What is EB-5?
- EB-5 program, standing for Employment Base Fifth, is the safest and fastest way to obtain the United States (U.S.) Permanent Resident Cards for foreigners by investment.
- This program was initiated in 1990 by the U.S. Government in order to improve many underdeveloped and unemployment areas in the country. In 2003, the U.S. Government licensed projects under Regional Centers to attract the investments from many countries in the world, including Vietnam.
- Every year, the U.S. Government issues 10,000 EB-5 visas, 3,000 of which are indirect investment via the Regional Centers (with an investment of USD500,000/petition).The rest is direct investment (with an investment of USD1,000,000 /petition) flows into the United States.
- In particular, with the mode of indirect investment, the investors will be returned their investment in cash or shares with annual interest.
- The process of approving the EB-5 petition and issuing the U.S. Green Card usually takes from 1.5 to 2 years.
- After 2 years possessing Conditional Green Cards, the investors will be assisted by USIS’ attorneys to file I-829 petition for removal of conditions. Then the investors can obtain Permanent Green Cards.
EB-5 Investors’ eligibility:
- Having financial capability and desire to become U.S. permanent residents/ citizens
- No age limit
- No foreign language requirement
- No request of having own business or experience of business administration
- No request of daily direct management of the investment
Types of EB-5 investment
- Direct investment: Establishing one brand new business, merging and acquiring operating businesses, expanding subsidiaries or business branches. With this type, an investor invests an amount of USD1,000,000 and create ten (10) full-time jobs for U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents within two continuous years.
- Indirect investment: An investor invests through a Regional Center an amount of USD500,000 into a company or a project approved by the U.S. Government.
Rights and benefits of EB-5 investors:
- Obtaining the U.S. Permanent Resident Cards for the whole family members (comprising of the investor, spouse and single children under 21 years old)
- Getting dual citizenship
- Enjoying benefits of being U.S. citizens
- Getting free education of public schools from elementary to high school. Tuition fees at higher education is applied as native U.S. citizens (equivalent to 1/3 of which for oversea students)
- Living, studying and working anywhere in U.S.
- Traveling from and to U.S. visa application
- Sponsoring relatives for U.S. citizenship, applying for naturalization
Sources of fund for EB-5 investment:
The EB-5 investment (USD500,000 or USD1,000,000) may be originated from:
- Profit of business
- Personal income: salary, donation, inheritance, etc.
- Sale of real estate, stocks, shares, etc.
Conditions to become U.S. permanent residents for EB-5 program:
- The first issued Green Cards for family members valid within 2 years
- Getting rights and benefits as U.S. permanent residents
- After 2 years, USIS’ attorneys will be authorized to file Form I-829 for removal of conditions to get Permanent Resident Cards. 5 years later, they get naturalization to be a U.S. citizen
