Wealthy parents from around the globe are planning, years in advance, to invest in the EB5 visa program for their children’s future.
Compared to other visa programs such as the F-1 visa or the H-1B visa, the EB5 visa program can offer foreign nationals a long future in the US.
A quick overview of the three types of visas will reveal why the EB5 visa is very advantageous for students and families:
The F-1 Student Visa
The F-1 student visa allows foreign nationals to study full-time in the US at a qualified educational institution that culminates in the student receiving a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Being admitted into a qualified high school, college, or university does not guarantee that the student will be granted an F-1 visa. If they are not granted the F-1 visa, they would not be able to attend the academic institution regardless of having an admission spot saved.
During their course of study while on an F-1 visa, employment is limited and restricted. Students cannot work off campus during their first year. During their later years they may be able to engage in off-campus practical training programs in their area of study, but there are no guarantees that they will be available during their visa stay.
H-1B Employer-Sponsored Visa
The H-1B visa allows companies to hire temporary foreign workers in certain highly specialized fields that require a bachelor’s degree or higher in that specialty. These fields typically include information technology, science, engineering, teaching or accounting.
Professional foreign workers may qualify to reside in the US on an H-1B visa under their employer sponsorship for three years with the option to extend the visa for another three years, for a maximum of six years. After that, the worker must leave the US, or qualify for another visa category.
EB5 Program Visa
Under the EB5 visa program, qualified foreign nationals who invest $500,000 in an at-risk US job-creating new commercial enterprise may qualify for lawful permanent residency (green card status) in the US for themselves, their spouse, and their unmarried children under the age of 21 years. The EB5 visa allows investors to live, work, travel, and study anywhere in the US regardless of where their investment project is located.
Please note, if a foreign national chooses the EB-5 Direct Investment Program, they will likely need to live near their investment to manage the day to day operations, whereas, investors in the EB5 Regional Center Program do not need to handle the day-to-day management of their investments and can instead, elect to be a policy-maker.
There are no language, age, education, managerial, or skill requirements in order to qualify for the EB5 visa. Additionally, 5 years after an EB5 investor receives conditional permanent residency they may qualify for US citizenship.
Funds for the EB-5 investment can come from income, sale of a business, assets, gifts, inheritance, investments, or even loans. A foreign national must be able to show the lawful sources of funds.
The Key Benefits of EB5 over the F-1 and H-1B visas:
Unlike the F-1 visa, EB5 investors can study anywhere, in any field, and can continue living and working in the US after graduating.
Unlike the F-1 visa, EB5 investors may qualify for reduced in-state tuition fees.
Unlike the H-1B visa which requires an employer-sponsor in a certain specialized field, EB5 investors can work anywhere and for anyone (including themselves as a business owner)
Unlike the H-1B visa, EB5 investors do not have to return to their home country after six years in the US. EB5 visa holders, who have just completed their studies can carry on residing in the US and start their careers.
Unlike the F-1 and H-1B visa programs, the EB5 visa program grants investor’s entire immediate family lawful permanent residency under the principal applicant’s petition.
How Are Parents Planning to Invest in the EB5 Visa for Their Children’s Future?
There are two ways parents can help their children study in the US:
1. Gifting their children the funds necessary to make their own $500,000 EB5 investment. Some parents do not wish to live in the US, but would like their children to have the opportunity to live and study in the US. Parents can financially plan ahead and help their children apply for EB5 so that when their children are of university age they will receive conditional permanent residency in the US and be able to attend top schools.
2. Applying for EB5 while their children are very young. Some countries, such as Mainland China, Vietnam and India are facing an EB5 visa backlog. This means that it can take anywhere from 7 to 15 years (or longer) to obtain an EB5 visa. Investors from these countries can plan ahead and begin the EB5 process while their children are pre-teens.
Invest $500,000 in the EB5 Program, settle in the USA. Get started below by taking our free EB-5 evaluation.