The EB-5 investor visa (the “Investor Green Card”) provides Lifetime Permanent Resident status in the United States.

Lifetime Permanent Resident status in the U.S. is granted, with freedom to live, work, attend school, run a business or retire anywhere in the U.S., regardless of the location of the investment.

There are currently no quota backlogs. This means that the EB-5 visa is available for immediate application. It is important to note that priority processing of certain EB-5 visas is available.

The Green Card covers the spouse and unmarried children. “There is no waiting list to apply. Annual quotas for the little-known EB-5 visa have never been exceeded since the program was created by Congress in 1990.”

$1,000,000 is the investment requirement that qualifies the investor for an EB-5 Green card. However, a $500,000 investment in the U.S. may qualify the investor for an EB-5 Green Card if it is in an economic target area designated by the USCIS. Also the other way around would be to create 10 full time jobs for qualified US workers. The funds may come from any legal foreign or U.S. source, including the sale of property, gifts, loans, pension funds, trusts and inheritance.

A passive investment is acceptable, with no requirement for day-to-day management of a business, provided the investor retains a policy-making role.

The holder of the EB-5 Green Card is free to keep or dispose of the investment once the employment figures have been verified and all conditions removed from the Green Card (approximately 30 months after issuance).

After five (5) years of holding the green card, the EB-5 Green Card holder may be eligible for U.S. citizenship.