Behind the Controversial Investor Program: 5 Things to Know About the EB-5 Visa

If you might be wondering how EB-5 Visa came to being, then you should pay attention to this because it’s going to help you understand it much better.

EB-5 was brought to light in 1990 by the United States Congress. Its main aim was to welcome foreign investors into the United States so that they could invest their surplus capital and create more jobs and investment in the country.

But then, the program was later reviewed in the year 1992 where it now allowed investors to invest their money in the Regional Centers or even places that had the highest unemployment rate.

If you have been thinking to move to the United States to invest some of your surplus capital, here are some of the five things you need to know about the EB-5 visa:

1) The Visa program is Solely Meant for Non-US Investors

The EB-5 visa program was meant to encourage investors to invest in the United States so that they could improve her economy. The advantage that should prompt you to apply for this card is that you can apply from any part of the world.

You don’t have to worry when you are in another country when doing your application. Just make sure you have all the required documents and you are good to go. However, make sure that you include your original country, not the country you are in at the time of application.

2) Application Form

Be very careful when doing your application because there is a certain type of form that is required. The form to go for is Form I-526. Take note that if you submit the wrong form, then there is a likelihood that your petition won’t be approved.  

The best of all is that you can easily get the form. You just need to visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website and download your form. Just be careful not to download the wrong form.

Take note that the petition takes a long time before it can be approved. So, you need to be patient and be very careful because any slight mistake can lead to your petition being rejected.

3) Your Investment Must Be at Risk

The only irony with the EB-5 visa is that you can only qualify when your capital is at risk. In a nutshell, you should have no guarantee that you will get your investment back. And, this condition will apply anywhere – whether you invest your money in a targeted area or not.

4) The Minimum Amount to Invest

If you were thinking you could invest just any amount, sorry for you. There is a set minimum amount that you should invest to qualify for the EB-5 Investor program.

The figures here will shock you, but you need to get things right. If you want to invest in a non-targeted area, then the minimum amount you are required to invest is $1 million. On the other hand, if you want to invest in targeted areas, the minimum amount you need to invest is $500,000.

5) An Investor Should Invest In a New Commercial Enterprise

The final thing that you should know is that you need to invest your money in a new commercial enterprise that was established after November, the year 1990.

Wrap Up

Investing is a good idea and you shouldn’t think about it twice. When there is an opportunity like this, you should grab it and make good use of it. EB-5 visa is a good investment plan. Go for it.