*This information is not an offer of securities, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities. Offers of securities for this investment will be made solely by Confidential Private Offering Memorandum for this Offering (the “Offering Memorandum”) to qualified individuals.
*Offerings of the securities for this investment are made solely pursuant to the terms of the Offering Memorandum, which includes a detailed description of the terms of the offering, the Project and the risks of investment in the Offering. Investors must review the entire Offering Memorandum before making any investment decision to invest in this Project, and must rely solely upon the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum with regard to their decision to invest in this Project. Any information provided outside of the Offering Memorandum should not be relied upon in making any investment decision, including the summary information provided for convenience on this website.
*Prior to the sale of any security to any investor currently living in the U.S. or visiting the U.S., the issuer will require such investors in the offering to provide information necessary to verify that such investors qualify as an accredited investor, as required under SEC Rule 506(c).
*Past I-526 petition processing times for this Project do not guarantee that USCIS will adjudicate any specific I-526 petitions for this Project within any specific period of time. Prospective investors must consult with their personal immigration attorney to understand fully the requirements, risks and processing requirements for any investment in an EB-5 project.
*An investment in this Project involves a high degree of risk of loss of the investment, as described in further detail in the Offering Memorandum. Investors should not invest in this Project unless they can bear the potential for the loss of some or all of their investment. There can be no assurance that any investor in this Project will receive approval of their I-526 petition or the return of their investment in this Project. Investors must review the Offering Memorandum to obtain further information regarding the risks of investment.
*A small number of applicants had a rejected I-526 due to administrative error unrelated to the project
*EB5Fast.com is the property of Odlum Equestrian Manager, LLC
CONTACT US
EB-5 is a United States immigrant investor program that offers citizens of other countries the opportunity to seek permanent U.S. residency through an investment that creates jobs in the U.S.
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Primary EB-5 Investor Program Benefits (EB 5 Visa Guide)
The EB-5 visa program benefits the United States, as funding from foreign investors helps stimulate the economy and grow businesses. In return, the program provides a path to United States citizenship.
To gain temporary residency, and later naturalized citizenship, the applicant must prove that they have invested a certain amount of funding into a qualified business, and this business must provide 10 qualified, full-time jobs to citizens. If these criteria are met, the applicant and their spouse and any dependent children under 21 will be able to apply for a green card.
In this article, the team at EB-5 Fast discusses everything you need to know about the EB-5 visa program benefits to investors, as well as some basic information about the program that will help you determine if it is the right choice for you.
What is the EB-5 Investor Program?
The EB-5 visa program bolsters the United States economy by encouraging foreign individuals to fund qualified businesses that will stimulate local economic growth. (1) This program, created as a part of the Immigration Act of 1990, has done well providing jobs and helping bolster the economy to a point of stability, helping the country recovering from the devastating effects of the recession.
“While investor immigration is not a complete solution for all of America’s problems, for decades now, the U.S. EB-5 program has served the country well by creating jobs and stimulating economic development.”
- Andy J. Semotiuk
To qualify for the EB-5 visa program, an individual must be able to invest the required amount into a new or pre-existing business, then file a petition with the USCIS to request entry into the program.
If the investor’s initial application is approved, they can begin oversight of their project. The funds must directly provide full-time jobs for 10 qualified United States citizens, stimulating the local economy. Once the applicant has managed this, they can continue through the USCIS processing, filing petitions which prove the project was funded and they achieved the results required by the USCIS. Pending approval, participants can apply for their conditional green card, which they must keep for two years before applying for a removal of conditions.
How Much Money Do You Need to Invest in the EB 5 Visa Program?
Individuals seeking to take advantage of the EB 5 visa program should do their due diligence on the project and any business they intend to invest in, as this can make a project successful.
The minimum funding amount for a regional center or business outside of a Targeted Employment Area, or TEA, is $1.8 million. Individuals who seek businesses in a TEA have a reduced minimum of $900,000.
The funds must come through legal and verifiable sources. Supporting documentation to prove this should be supplied with your initial petition for entry into the program.
Without this documentation, your petition will be denied, so it is recommended to provide as much information as possible. A variety of sources are accepted by the USCIS and include the following:
- Salary earnings
- Stock returns
- Sale of a business
- Sale of real estate
- Retirement funds
- Inheritance
- Verifiable gift
- Tangible assets
It is also important to remember that you may use a combination of sources, though supporting documentation must be provided for each one.
EB-5 Investment Opportunity Types
There are two main types of EB-5 investment opportunities available. The project must be researched and carefully considered before applying to the USCIS to help avoid scams.
- Regional Centers
Regional centers are the preferred path to success for many EB-5 investors as these centers immediately give the investor access to legal resources to help them through the EB-5 process. This type of project may also be beneficial for individuals who wish to reduce their risk in investing, as regional centers have strict guidelines and rules they must follow to remain an established entity with the USCIS.
Individuals who choose to work with regional centers also benefit from indirect job creation. Their investment is spread out among several projects, so it is not possible for the funding to be directly responsible for creating jobs; however, the regional center can attribute created jobs to each investor they work with. This often results in a surplus of jobs, providing a cushion for each investment.
