The USA is a highly sought-after country for international investors including Indians. For those who wish to acquire permanent resident (‘green card’) status in the USA, the EB-5 visa for Indians is the most efficient way to acquire such status. Under this program, individuals and their immediate family members can become permanent residents of the USA within a short period of time.
What is an EB-5 Visa?
The EB-Visa, also known as Immigrant Investor Visa allows foreigners who want to invest in enterprises in the United States to become permanent residents. It’s the fifth preference of US employment-based visas. This visa aims to not encourage foreign investments alone but also boost the US economy drastically. It also aims to foster the development of rural areas in the United States. It was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress as a way for foreign investors to obtain their U.S. Green Card by investing in an American business that would create jobs and contribute to the economy.
Why Indian Investors Should Consider an EB-5 Visa
The EB-5 investor visa has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among Indian investors. This is because the visa offers a number of benefits that are attractive to Indian nationals. One of the major reasons investors are increasingly looking to the EB-5 visa for Indians is that it offers them the opportunity to obtain a second passport and settle their family members in the US. It also provides a legal way to invest large sums of money in a foreign country, with the potential of substantial returns over a few years.
The EB-5 investor visa has a number of other benefits that make it an attractive option for Indian investors. These include:
– There is no minimum education requirement for an EB-5 visa for Indians.
– There is no age limit for EB-5 visa applicants.
– EB-5 investor visa applicants can include their spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 in their application.
– The USCIS has a fast-track option for experienced entrepreneurs who want to apply for the EB-5 visa for Indians.
Key Requirements for EB-5 Visa for Indians
The US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa requires that a foreign individual invests into a new commercial enterprise that is associated with government-approved regional centers based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
The following requirements thus apply:
- Investment Amount: The minimum investment amount for EB-5 Visa for Indians is $1,050 in a non-targeted employment area project. If the investment is made in a “Targeted Employment Area” (TEA), the minimum investment amount is $800,000.
- Job Creation: The EB-5 visa for Indians requires an investment that must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
- Source of Funds: The investment funds must come from a legal source, such as a personal savings account, proceeds from the sale of property, or a business investment.
Other required documents for EB-5 Visa for Indians include;
- A valid passport
- Copy of passports
- Evidence of any former immigration applications (if applicable)
- Evidence of background check
- Evidence of business ownership
- Business License(s)Proof of source for the investment sum
- EB-5 business plan
- Organizational documents and agreement of partnership
- Position/Title statement and duty descriptions
- Bank Statements and tax returns (last 5 years)
- Documentation of any other sources of capital
What is the Application Process for EB-5 Visa Visa for Indians?
The EB-5 investor visa for Indians is taken into consideration as the quickest and the maximum impactful path to US residency for Indian citizens. There are quite a number of steps to getting an investor visa for the USA. With Gehi & Associates India managing the process, acquiring an EB-5 investor visa for Indians will be rather seamless. The following are the golden steps that need to be taken;
- Select an EB-5 project: There are two options available to potential EB-5 visa applicants to choose a project, namely; EB-5 Direct Investment and EB-5 Area Investment. The first is a direct investment in an actual operating business with the creation of 10 full-time jobs, the amount of investment can be $800,000 (for TEAs) or $1.05 million. On the other hand, the latter is an investment in a private company involved in promoting economic growth, creating jobs and investing capital in the US economy, and participating in raising capital for development projects.
- Make the necessary investment
- File Form I-526 with US Citizenship and Immigration Services
- File Form I-485 (for biographical information) and Form DS-260 (for conditional permanent residence) to request adjustment of status
- Obtain a conditional residence permit for 2 years
- Start filing I-829 form 90 days before your conditional stay expires for permanent residency
Processing Time for Investor Visa
Processing time for EB-5 visa for Indians may depend on the number of foreign applicants, the depth of each application, the efficiency of each immigrant visa processing center, investor priority dates, and changes in regulatory requirements. immigration law during processing. India currently has high demand for investor visas, so processing times may be slower than in low-demand countries.
Indians tend to have much shorter wait times for approval than immigrants from China, who have a large immigrant visa backlog. However, India’s growing demand may cause it to accumulate a large backlog in the near future.
Key Takeaways
There are many investment immigration options for Indian citizens. But it’s important to seek advice from an experienced immigration attorney/law firm. Considering an attorney’s qualifications, experience, and communication style is essential when choosing an attorney to handle your case. Gehi Law India is well-equipped to help you find the right attorney and provide answers to all your questions about the timeframe and steps involved in filing your USCIS petition. With us on board, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands and on track to get the investor visa you need. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case in more detail.
