The EB-5 visa is like a Golden visa to the United States of America. It permits the holder to live, work, and study in the U.S without sponsorship. Like other golden visa pathways, the EB-5 visa requires an applicant to make a substantial investment in qualifying for the visa. In short, this type of visa is ideal for high-net-worth individuals who want to secure a Green Card.
To qualify, one must be able to invest at least $900,000 in a TEA or $1.8 million outside TEAs. Create at least ten full-time jobs for Americans
The EB-5 visa is a gateway to the U.S Green Card.
The U.S. only grants 10,000 EB-5 Investment Visas per year, including family members.
Beneficiaries of the EB-5 visa can also include their family members in the application.
The invested money must be acquired lawfully.
Invest a minimum of $900,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). Invest in a rural area or an area with a high unemployment rate in a government-approved program.
Make a direct investment of at least $1.8 million outside a TEA. Investors may opt to invest in another company/enterprise per their needs or set up their business venture in the U.S. Depending on which option you choose, you must ensure that the company is as per the USCIS requirements.
As of August 2020, the processing time for the EB-5 visa for Indian nationals may range between 29 months and 61 months. If you are in the USA, the I-485 processing time of the USA green card to adjust status could be around seven to 29 months. The National Visa Center and Consular Process may take about six to twelve months for outside applicants.
How long USCIS processes an EB-5 application depends on the number of pending visa applications and the number of applications being lodged annually.
You may qualify for an expedited process by USCIS by submitting an expedited request with their I-526 petition or lodging the request after their petition has been filed. These projects generally promote the urgent needs of the U.S government. Expedite processing can reduce the waiting times from years to approximately four to ten months. USCIS grants the expedited status to exceptional EB-5 projects, whether direct or regional sponsored.
