Eb-5

[Birchy]

Moderators, please bare with me, while I find my way around your site.

Can someone point me in the right direction for any EB-5 posts.....

Thanks
Birchy

[OberonSH]

Hi Birchy, try going to the line of options just under where it shows what forum you're in, posts etc. There's an option to search. Type in EB5 and that will search the site for you.

If not, try the 'Official' word on the Visas,

London Embassy. (http://london.usembassy.gov/) Theres a section on the various visas. Not very in depth, but it's a start

USCIS Site (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis) Electronic versions of the forms you need to submit, plus guidance notes.

I hope these help a bit!

[peter gold]

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There are a lot of people out there who need to get some information together on this visa so see below.
I have included my opinion for what it is worth and that is use it for the $1 million investment to expand existing or buy new business but think very carefully about the $500,000 investment.
The EB5 category requires an investment of $500,000 to $1,000,000 in a new commercial enterprise that will result in a benefit for the US economy and produce ten full time jobs for workers not related to the EB5 petitioner.
There are currently 10,000 EB5 green cards available annually.
The first route is for applicants with net assets of over US $1,000,000. The applicant and dependant family get a full unrestricted green card and are free to invest anywhere or in any business in the US so long as the company employs more than 10 legal employees.(buying an existing business or expanding an existing business is permissible in some instances).Family members of the investor cannot be included in this number and non-immigrants are also excluded. Employees must not be independent contractors and e must provide services or labor for the business, receiving wages directly from the business. Positions created must be full time and must constitute a minimum of 35 hours per week. However, the 10 positions required do not have to be created immediately and may be projected employment opportunities, so long as they are realistically incorporated into a comprehensive business plan and will be filled accordingly. Buying an existing business or expanding an existing business is permissible in some instances.
The second route (5000 visas ) is for applicants who can prove that they have invested at least US$ 500,000 in property approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service CIS -designated Regional Center (in a “targeted business” or “targeted employment area”). Business people as well as persons without a business background may qualify under this program. Basically, capital is the important criteria. Once the EB5 petition is approved, the investor becomes a conditional resident for two years and once the conditions are removed, a permanent resident. Conditional permanent resident status based on EB5 eligibility is granted for two years, to the visa applicant either alone or coming with their spouse and unmarried children They must demonstrate this investment will benefit the United States economy and create the requisite number of full-time jobs (10) for qualified persons within the United States. “Targeted business” is one that has been in existence for at least 2 years and that has lost 20% of its net worth over the past 12 to 24 months, and a “targeted employment area” is an area which has experienced unemployment of at least 150% of the national average rate or a rural area as designated by the Office of Management and Budget.
One such investment for $500,000 which has proved popular is real-estate projects located near 'downtown' Seattle. This part of town used to have an industrial character which is still visible today. As the 'city center' expanded and the demand for office buildings, shops, restaurants and housing increased, it gradually encompassed this area as well. As the area has a maintenance backlog and the unemployment rate is more than 50% above national average, the government designated this area for 'investor immigrants'. This means that if you invest in it ,you will get a conditional two year Green Card.
IMHO I would not invest $500,000 in such a speculative investment, in a targeted area and run down business just for the reward of a conditional green card. This is like buying a run down tech stock in the hope on an upward swing of investment it will turn good.
Other investments are ski mountains in Vermont, potato farming in Idaho.
The whole scheme is being reviewed in 2008, and last time this happened it was scrapped