What Makes an EB-5 Project Rural or High Unemployment?
Since the passage for the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act in 2022, the set aside categories of rural and high unemployment Targeted Employment Area (TEA) projects have been a game changer for many EB-5 investors. Not only do EB-5 rural projects allow investors to meet the lower minimum investment threshold of $800,000, but they have also created a […]
Could a shorter EB-5 Loan Term impact repayment?
Prior to the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, investors had to keep their investment at risk until they completed the I-829 process. Initially, this worked well as the journey from filing an I-526 petition to getting through the I-829 stage took approximately five years, which lined up with typical real estate construction loans […]
December Visa Bulletin Reveals No Changes for EB-5
For the second straight month there are no changes for EB-5 for the December Visa Bulletin issued by the Department of State. All three of the EB-5 set aside categories – high unemployment, rural and infrastructure – remain current for all countries. Additionally, the unreserved category remains for all countries except Mainland China and India. […]
Rural Project Repayment Considerations
Interest in rural EB-5 projects has expanded exponentially since the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act created a rural Targeted Employment Area (TEA) set-aside category. For investors whose countries are retrogressed in the unreserved category, investing in a rural project offers a quicker path to a green card. As with any EB-5 investment, rural investors have […]
Potential Pitfalls Employer-Sponsored Immigrant Visa Petitions
There are many companies advertising for a faster path to a green card through the employer-sponsored route, which typically means an EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 visa category. This is appeals to some individuals because the adjudication times are long for the EB-5 visa petition, and the backlog may be longer to apply for a green […]
NOVEMBER VISA BULLETIN BRINGS NO CHANGES FOR EB-5
Sometimes no news is good news. That was exactly the case this week for potential EB-5 investors as the Department of State released its November Visa Bulletin. Not quite three weeks into the new USCIS fiscal year, the new bulletin indicates that all three EB-5 set aside categories (high unemployment, rural and infrastructure) remain current. […]
TWO QUESTIONS EVERY EB-5 INVESTOR SHOULD ASK REGIONAL CENTERS
As the EB-5 program has become more prominent, the sophistication level of investors has increased significantly. As a result, EB-5 investors have done a better job when it comes to project due diligence. However, there are still several questions that are often going unasked. Every EB-5 investor should ask the following questions of every regional […]
THREE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGIONAL CENTER AND DIRECT EB-5 INVESTMENTS
EB-5 investors face several important questions at the outset of their journey. For some, one of the first questions they encounter is whether or not to select a regional center project or consider a direct EB-5 investment? Both options provide a path to permanent residency and have the same investment amount options. However, there are […]
USCIS POLICY CHANGE MAKES EB-5 MORE ATTAINABLE FOR F-1 STUDENTS
Traditionally, the F-1 visa category was strictly viewed as a non-immigrant intent visa category, meaning that the F-1 student should take no action that indicates they may apply for permanent residency status at a future date. Due to the F-1 student visa having a non-immigrant intent, it made it a tricky proposition for students to […]
Investor Reminder Alert Series: Renew Your EAD on Time and Check Validity Dates
With more EB-5 investors taking advantage of concurrent filing, more investors are also obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card). They obtain the work authorization by filing an I-715 at the same time as they file the I-485 (Adjustment of Status). While some EADs are valid for up to five (5) years, many are valid […]