I am from Colombia and I am interested in participating in the EB-5 program. Can I get an EB-5 visa if I invest $500,000 to $1 million in an existing private school in Texas (new-5 years old) that is a not-for-profit organization that is growing and creating jobs? What are the additional rules or regulations that pertain to investing in a not-for-profit project?
Answers
Steffanie J Lewis
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyAll EB-5 investors must invest in a commercial enterprise. Commercial enterprise means any for-profit activity formed for the ongoing conduct of lawful business. A nonprofit project does not qualify for EB-5. If you were to invest in a commercial regional center doing business by lending money to a construction company that was building a wing on the school building, your non-profit school would benefit in the end.
Ed Beshara
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyIn a direct EB-5 project you will have to invest directly into a for-profit business. In a regional center model you can invest your funds into a new commercial enterprise for profit and then the new commercial enterprise can loan the funds to a job creating entity which may be a non-profit.
Salvatore Picataggio
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyEB-5 investors must invest in for-profit entities. Some EB-5 structures allow for investment into a new commercial enterprise (an investment fund) that loans the funds to a job creating entity. Policy and regulations state that the new commercial enterprise must be designed to make a profit. It is probably best for the job creating entity to make a profit as well.
Julia Roussinova
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyThe EB-5 investment must be made in a new commercial enterprise (with certain exceptions for investment in a preexisting business). The term "commercial enterprise" does not include non-profits. The investment must be made in a for-profit enterprise.
Mahsa Aliaskari
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyEB-5 regulations require investment in a for-profit entity to qualify.
Olga Karasik
Find an EB-5 Visa Lawyer: Immigration AttorneyInvestments into non-profit organizations do not qualify for EB-5 visas. The project has to be for profit.
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