10월 11일, 이민을 감독하는 미국 연방 기관인 미국 이민국 (USCIS) 은 투자 프로그램을 통한 미국 거주 프로그램인 EB-5에 필요한 투자 기간 (“지속 기간”이라고 함) 에 대해 오랫동안 기다려온 지침을 발표했습니다.
지침에 따르면 투자자는 단 2년 만에 필요한 80만 달러의 자본을 돌려받을 수 있습니다.EB-5 세계의 많은 사람들이 USCIS가 유지 기간 요건을 명확히 해주기를 기다려왔지만, 10월 11일 USCIS 정책은 지침 자체가 미국 법률에서 요구하는 적절한 절차에 따라 발행되었는지 여부를 포함하여 많은 의문을 남깁니다.
EB-5에 관한 공식 규정은 2022년 3월 15일에 “2022년 EB-5 개혁 및 청렴에 관한 법률” (“RIA)" 이 통과되면서 업데이트되었습니다.모든 공식 법령을 관리하는 연방 기관과 마찬가지로, USCIS는 금지된 절차에 따라 공식 규정을 작성해야 합니다.공개 공지 및 의견 수렴 절차가 필요한 공식적인 규칙 제정 절차를 거쳐야 규정이 법을 관리하는 규칙이 됩니다.
EB-5 프로그램 참여자들은 USCIS에 지침과 규정을 발행할 것을 요청하고 있지만, USCIS가 규칙 제정 절차를 따르지 않는 한 기존 규칙을 변경할 법적 권한이 있는지는 확실하지 않습니다.이는 유지 기간의 경우처럼 기존 규정이 새 법령과 일치하는 것으로 해석될 수 있는 경우에 특히 그렇습니다.
이러한 혼란의 원인은 새 법률 자체의 법적 표현 때문입니다.법에 따르면 이민자가 되려는 사람의 투자금은 “2년 이상 투자 상태를 유지할 것으로 예상”되어 있습니다.EB-5 법률의 “조건 철폐” 또는 투자자가 영구 영주권을 소지한 경우에 관한 조항은 투자자가 투자를 “유지”한다는 구체적인 문구를 없애기 위해 수정되었습니다.그러나 조건 철폐 조항을 통해 투자자는 초기 2년의 조건부 거주 기간 이후에도 계속 자본을 투자한 경우에만 1년의 추가 일자리 창출을 증명할 수 있습니다.
USCIS는 이 두 조항을 단 2년의 적극적인 투자를 요구하는 것으로 해석한 것으로 보입니다.USCIS는 더 나아가 충분한 일자리가 창출될 때까지 초기 투자를 초기 프로젝트에 계속 투자할 것을 요구했습니다.그러나 새 법률에서는 투자자가 상환 자격을 갖추기 전에 초기 투자금을 상환하는 경우 “재배치”도 허용하고 있습니다.
초기 투자가 최소 유지 기간 및 일자리 창출 요건을 충족해야 하는 경우 자본 재배치 요구 사항은 비논리적입니다.법에 따라 해당 자본이 더 오래 투자된 경우에만 일자리 창출을 증명할 수 있는 1년을 더 허용한다면 불과 2년 만에 자본을 인출할 수 있다는 것은 비논리적으로 보입니다.RIA 전체를 읽어보면 새로운 USCIS 지침은 유효하지 않은 것 같습니다.
2년의 투자 일정이 언제 시작되는지에 대한 질문에도 답이 없습니다.USCIS 지침에 따르면 시작일은 투자금 전액이 “일자리를 창출하는 주체가 이용할 수 있는” 날입니다.이때가 EB-5 자금이 지출되는 시점인가요?대출이 마감되었지만 아직 자금이 조달되지 않은 경우?EB-5 자금을 예치하고 일자리를 창출하는 주체가 사용하지 않을 수 있나요?브리지 파이낸싱은 이 계산에 어떤 영향을 미칩니까?이 질문들은 모두 답이 없는 질문들입니다.
결론적으로, EB-5 프로젝트 스폰서는 EB-5 상품을 책임감 있게 구성해야 하며, EB-5 투자자들은 2년 안에 자금을 돌려주기로 약속하는 거래를 서두르면 안 됩니다.현재로서는 EB-5 자금 전액이 JC/차용자에게 이체된 후 최소 2년 동안 초기 프로젝트에 대한 EB-5 투자를 유지하는 것이 가장 안전해 보입니다.이 문제는 향후 법원이나 USCIS 정책에서 다시 제기될 것이 분명하므로 투자자들은 유지 기간에 대한 진행 상황을 지속적으로 파악해야 합니다.더 중요한 것은 규정이 어떻게 변경되었든 그렇지 않든 상관없이 EB-5 투자자는 잠재적 투자에 대한 재정 및 이민 위험을 철저히 평가해야 한다는 것입니다.
에 대해 자세히 알아보려면 EB-5 비자 프로그램 과 피치트리의 EB-5 오퍼링, 연락처 agreene@peachtreegroup.com.
If you're working in the United States on an H-1B visa and seeking permanent residency, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a promising path forward. This comprehensive guide walks you through the process of transitioning from an H-1B to an EB-5 visa, helping you understand your options to make an informed decision about your immigration journey.
The H-1B visa is a temporary, employer-sponsored visa that ties you to a specific company. You need to win a lottery to get one, and you'll face regular renewal requirements. Plus, your stay in the U.S. is always dependent on your employment status.
