Questions and Answers > EB-5 Investments

How does USCIS count job creation for an EB-5 application?

I want to invest in an EB-5 project in which jobs are already created. If I invest at this point, how will USCIS count the job creation? Is it advisable to invest in a project like this?

Answers

• Ed Beshara

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on November 11, 2019

  The EB-5 business has to create 10 full-time jobs as a result of your investment. You cannot count existing jobs of an existing U.S. business unless the U.S. business is a troubled business.

• Bernard P Wolfsdorf

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 21, 2019

  If the jobs are already created, your investment won't qualify for EB-5 unless it's a troubled business with a net loss equal to 20% incurred in the past 12 or 24 months from filing.

• Stephen Berman

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  You will need 10 new jobs as a result of the investment, not existing jobs.

• Igor Serbinin

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  The investment is supposed to be reasonably calculated to create new employment. Existing employment will not count for EB-5 purposes.

• BoBi Ahn

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  For EB-5 purposes, you can only count the 10 new jobs created by your investment, unless this involves a "troubled business."

• Hassan Elkhalil

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  You have to show that your investment will create the required 10 job opportunities, regardless of the existing jobs.

• Marko Issever

  EB-5 Broker Dealer

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  Yes. As long as there is a nexus between your investment and job creation, the fact that the jobs were already created before you invested should not be a problem. This nexus occurs when the EB-5 investment refinances a bridge loan that is already in place, that was initially used to advance the project and create the necessary jobs. According to USCIS, Policy Manual, Chapter 2 where they discuss Eligibility Requirements, Section D. Creation of Jobs, Bridge Financing, "... even if the immigrant investor financing was not contemplated prior to acquiring the temporary financing, as long as the financing to be replaced was contemplated as short-term temporary financing that would be subsequently replaced by more permanent long-term financing, the infusion of immigrant investor financing could still result in the creation of, and credit for, new jobs." Therefore, as long as your situation resembles the one that is described by USCIS, you should be fine.

• Charles Foster

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  Jobs already created may still count and it is not unusual, provided your funds still flow into the job-creating entity. Consult on details with experienced immigration attorney in EB-5 representation.

• A Olusanjo Omoniyi

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on October 7, 2019

  Feel free to invest in this type of project. There is nothing unusual or wrong if the project has created the required jobs. It is common that the regional center operating this type of project would have detailed how the jobs would be created in this type of circumstance.