What is the US investment immigration policy? How long does it take to obtain a green card ?

The US EB-5 investment immigration program provides a way for non-US citizens to obtain a US green card through capital investment and job creation. With the deepening of globalization, more and more people are seeking to achieve their US dreams through this pathway. The following is a detailed introduction to the US EB-5 investment immigration program, including key information such as the required investment amount, procedural steps, and time to obtain a green card.

Project Overview

The EB-5 program was originally established by the US Congress in 1990 with the aim of stimulating the US economy by attracting foreign investment, especially in terms of employment. Foreign investors participating in the EB-5 program must make a capital investment within the US that can create at least 10 full-time jobs within two years. Investors and their immediate family members (spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old) who successfully meet these conditions can obtain US green cards.

Investment amount

The minimum investment amount for EB-5 projects depends on the economic situation of the investment location. Generally, if the investment location is in a “Targeted Employment Area” (TEA), which is a high unemployment or rural area, the minimum investment amount is $800,000; the minimum investment amount for non-TEA areas is $1.05 million. This distinction is intended to encourage investment to flow to high unemployment or rural areas.

Investors must ensure the legal source of investment funds, and the investment must be risky capital, which means that investors should bear the risk of partial or total loss of funds.

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Time to get a green card

The time to obtain a green card is closely related to the EB-5 visa application. The following are the steps and time required for each stage.

Submit I-526 application

Firstly, investors need to submit the I-526 immigration application form to prove that their investment meets all the requirements of the EB-5 visa, including the legality of funds, sufficient investment, and plans for job creation. The processing time for this stage varies depending on the complexity of the case and the backlog of immigration cases, usually taking 12 to 18 months.

Obtaining a conditional green card :

Once the I-526 petition is approved, the investor and their immediate family members (spouse and unmarried children under 21) will be eligible to apply for adjustment of status or visa and obtain a conditional green card for two years.

Submit I-829 petition to remove conditions

Before the conditional green card is about to expire, investors must submit an I-829 application to prove that their investment meets the preliminary commitments (especially those related to job creation). After successfully removing the conditions, investors and their families will receive permanent green cards. This stage usually takes about 6 to 12 months to process.

Obtain a permanent green card

After the approval of the I-829 application, the investor and their family’s green card will be converted from conditional to permanent, marking the successful completion of the entire EB-5 investment immigration process.

The entire application process can take several years from start to finish, depending on a variety of factors, including the speed of application processing, the progress of investment projects, and the verification of job creation.

Risk considerations

Although the EB-5 project provides investors with a path to a US green card, there are risks involved. Firstly, the nature of economic investment means that there may be losses in capital. Secondly, the success of the project is not guaranteed, and the invested commercial project may fail, resulting in insufficient job creation and affecting the application for a green card.

Finally, the processing time for EB-5 visa applications can be very long, especially when there is a backlog of immigration cases. This delay may cause investors to be in an uncertain state for a long time, while increasing the difficulty and cost of continuously meeting project requirements and increasing the difficulty of obtaining a US green card.

Conclusion

The EB-5 investment immigration policy of the US provides a path for foreign investors to obtain a US green card, while promoting the development of the US economy. By making large investments in US companies and creating jobs, investors can not only obtain residency rights, but also make direct contributions to US economic activities.

For potential US investment immigration applicants, investment carries risks. It is important to understand the investment amount requirements, as well as the process and timeline for obtaining a green card, in order to plan well and increase the success rate of immigration.