The US EB-5 investment immigration program offers the best timescale to secure a green card of any of the US immigration programs, provided a candidate has the money to invest.
Economic and family class immigration in the US has a waiting period that can run over 10 years. EB-5 candidates can get their applications process inside a year, although the delay is much longer for Chinese nationals, who are limited by a quota system.
For more information on the US EB-5 program, click here.
The main stipulations for the investment are firstly that funding must be directed to a US company, and secondly that it creates 10 permanent full-time jobs for American workers.
There are two different options of investment under the EB-5, the first directly into a ‘general area of business’, while the second is a targeted employment zone known as ‘Regional Centres’.
A Regional Centre is a business in itself that coordinates EB-5 investment in a given area. They are governed by strict statutes and regulations.
Which is the right strand of investment for you?
| Direct Investment | Regional Centre Investment |
| Investment amount | |
| US$1 million | US$500,000 |
| Investor profile | |
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| Other points | |
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| Job creation | |
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The main benefits of the EB-5 program are the same for both investment categories.
They both offer permanent residence in return for the investment, they both allow immediate family (spouse and unmarried children under 21) and they both have the same waiting period. Neither have a minimum net worth requirement.
Choosing the right investment option could come down to your available funds, but if you have the money for both it is worth carefully considering the finer points of the two investment areas.
Further reading