Wednesday 19 August 2015

Green Cards for Investors: A pathway to Permanent Residence (Green Card) through Investment in the United States

Many foreign nationals interested in business related immigration into the United States seek visas and Green Cards through investment opportunities.

There are many options, we will discuss 2 most popular ones:

1. E visa

One avenue for many investors to work in the United States is to pursue an E-1 or E-2 visa. These visas allow foreign nationals to reside in the U.S. to oversee a business in which he or she has majority ownership and in which the immigrant has invested a substantial amount of money. Currently E visas are generally renewable for the length of the investment and management but do not officially lead to Green Cards. However, lawmakers in Washington are currently proposing an official path from an E visa to a Green Card and this option may be available in the future. High-ranking foreign national employees who are not actually investing in the U.S. company may also seek an L-1A visa to transfer into the U.S. after working for an affiliated foreign company.

2. EB-5 visa

Investors able to make very substantial investments may also be eligible to apply for an EB-5 visa, which actually allows an investor to receive a conditional Green Card for two years. EB-5 Investors may be involved in a variety of different types of investment projects, though a common EB-5 project often involves real estate type ventures. The investor is required to invest at least $1,000,000 (or $500,000 in certain areas) AND the investment must create at least 10 jobs. Then, within 90 days of the expiration of the EB-5 investor’s conditional Green Card, he or she must prove that the full investment was made and that 10 jobs were maintained in order to receive a traditional Green Card. Due to these strict, selecting the right EB-5 project is crucial. Intending investors should also be aware that the EB-5 program is currently up for renewal in Congress. Check back with our blog for legislative updates on the EB-5 program.

For both E visas and EB-5 visas, it is vital that an intending investor understand the requirements for an investment that satisfies the necessary immigration requirements. The team at ilexlaw, PLLC works with foreign nationals seeking to invest in the U.S. as well as with business consultants to formulate successful immigration investment strategies. 

Call ilexlaw, PLLC today to discuss how we can help you! Our website is www.ilexlaw.com

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