How do I get started with direct EB-5 investing?

You can either start your own business, or invest in another project that complies. Make sure you do due diligence before investing because if you fail to hire 10 U.S. workers as required and keep them until you file the I-829, it could be challenging.

By now you have probably been contacted by a dozen project promoters. The best advice anyone can give you is to obtain your own legal counsel.

Talk to an immigration attorney, review potential investment opportunities, sort out the funding to be used (well-documented sources and transfers), and file! Then, cultivate patience as the process may still take a few years before approval.

I would urge you to either (a) work through a broker-dealer that has vetted direct EB-5 offerings or (b) retain securities counsel to assist you in conducting due diligence on an offering that may be placed without the involvement of a broker-dealer.

You should create a new business that will cost $1 million, and create 10 new jobs.

The "direct" EB-5 model simply refers to an EB-5 petition filed outside of the regional center context. It is a pathway to permanent residence, not U.S. citizenship (not directly). Currently, there are "off the shelf" projects available for investment as a direct EB-5 application at the $500,000 investment threshold. Some investors also chose to open their own business in order to pursue the process. Either way, the requirements for investment and job creation will be the same.

Contact a lawyer who can assist with determining which project you can work with.