Immigration investment is a popular means of getting a Green Card.
This visa, also known as the EB-5 Green Card visa, enables you to live permanently and work anywhere in the USA of your choosing, and it can take up to ten years to attain unless you make an investment in one of the USCIS Regional Centers approved by the U.
S.
Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Holding this visa enables you to make an application for American citizenship after five years, so if you are able to make the immigration investment required then it is well worth doing so.
You could be a full American citizen with a U.
S.
passport within 6 years of making your immigration investment.
It is important to understand that it is an investment and not a payment.
You are not buying the visa, but investing in the regional center to enable its development and are being awarded the visa as appreciation for helping the USA to develop and create jobs in areas that need it.
Here are some factors that you should be aware of before deciding to apply for your green card visa using this route.
The Immigration Investment Needed The investment you have to make is officially known as the EB-5 investment, and involves you investing a minimum of $500,000 in an approved regional center as described above.
At the moment there are around 100 of these centers in the USA, and each is run as a private company in which your investment can increase or drop in value.
After you have made the investment you will normally be provided with the visa within 6-12 months.
You can apply for U.
S.
citizenship five years later.
The reason for the investment is to develop and regenerate the region in which you are investing.
Part of this development is the generation of jobs, and your investment must generate at least 10 jobs in the region.
These jobs must also last for at least two years, and while most investments are secure in this respect, you are investing in what is basically a private business and so there are risks involved.
That is one reason why it is essential that you seek expert advice before parting with your money.
Many of those that offer this advice will be associated with the regional center concerned, so keep in mind the amount of money involved.
Only 100 applicants for any one regional center involves $50 million, and that is a great deal of money.
That is also 50 million incentives to persuade you to invest in their center! 100 applicants also involves the creation of 1000 jobs for at least two years and if that doesn't happen then you will have problems.
The Need for Good Advice You need good advice that is independent of the regional center in which you are investing.
First you should check out the job-creation method of any regional center project in which you are considering making your investment.
That is the major qualifying condition other than the investment itself.
Don't worry about the return on your investment or interest paid - it is job creation that will decide whether or not you are permitted to live permanently in the USA, and if that is your primary objective then that should also be your primary concern.
Each regional center will be competing strongly for your money, not only because of the actual money involved, but also because some centers may have cash commitments already made in anticipation of your investment and now need the funds to meet these commitments.
If you have little understanding of the system, then you are liable to be given advice that is less aimed at helping you than making sure you invest in their regional center regardless of the jobs your money might create.
Investment Targets and Jobs Although job creation is absolutely essential to you, there are other factors to consider.
A major one of these is how long it might take for the full immigration investment required in the region to be met.
Your investment can rise or fall just as any other, and you are not guaranteed to get the full amount back.
The record of the center in which you might invest is an important factor, as also is any say you have in managing your investment.
You will likely find that, like most investments, you will have no say in how your investment is used or managed.
You should also ask about the implications should the 10 jobs from your immigration investment not materialize.
What if 100 people invest and only 999 jobs are created, for example? What if 1000 jobs are created and only 999 last 2 years? These are aspects of your investment you should be aware of before parting with your money.
Some centers will have excellent records, with respect to both job creation and return of your investment, while others will not and yet more will be newly appointed regional centers and hence something of a dark horse.
What do you do? Who do you ask for advice that has no vested interest in the center? Independent Advice is Critical This is where you must find a good independent Green Card Visa advisor and take their advice.
Listen to that advice carefully, and if no negatives are discussed be very wary of the investment you are considering making.
Every investment has some negative aspects to it of which genuine impartial advisors will make you aware.
Make sure that you get answers to all of your questions because while this might seem a good way to get a quick permanent residency visa, if you make the wrong investment decision it could hold you back many years.
Your immigration investment for a Green Card Visa should be made only when you are certain that the advice you have received appears genuine and you are certain that the center and the company managing it can keep their part of the agreement.
Normally this will be the case but there are cases where it is not, and you must make sure that you are not disadvantaged in that respect by selecting the wrong advisor.
