This is great news! In mid-March, President Trump signed the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which renews and extends the EB-5 Investor Visa Program through September 30, 2018.

You’re about to read a brief introduction to the EB-5 Investor Visa Program, and you’ll learn why the program’s extension is so important to so many.

The EB-5 program offers permanent U.S. residency to international investors who make a substantial investment in a U.S.-based business and create at least ten full-time jobs.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM EB-5 INVESTMENT AMOUNTS?

The investment amount must be at least $1 million in most parts of the country – or a minimum $500,000 in selected rural or high-unemployment areas.

The EB-5 Investor Visa Program was created in the 1990’s to encourage investors to put substantial amounts of capital into U.S.-based business ventures.

Only 10,000 EB-5 visas are made available each year. International investors should understand that it may take some time to acquire an EB-5 visa, so you should speak with an immigration attorney as quickly as possible.

An EB-5 visa does not require a labor certification or a sponsor. It creates permanent lawful residency (and a path to U.S. citizenship) for the investor and his or her immediate family.

However, finding the right investment and qualifying for the EB-5 Investor Visa Program will require an experienced visa attorney’s sound legal guidance.

WHY WOULD AN EB-5 VISA PETITION BE REJECTED?

The three leading reasons that EB-5 visa petitions are rejected include:

  • an incomplete or inaccurate visa application
  • a lack of required financial, educational, and employment records
  • a chosen investment option that does not qualify for the EB-5 program

EB-5 visa applicants also must show that the investment money was legally obtained, a requirement which prevents criminal funds from going into legitimate U.S. business investments.

WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO THE EB-5 PROGRAM?

If you are an international investor who is interested in the EB-5 program, now is the time to learn more and obtain assistance from an experienced Las Vegas immigration attorney.

The extension does not introduce any new requirements into the EB-5 program, although a number of changes have been proposed over the last several years.

It’s possible that changes to the EB-5 program will be made when the current extension expires in September.

Those proposals include increasing the minimum investment requirement to $925,000, setting aside visas specifically for rural investment projects, and increasing the safeguards against fraud.

The changes have been rejected, at least for now, and the EB-5 program remains unchanged at least until September.

That means now is the time to find an appropriate investment and apply for an EB-5 visa.

HOW CAN AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER HELP?

An experienced Las Vegas immigration attorney can verify that your investment qualifies for the EB-5 program, review your visa petition and the accompanying documents, and see to it that you meet all EB-5 requirements.

Because only 10,000 EB-5 visas are offered each year – and because changes to the program may be coming in September – you can’t let any misunderstandings or mistakes or hold up or halt your investment plans.

The U.S. economy is booming at the moment. There’s probably never been a better time to make a substantial investment.

To learn more, speak promptly – from anywhere in the world – with a U.S. immigration lawyer who can answer your questions and help you participate in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program.