I am living in an Asian country at the moment. My family is very interested in the EB-5 program. Since we are living outside the United States, what are the very first steps we have to do to get an EB-5 visa? Also, if we want to buy a building and then build a restaurant, will the total amount of buying and building count in the $1 million requirement?
Answers
Julia Roussinova
Immigration AttorneysThe first step is to hire an experienced EB-5 immigration attorney. Purchasing real estate without creating the requisite number of jobs will not qualify under the EB-5 program. I suggest you consult an attorney in the United States first.
Bernard P Wolfsdorf
Immigration AttorneysThe first step is to hire an experienced lawyer and choose a good project. Buying buildings alone does not create jobs.
Salvatore Picataggio
Immigration AttorneysI would arrange a consultation with an immigration attorney who has extensive experience with the EB-5 program, and who can guide you through the process of choosing or developing a project and authenticating your investment funds.
Vaughan de Kirby
Immigration AttorneysYour first step is to consult with an experienced EB-5 investment immigration attorney. You may want to retain an attorney who has a presence in your home country.
John J Downey
Immigration AttorneysBuying and building will count, but not the purchase of land, if that is involved. You must then show that the project will create the requisite jobs over the two-year conditional period. You should first contact an attorney with expertise in the EB-5 field to guide you through the process.
BoBi Ahn
Immigration AttorneysYou should look for and decide on what project/enterprise you wish to invest in and then see if the investment would qualify for the EB-5 visa (i.e., requisite job creation, whether the project/enterprise is located in the Targeted Employment Area (TEA), etc). Any money invested in creating/operating the enterprise that results in the requisite job creation would count toward the minimal investment amount required; however, depending on where the project/enterprise is located, you may only need to invest $500,000 instead of $1 million.
DISCLAIMER: the information found on this website is intended to be general information; it is not legal or financial advice. Specific legal or financial advice can only be given by a licensed professional with full knowledge of all the facts and circumstances of your particular situation. You should seek consultation with legal, immigration, and financial experts prior to participating in the EB-5 program. Posting a question on this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. All questions you post will be available to the public: do not include confidential information in your question.