- Direct Investment
Direct investment is considered the higher risk opportunity out of the two, but it is perfect for the entrepreneurial investor. An investor who wishes to invest in these businesses must prove that their funds were directly responsible for creating at least 10 qualifying full-time jobs for United States citizens.
Additionally, directly funded projects must meet other requirements on an individual level, such as the establishment of a new commercial enterprise, and the investor’s direct engagement within the company.
Primary EB-5 Investor Program Benefits
Some consider the funding minimum steep, yet the advantages still outweigh the costs for many individuals. (2) Overall, the classic American Dream has brought many individuals to the United States, seeing the EB-5 visa as a way to escape their current way of living or improve their family’s future.
“While it does require a significant investment, it can allow an investor, his spouse, and eligible children to pursue a quicker, more efficient path to citizenship and the opportunities that the American dream embodies.”
- Tucker Law Pllc
Below is a short list of EB-5 investor program benefits. These advantages are accessible as soon as you are approved for a green card, even you have not removed its conditional status yet.
- The visa program allows spouses and unmarried children to apply for a green card
The EB-5 visa is considered a family visa that allows not only the investor but also the investor’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 to apply for a permanent residency visa.
Once the permanent residency visa has run out, all members may apply for their visa’s conditions to be removed and become naturalized citizens. This is the ideal situation for many individuals who are looking to escape their home country’s political or economic conditions, providing a better life for their children and future generations by investing in the United States economy.
- No employment restrictions on EB-5 green card holders
EB-5 green card holders are not limited to where they can live or work within the United States. Likewise, they are not limited to certain industries once they are in the country.
For individuals who do not need to oversee their EB-5 project or become involved in the daily operation of it, this is a valuable benefit that allows them to pursue their dreams. Many individuals choose to remain mildly involved in their business while they climb the promotional ladder in a career that makes a difference or that they find meaningful.
- International travel becomes easier with an EB-5 green card
Those who obtain residency through the EB-5 program can freely travel back and forth between their home country and the United States without a visa. Travel may be restricted during the actual visa process, however, so it is important to confirm these details with your immigration lawyer depending on your country of origin and what EB-5 stage you are in.
Participants who are in the process of applying for naturalization may retain dual citizenship between the United States and their country of origin, allowing them to travel freely between the two and retain the rights of citizenship between each country.
- Educational boons with less expensive tuition
Individuals who obtain United States citizenship, as well as their citizen family members, can apply to educational institutions without the added tuition cost for foreign students.
This gives new citizens and their family members fast and inexpensive access to higher education opportunities across the United States. While many schools out of your state of residence will still have increased tuition, you can save $15,000 or more by becoming a United States citizen.
EB-5 Visa Processing Time
The average EB-5 program can last for five years, though this is largely due to the rate at which petitions and applications are processed. The current EB-5 visa processing time averages six months from the date of filing a petition to receiving a response.
To receive a response from the USCIS, your petition must first be filed, then await the priority date which allows the USCIS to review the petition. Backlogged petitions are typically given higher priority. This timeline does not account for any time spent adjusting your status or going through consular processing, which may extend the timeline depending on when the USCIS schedules new appointments.
For those awaiting their green card, the EB-5 visa processing time can also be affected by any backlogs in the USCIS. The USCIS is only allowed to issue 700 EB-5 visas per country, which includes any spouses and children. This means that, on average, 300-400 investors will be approved for a visa in a given year, however, this is dependent on how fast the USCIS works through their backlogs, as the organization receives thousands of applications each year per country.
As of April 2020, over 78,000 investors have applied to the program. Many of these investors are from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, meaning new investors from these countries are likely to hit a standstill in USCIS processing times as the applications are sorted through, reviewed, and responded to.
With the recent removal of this visa cap, many expect the USCIS backlogs to clear and the processing time to become significantly reduced, especially for the primary countries who use the visa program such as India and China.
For those who wish to track their current application’s progress, the USCIS website offers a processing timeline based on your case number.
References
- Andy J. Semotiuk, How Investor Immigration Could Help Address Unemployment in America, https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2020/12/24/how-investor-immigration-could-help-address-unemployment-in-america/?sh=4b38147b410c
- Tucker Law Pllc, What Are the Benefits of an EB-5 Visa?, https://www.tuckerlawpllc.com/faqs/understanding-the-benefits-of-an-eb-5-visa.cfm
Do EB-5 Investors Get Their Money Back if the Project Fails?
No, every investment made within the EB-5 system is considered at-risk. Individuals must do their due diligence at every step to ensure their investment has the best chance of success with a reputable and established business.
Though the advantages of EB-5 are enticing, many are wary of their investment failing. This is why individuals choose proven regional centers, as these centers are verifiably established with the USCIS and must follow certain guidelines. Likewise, regional centers can provide the aforementioned job cushion, as well as secure immigration lawyers and business advisors to help applicants navigate the EB-5 process.