Houston Investor Visa Lawyer
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers various visa programs for immigrants who want to come to the United States. One of them is the EB-5 Program. This program is for immigrants who have a significant amount of money and wish to invest a large sum of money in a business or project.
The EB-5 Program was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation by foreign investors. In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises to promote economic growth.
Under the EB-5 Program, investors are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence (become a green card holder) if they:
- Make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States.
- Plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.
To qualify, the applicant must be actively in the process of investing a minimum of $1,050,000 (or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project). Investors who qualify can come to the United States with their spouses and any unmarried children they have under the age of 21.
Those who currently reside in the United States may qualify as an EB-5 immigrant investor, you must meet the following requirements:
- You were inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled into the United States.
- You properly filed Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
- You are physically present in the United States at the time you file your Form I-485.
- You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa based on an approved Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur.
The EB-5 Program has been popular among investors seeking to immigrate to the United States, particularly from countries like China, Vietnam, and India. If you are interested, contact a Houston investor visa lawyer from BBA Immigration to see if you qualify.
What to Know
Before you apply for an EB-5 visa, here are some things you should know:
- Conditional permanent residence. Upon approval of the EB-5 petition, the investor and their immediate family members are granted conditional permanent resident status in the United States for a period of two years.
- Removal of conditions. In the 90-day period immediately preceding the two-year conditional status period, the investor must file a petition to remove the conditions on their permanent residence. They can do so by demonstrating that the required jobs have been created or will be created soon.
- Permanent residency. If the conditions are removed, the investor and their family become unconditional permanent residents of the United States.
Contact BBA Immigration Today
If you have money that you would like to invest in a business in the United States, you may be able to come to the U.S. under the EB-5 Program.
BBA Immigration can counsel you on eligibility and provide expert technical assistance in helping you obtain this visa. Count on a Houston investor visa lawyer to give you the advice you need. Fill out the online form or call (281) 503-1455 to schedule a consultation.
