4 reasons why EB-5 visa programme is the best for studying abroad

You were probably unaware of the EB-5 visa programme. Here is why it is the best choice to study abroad.

Most Indians seeking a future in the US pursue the well-known F1 and H1-B visa programmes. However, a lesser known programme, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, has recently caught the attention of many Indians. Through the EB-5 program, an immigrant may invest USD 500,000 in a new US business, and upon verification that the capital has been legally sourced and the business has created at least 10 full-time jobs, the investor will secure green cards for themself and their family (spouse and children under 21).

Here are some benefits from the EB-5 Visa programme specific to international students:

1 Rapid adjudication time

While the EB-2 and EB-3 visas include frustratingly long waiting times (up to 12 years), the EB-5 programme enjoys rapid adjudication times and high individual approval rates (approximately 90 per cent and above). An EB-5 applicant can receive their conditional green card within 19-24 months, allowing them the freedom to access unrestricted career and educational opportunitites.

2 Employment opportunities

The job search is extremely difficult, and these challenges are amplified for non-green card holders. After graduation, an international student on the F-1 visa has three months to find a job and register themselves with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If an individual has not secured employment within the allotted three months, then he or she must leave the country.

The requirement that international students pursue employment opportunities in their field of study limits their options and further increases competition. Furthermore, very few companies are willing to sponsor the H-1B visa. During the application process, employers will often filter applications that require sponsorship and eliminate these candidates at the initial stages. With the EB-5 visa, students applying for jobs post-graduation are treated as US residents and do not face any of these difficulties, thus allowing them to pursue the career of their dreams.

3 Higher acceptance rates

There are currently over one million international students at American universities, and the competition for acceptance is more cutthroat than ever. Being a US resident increases your school or university acceptance rates considerably, allowing for greater choice as to where you would like to begin your education.

Whereas 9 per cent of domestic applicants are accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an infinitesimal 0.03 per cent of international students gain admission. With a green card via the EB-5 Visa programme, investors and their family are deemed as US resident applicants when applying to American colleges and universities, thereby eliminating these restrictions.

4 Merit-based benefits and lower tuition rates

EB-5 green card holders may qualify for merit-based benefits reserved only for US citizens and decreased in-state tuition rates at American universities. Additionally, EB-5 investors may be eligible for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial aid services, which would not otherwise be available to them.

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Mentions

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Suresh Rajan