EB-5 Overview and Benefits

*The EB-5 Visa program allows you the opportunity to invest capital that builds a future for yourself and your family. As an EB-5 applicant, you, your spouse, and children under 21 years are eligible to migrate to the United States. There many benefits to immigrating under an EB-5 vision including admission advantages and lower tuition costs available.

Rights and Privileges under the EB-5 Visa allows you to live and work anywhere in the United States. As an EB-5 applicant, you may return to your country of origin for personal or business purposes as long as you maintain U.S. residency.

EB-5 Regional Investment Structure

EB-5 funds can become available to the Borrower immediately following the immigrant investors’ contribution of capital to the Limited Partnership;
or, the funds may be held in escrow and released to the Borrower upon the occurrence of some condition.

Up to 10,000 visas are allocated each fiscal year to investors in the EB-5 Program.

The minimum capital investment amount within a high unemployment area is $800,000 (based on current USCIS guidance).

The minimum capital investment amount outside a high unemployment is $1,050,000 (based on current USCIS guidance).

The minimum requirement is to create or preserve 10 full-time jobs in the United States.

  • The investor
  • Investor’s spouse
  • Any unmarried children under the age of 21
  • Any unmarried adopted children under the age of 21

For many investors, EB-5 Visa is the easiest option to get green cards for the entire family:

  • EB-5 Visa does not require an offer of employment or family sponsorship. An EB-5 investor can self-petition for an EB-5 Visa.
  • For nationals of many countries, the EB-5 Visa is one of the fastest ways to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
  • There are no educational, business background, or language requirements for EB-5 investors or their qualifying dependents.

What are the Benefits of the EB-5 Visa?

Path to Citizenship

After 5 years of residency visa holders can apply for U.S. Citizenship.

Residence Flexibility

Visa holders have the freedom to live anywhere in the U.S. and there is no requirement where you have to live based on the EB-5 project’s location.

Education

Green card holders may attend U.S. schools at the same cost as citizens. The U.S. has some of the highest rated schools and universities in the world.

Employment Flexiblity

Visa holders can work anywhere without an employer sponsor or start their own business anywhere with the U.S. 50 states and its territories.

Getting Started

Welcome to the California Energy Investment Center
CEIC’s goal is to make the EB-5 immigration and investment experience, from application through final approval, as efficient, secure, and positive as possible. Here are the simple steps to follow:

Step 1

Contact us if you have any questions and to receive a copy of the introductory package of materials.

Step 2

Complete the Investor Questionnaire, sign it and return it. The Investor Questionnaire is an essential part of the compliance process required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USClS). The USCIS requires that we determine you meet certain basic eligibility requirements, including that there is a proper source of your funds.

Step 3

Confidential Offering Information and Subscription Package. Once the CEIC receives your completed Investor Questionnaire, CEIC’s authorized representative will send you full summary of the CEIC EB-5 projects. The CEIC will work with you and your EB-5 Attorney through the EB-5 application process. There will be clear, step-by-step Guidelines as to the required signatures, acknowledgments and where to return the documents. If you do not have an experienced EB-5 Attorney, please let us know and the CEIC can provide referrals.

The EB-5 Visa application process:

Flowchart of the immigration process:

It begins with your immigration petition (I-526E). As you will note from this chart, the goal is approval of the I-829 Form, which is the removal of the conditional status of your Visa.

Research EB-5 Project Options

Remit $800,000 or $1,050,000 USD plus syndication fee in the Region Center’s designation Escrow Account

Submit Form I-526 Peitition to the USCIS

Approved

Adjust status in the U.S.

Consular interview/Embassy process in home country

CEIC’s goal is to make the EB-5 immigration and investment experience, from application through final approval, as efficient, secure, and positive as possible. Here are the simple steps to follow:

  1. Review the investor eligibility requirements under the EB-5 Program;
  2. Select an EB-5 Regional Center-sponsored project and retain an experienced EB-5 immigration attorney;
  3. Remit applicable funds, either $800,000 or $1,050,000 (based on current USCIS guidance) depending on the location of the project;
  4. Submit Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. Upon approval, prepare for adjustment of status if in the U.S. (or consular processing if abroad).
  5. Consular interview & conditional green card
    Post approval of the I-526 Petition, the EB-5 investor needs to apply for an EB-5 visa and attend a consular interview if he/she is outside the United States. Upon successfully appearing for the consular interview, the EB-5 investor and qualifying dependents will receive an initial 2-year conditional green card.
  6. Removal of conditions & permanent green card

Between 21 and 24 months prior to the expiration of the conditional green card, an EB-5 investor must submit an I-829 Petition to remove conditions. At this stage, the investor needs to prove that the funds have been fully invested and sustained at-risk over conditional residence period and have resulted in a creation of at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers. If the investor satisfies these requirements, the conditions on the green card are removed and the EB-5 investor receives unconditional permanent residence (green card).

The CEIC has many advantages, not the least of which is the many years of experience the principals bring to the center. Their involvement in the EB-5 Program since the 1990’s and their knowledge of the varied requirements necessary to successfully complete this process has provided valuable assistance to many. We feel confident that we can put this experience to work for you.