The most common ways to obtain permanent residency in the US are either (i) family-based immigration or (ii) employment-based immigrant visa applications. Due to the large number of applicants, family-based immigrants often wait many years before obtaining their immigrant visas. Persons going to the US for employment often receive “non-immigrant” visas which do not generally allow holders, or their spouses and children, to adjust status to permanent residency or to become US citizens.

The premise of the EB-5 Investor Immigration Program is simple: applicants who invest US$500,000 in a business located within specially designated areas or approved projects are permitted to obtain conditional residency (“green cards”) for themselves, their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old. The laws allow investors to join together as limited partners in a common investment. As long as the business continues to operate and creates jobs for at least two years, permanent residency will be granted. After five years starting from the date they first arrive in the US, investor immigrants may apply to become naturalized US citizens.

In the past, the EB-5 Investor Immigration Program was not a popular choice due to a large backlog of applicants waiting for conditions to be removed from their permanent residency. However, the US Congress solved these problems and the EB-5 program is now fast and easy to use. The key to success in the application process is for the investor to obtain professional assistance and advice.