Obtaining an immigration visa to the United States can be very difficult and normally requires that you either be sponsored by a family member already here legally, or by an employer based in the United States. However, there is another option for obtaining a visa for individuals with sufficient resources to invest here in the United States, the Investment Visa (EB-5).
In order to qualify for the investment visa, an investment must meet several different qualifications. First the investment must either be in a new business based in the United States or else an expansion of an existing business into the United States (the expansion must result in at least a 40% increase in the size of the business). The investment can also be made in a “troubled business” based in the United States, though additional accounting requirements must be met to qualify for this type of investment.
Next, the investment must create or preserve at least ten full time jobs here in the United States (at least thirty-five hours a week) and must employ qualified US employees in these positions (US Citizens, Permanent Residents or Aliens authorized to accept employment in the United States).
Finally, the investment must meet certain capital requirements. Normally this means that at least one million dollars must be invested in the business even if these requirements could be met with a lesser investment. However, there is also a provision which allows this type of visa to be granted with only an investment of five hundred thousand if the investment is made in a “targeted employment area”, a region currently experiencing unemployment above the national average.
If you can meet these standards, then you can apply for an investment immigration visa which will allow you to establish permanent residency in the United States. This form of immigration to the United States would not only allow you and your immediate family to live and work in the United States, but also opens the potential to becoming a Citizen in the future.
If you are seeking to utilize this method of immigrating you do need to be careful that your investment truly qualifies for this benefit and that there are sufficient accurate records to be able to prove the elements of this visa. If you are interested in pursuing a major investment in the United States, you should consult with an immigration attorney about the specifics of the investment to ensure that it is both a legitimate investment and that it will actually qualify for this visa type.
For more information about the EB-5 visa, you can call our office (516) 900-4529 or email us at info@tariqlaw.com
