The EB-5 visa is an immigrant visa available to investors, business owners, and anybody else seeking to launch a company in the USA. Under this program, investors are qualified to apply for a Green Card (permanent residency) along with their spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21.

Who is eligible to apply for an EB-5 visa?

There are two criteria that must be met to receive an EB-5 visa which includes:

• Invest in a U.S. business: The investment must meet the minimum requirement, as determined by 8 CFR § 204.6.
• Intend to create, or maintain, at least 10 full-time jobs which can be filled by U.S. workers.

Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors.

In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.