Texan Regional Center, LLC (“TRC”) works with foreign investors to obtain permanent residency through the EB-5 Visa Investment Program. TRC oversees development projects in the state of Texas, including: assisted living centers, apartment complexes, hotels, and other commercial projects.
The EB-5 visa for Immigrant Investors is a United States visa created by section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990. This visa provides a method of obtaining a green card and ultimately United States citizenship for foreign nationals who invest money in the United States.
To encourage immigration through the EB-5 program, Congress created a pilot program in 1993. The program specifically sets aside 3,000 visas annually for foreign investors who apply through a United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated regional center investment program. An investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated regional center must generally make a qualifying investment of $1 million ($500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area) and demonstrate that at least 10 jobs were directly or indirectly created through the investment.
Qualified immigrants investing through a regional center receive a conditional green card valid for two years. The initial process typically takes about twelve to eighteen months for an EB-5 applicant to receive a conditional green card.
The investor, spouse and unmarried children (under age 21 at the time of petition) can then apply for permanent residency based on investment. If approved, the investor and his immediate family become permanent green card holders and can later apply to become U.S. citizens. Upon receipt of conditional permanent resident status, the investor and immediate family are entitled to the same benefits as other lawful permanent residents