step 2: USCIS Form I-485/Consular Review. After receiving approval of the I-526 Application, investors already residing in the U.S. may submit a completed Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the USCIS. For investors residing outside of the U.S. - the process is similar but requires the investor to apply for an immigrant visa at the US Consulate in their country of residence.
Step 3: USCIS Form I-829 - Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions. One year and nine months after initial I-526 approval, investors can file a completed Form I-829 with the USCIS to have conditions removed from their Green Card and establish permanent residency. With this petition, the investor must demonstrate that the investment was sustained throughout the two-year conditional period and that job creation requirements were met by the project. During this process, the investor is aided by their chosen Regional Center in providing the requisite documentation. Upon approval of the I-829 application, full permanent resident status is given to the investor and his or her spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years of age.
What is the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program?
In 1990, under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5) the US Congress created the fifth employment-based preference (EB-5) immigrant visa category. Each year, the provision grants 10,000 immigrant visas to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis that their investment in a new commercial enterprise that will benefit the US economy.
To encourage immigration through the EB-5 program, U.S. Congress created the Regional Center Pilot Program in 1993. The program specifically sets aside 3,000 visas each year for foreign investors who apply through a United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated Regional Center. An investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated Regional Center must generally make a qualifying investment of $1,000,000 USD. For businesses in rural areas or in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) with higher-than-normal levels unemployment, investors applying for an EB-5 visa may qualify with a lesser investment of $500,000. Additionally, the foreign investor must demonstrate that the investment created at least 10 U.S. jobs through direct, indirect, and induced effects. Green Card Fund specializes in EB-5 projects in Targeted Employment Areas that create jobs in excess of the USCIS requirement of 10 jobs per investor.
What is the minimum required amount of capital to be invested in order to apply for an EB-5 visa?
When investing through a Regional Center, the minimum capital investment requirement is $500,000 USD when you select a project in a designated rural area or Targeted Employment Area (TEA). For other projects not meeting these criteria, the capital investment requirement is $1,000,000 USD. Green Card Fund actively seeks quality projects that reside in rural or TEA areas specifically designated by the State of Arizona in order to ensure that our invest to immigrate opportunities are available to as many qualified investors as possible.
What is a Targeted Employment Area (TEA)?
A Targeted Employment Area, or TEA, is a geographic area in the United States which is either Rural (has a population of less than 20,000), is not part of an MSA, or has an unemployment rate that is 150% of the national average.
Do investors need to be actively involved in the day-to-day activities of Regional Center Projects?
In short, no. According to USCIS regulations, investors acting as limited partners in a limited partnership that conforms to the Uniform Limited Partnership Act are deemed to be sufficiently engaged in the EB-5 project. This means that as a limited partner, investors are not required to actively participate in the management or operation of the new commercial enterprise in order to qualify for a Permanent Green Card through the Regional Center Pilot Program.
If I want to move to the United States and invest in an EB-5 project with the Green Card Fund Regional Center, do I have to live in Arizona?
No. The EB-5 visa program allows investors to maintain their Permanent Residency by living anywhere of their choosing within the United States.
Who should invest in an EB-5 Regional Center?
The beauty of the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program is that there is no such thing as an ideal investor. Foreign investors who participate in the EB-5 program include people from a wide variety of countries, cultures, and personal or professional backgrounds.
Are EB-5 visas available to persons from any country in the world?
Technically, yes, a person from any country in the world is eligible to apply for an EB-5 visa. However, some countires have less than reliable tax and financial documentation which will require persons from those countries to actively work to provide adequate source of funds authentication to the USCIS.Where can I find copies of relevant forms, laws, and regulations to study?
All of the relevant forms can be found on the USCIS website or conveniently displayed in our EB-5 Resource Library here.What is the difference between a "conditional" and an "unconditional" green card?
Under USCIS regulations, an investor who gets approved for an EB-5 investor visa receives a conditional Green Card that is valid for two years. One year and nine months after the conditional Green Card is issued, a three-month window opens up during which an investor files another application with the USCIS to verify that all funds have been invested and that job creation requirements have been met. When the conditions are removed from the temporary Green Card, full resident status is granted and a permanent Green Card is issued to the investor. Otherwise, the two cards offer the same rights and privileges.
What are the steps for processing an EB-5 visa application?
In order to complete the EB-5 process and become a permanent U.S. resident, foreign investors must work through three steps:Step 1: USCIS Form I-526 - Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. This is your first official step in the EB-5 process after completing your Accredited Investor Questionnaire, choosing a Project, signing all of the proper documents to subscribe to a Regional Center Project, and placing your funds in escrow with the project. The I-526 Application is submitted to the USCIS by your immigration attorney along with supporting documentation that clearly demonstrates that your investment meets all EB-5 requirements.
Step 2: USCIS Form I-485/Consular Review. After receiving approval of the I-526 Application, investors already residing in the U.S. may submit a completed Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) to the USCIS. For investors residing outside of the U.S. - the process is similar but requires the investor to apply for an immigrant visa at the US Consulate in their country of residence.
Step 3: USCIS Form I-829 - Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions. One year and nine months after initial I-526 approval, investors can file a completed Form I-829 with the USCIS to have conditions removed from their Green Card and establish permanent residency. With this petition, the investor must demonstrate that the investment was sustained throughout the two-year conditional period and that job creation requirements were met by the project. During this process, the investor is aided by their chosen Regional Center in providing the requisite documentation. Upon approval of the I-829 application, full permanent resident status is given to the investor and his or her spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years of age.