This visa, also known as the EB-5 Green Card visa, enables you to live permanently and work anywhere in the USA of your choosing, and it can take up to ten years to attain unless you make an investment in one of the USCIS Regional Centers approved by the U.
S.
Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Holding this visa enables you to make an application for American citizenship after five years, so if you are able to make the immigration investment required then it is well worth doing so.
You could be a full American citizen with a U.
S.
passport within 6 years of making your immigration investment.
It is important to understand that it is an investment and not a payment.
You are not buying the visa, but investing in the regional center to enable its development and are being awarded the visa as appreciation for helping the USA to develop and create jobs in areas that need it.
Here are some factors that you should be aware of before deciding to apply for your green card visa using this route.
The Immigration Investment Needed The investment you have to make is officially known as the EB-5 investment, and involves you investing a minimum of $500,000 in an approved regional center as described above.
At the moment there are around 100 of these centers in the USA, and each is run as a private company in which your investment can increase or drop in value.
After you have made the investment you will normally be provided with the visa within 6-12 months.
You can apply for U.
S.
citizenship five years later.
The reason for the investment is to develop and regenerate the region in which you are investing.
Part of this development is the generation of jobs, and your investment must generate at least 10 jobs in the region.
These jobs must also last for at least two years, and while most investments are secure in this respect, you are investing in what is basically a private business and so there are risks involved.
That is one reason why it is essential that you seek expert advice before parting with your money.
Many of those that offer this advice will be associated with the regional center concerned, so keep in mind the amount of money involved.
Only 100 applicants for any one regional center involves $50 million, and that is a great deal of money.
That is also 50 million incentives to persuade you to invest in their center! 100 applicants also involves the creation of 1000 jobs for at least two years and if that doesn't happen then you will have problems.
The Need for Good Advice You need good advice that is independent of the regional center in which you are investing.
First you should check out the job-creation method of any regional center project in which you are considering making your investment.
That is the major qualifying condition other than the investment itself.
Don't worry about the return on your investment or interest paid - it is job creation that will decide whether or not you are permitted to live permanently in the USA, and if that is your primary objective then that should also be your primary concern.
Each regional center will be competing strongly for your money, not only because of the actual money involved, but also because some centers may have cash commitments already made in anticipation of your investment and now need the funds to meet these commitments.
If you have little understanding of the system, then you are liable to be given advice that is less aimed at helping you than making sure you invest in their regional center regardless of the jobs your money might create.
Investment Targets and Jobs Although job creation is absolutely essential to you, there are other factors to consider.
A major one of these is how long it might take for the full immigration investment required in the region to be met.
Your investment can rise or fall just as any other, and you are not guaranteed to get the full amount back.
The record of the center in which you might invest is an important factor, as also is any say you have in managing your investment.
You will likely find that, like most investments, you will have no say in how your investment is used or managed.
You should also ask about the implications should the 10 jobs from your immigration investment not materialize.
What if 100 people invest and only 999 jobs are created, for example? What if 1000 jobs are created and only 999 last 2 years? These are aspects of your investment you should be aware of before parting with your money.
Some centers will have excellent records, with respect to both job creation and return of your investment, while others will not and yet more will be newly appointed regional centers and hence something of a dark horse.
What do you do? Who do you ask for advice that has no vested interest in the center? Independent Advice is Critical This is where you must find a good independent Green Card Visa advisor and take their advice.
Listen to that advice carefully, and if no negatives are discussed be very wary of the investment you are considering making.
Every investment has some negative aspects to it of which genuine impartial advisors will make you aware.
Make sure that you get answers to all of your questions because while this might seem a good way to get a quick permanent residency visa, if you make the wrong investment decision it could hold you back many years.
Your immigration investment for a Green Card Visa should be made only when you are certain that the advice you have received appears genuine and you are certain that the center and the company managing it can keep their part of the agreement.
Normally this will be the case but there are cases where it is not, and you must make sure that you are not disadvantaged in that respect by selecting the wrong advisor.