The EB-5 visa, on the other hand, offers a direct path to permanent residency. No employer sponsorship needed! With an EB-5 visa, you can:
Yes, while it's not exactly a "conversion," you can apply for an EB-5 visa while maintaining your H-1B status. Here are the key requirements for an EB-5 visa:
Acceptable funding sources for H-1B holders include:
The transition from H-1B to EB-5 status typically requires between 4 to 18 months, depending on USCIS processing times. Your immigration journey begins with selecting and investing in a qualified EB-5 project. Once you've made your investment, you'll submit your petition to USCIS. During this waiting period, maintaining your current H-1B status provides important immigration security.
The concurrent filing option presents an interesting opportunity for H-1B holders pursuing EB-5 visas. This process allows you to receive an Employment Authorization Document and advance parole privileges (travel authorization) immediately after filing your EB-5 petition. These benefits enable work authorization independent of your H-1B employer and facilitate international travel. However, immigration attorneys often advise maintainingH-1B status throughout the EB-5 process, as switching to concurrent filing status may prevent you from returning to H-1B status if needed.
The journey from H-1B to permanent residency through the EB-5 program represents a significant opportunity for foreign workers in the United States. While the $800,000 investment requirement is substantial, the benefits of permanent residency and workplace freedom make it an attractive option form any H-1B professionals. Consulting with qualified immigration attorneys helps ensure you understand all aspects of the process and make the visa choice aligned with your long-term immigration goals.
Converting from an H-1B to an EB-5 visa offers a clear path to permanent residency in the United States. By understanding the requirements, timeline, and potential challenges, you can make informed decisions about your immigration future. Remember that professional legal guidance proves invaluable throughout this complex but rewarding process.
Peachtree Group has more than 40 years’ experience in EB-5 investing. Have questions about EB-5, visit our website or fill out our contact form.
Conventional wisdom states that the EB5 visa country cap is calculated within each preference category, not across all preference categories. That would mean that no one country could have more than 7% of just EB-5 visas in any reserved visa category.
Conventional EB-5 wisdom on country caps is wrong.
In a US Federal Register announcement dated March 28, 2023, the US Government acknowledged they were calculating country caps incorrectly and outlined how country caps were to be calculated moving forward.
Since April 2023, country caps are calculated based on the total number of visas available in ALL preference categories including family-based and employment-based. Immigrants from a particular county are not subject to a country cap until applications for ALL preference categories for that country reach 7%.
Once both family-based and employment-based visa applications for a particular country reach 7%, the Department of State imposes backlogs for that particular country in each preference category based on priority dates across all categories.
Investors born outside of China and India can confidently choose between either a rural or high unemployment project.
The Visa Bulletin shows China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have all reached the 7% cap across the family-based and employment-based visas. Since Mexico and the Philippines are not big users of the EB-5 preference, China and India are currently the only countries subject to a country cap on EB-5 unreserved visas. What this means: If you were born outside of China or India, you don't need to worry about backlogs or waiting lines whether you invest in a rural or high unemployment TEA. Unless and until another country reaches the 7% quota across all preference categories, we should not expect there to be a backlog for those countries in EB-5. If you were born in China or India, you should speak with knowledgeable EB-5 professionals to understand the potential waiting periods. However, remember that your EB-5 investment decision should be based on all of the factors that are important to you, not just the potential visa quotas.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is an investment firm driving growth with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and other ventures, with a specialty in hospitality. We’ve executed hundreds of investments since inception with a focus on real estate acquisition, development, and lending. Today, we manage billions in equity, augmented by services designed to protect, support, and grow your investment.
Peachtree Group has an EB-5 visa by investment program which allows foreign nationals the opportunity to attain permanent residency in the United States. The EB-5 visa program allows you to invest in job creating projects in the U.S. creating a path to a green card for you and your family. The minimum investment is $1,050,000. However, investment in Targeted Employment Areas reduces the minimum cost to $800,000. Learn more about the EB-5 visa by investment program.
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Form I-485, or the "Application to Register Permanent Residence" allows an EB-5 investor to adjust their investor's status from a non-immigrant to a conditional permanent resident (CPR). To take advantage of this, the EB-5 investor must already be in the United States lawfully on a non-immigrant visa such as a F-1 or H-1B. The form is generally filed after the I-526E Petition which is the first step in the EB-5 visa process. This blog post explains how the Form I485 fits into the overall EB-5 process, the essential documents needed, and how to avoid potential delays in the adjustment of status journey.
The passing of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) allowed EB-5 investors to file Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-526E if visas are available. This is called concurrent filing and allows investors to remain in the US while their application is processed. In short, if you are in the U.S. you can stay in the U.S. while you wait for the adjudication of your Form I-526E Petition.
Once the I-485 is approved, the investor becomes a conditional permanent resident which is good for two years. During this time, they need to fulfil the promise they made with the I-526 form to invest in a project that creates US jobs. In order to remove the conditional and become a permanent resident, the investor must file Form I-829 or the "Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status". Once this is granted, the investor and their eligible family members receive permanent green cards.
Investor Benefits During I-485 processing:
While the I-485 is processing, EB-5 investors may also file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization" and Form I-131, "Application for Travel Document" to receive an employment authorization and travel permit, which allows them to work in the US and travel while their applications are pending.
Peachtree Group encourages ourEB-5 investors to consult with their immigration attorney and to read through the Form I-485 form instructions as the specific evidence required with theForm I-485 application may vary depending on the immigrant category you are filing under.
Documents required to be submitted with your Form I-485 include:
As November 2024, the filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440. The EB-5 investor pays additional filing fees if they are also filing Form I-765 and Form I-131. Be sure to check the USCIS website for the most up to date fee information. In addition, this site has information on what to do while you wait for your green card application.
By following the I 485 form instructions and submitting all the required evidence and supporting documentation at the time of the Form I-485 filing, EB-5 investors may avoid receiving a Request for Evidence (“RFE”) from USCIS.
Tips to prevent receiving an RFE include:
For more information about the I-526E Form and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, consider consulting the following resources:
