EB-5 Immigrant Investors
Entrepreneurs who make an investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States and who plan to
create or preserve ten permanent full time jobs for qualified United States workers, are eligible to apply for permanent residence.
You must invest $1,000,000 USD, or at least $500,000 USD in a targeted employment
area. In return for making the investment, USCIS may grant conditional
permanent residence while you start building up the business.
What is a Targeted Employment Area?
A Targeted Employment Area, or TEA, is "a rural area or an area that has experienced high unemployment (of at least 150 percent of the national average rate)." If the enterprise is located within a TEA, the required investment capital is reduced to only $500,000 USD.
Entrepreneurs unable or unwilling to invest at this level may still qualify for temporary
E-1 or E-2 nonimmigrant visas, which can be renewed indefinitely while the business remains active.
Within two years of being granted conditional residence, you will need to file a
second petition to prove your investment remains active and you have met the job
creation requirements.
EB-5 Investment Documents
The initial application must be filed with the appropriate fee payment, and the following documentary evidence:
- Evidence that you have established a lawful business entity in the United
States, or if the investment is in an existing business, evidence that your
investment caused at least a 40 percent increase in net worth and/or employees;
- If investing only $500,000 USD, you must provide evidence that the
enterprise has been established in a targeted employment area;
- Evidence that you have invested or are actively in the process of investing at
least the amount required ($1,000,000 or $500,000);
- Evidence that your capital was obtained through lawful means;
- Evidence that your enterprise will create at least 10 full-time positions for
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or aliens lawfully authorized to be employed
(not including yourself, your spouse, sons or daughters, or any nonimmigrant
workers); and
- Evidence that you will be engaged in the management of the enterprise, either
through day-to-day managerial control or through policy formulation.
Regional Center Pilot Program
A Regional Center is defined as any economic unit, public or
private, which is involved with the promotion of economic growth, improved
regional productivity, job creation, and increased domestic capital investment.
The organizers of an approved regional center have already established the
following credentials:
- How the regional center plans to focus on a geographical region within the U.S.,
and msut explain how the regional center will achieve the required economic
growth within this regional area
- That the regional center’s business plan can be relied upon as a viable business
model grounded in reasonable and credible estimates and assumptions for market
conditions, project costs, and activity timelines
- How in verifiable detail (using economic models in some instances) jobs will be
created directly or indirectly through capital investments made in accordance
with the regional center’s business plan
- The amount and source of capital committed to the project and the promotional
efforts made and planned for the business project.
Individual investors in a Regional Center are still subject to the same
investment level requirements, ($1,000,000 or $500,00 for Targeted Employment
Areas), but the 10 new full-time jobs can be indirectly created. A
complete list of currently designated
Regional Centers is maintained by USCIS.
Help with EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visas
D.Ray Mantle assists investors in obtaining positive immigration results in a timely, personal, and professional manner. Your individual circumstances are carefully reviewed by an experienced immigration attorney to determine which options are available to you. Mr. Mantle provides guidance and help in gathering the necessary information and documents for your case, prepares all of the necessary application forms, and ensures that your final applications meet all government requirements.
If you would like to understand more about the application process and to find out if you qualify for EB-5 immigration, please contact D.Ray Mantle for a consultation.