这个 EB-5 签证计划 是外国投资者在美国寻求永久居留权的一条途径。EB-5区域中心计划之所以脱颖而出,是因为它汇集了特定地理区域的投资,刺激了经济增长和创造就业机会。
为了改善区域中心计划的管理,由四名美国国会议员组成的两党团体于2024年2月5日推出了《EB-5区域中心计划咨询委员会授权法》。作为会议的一部分,桃树集团EB-5执行副总裁亚当·格林最近在华盛顿特区与国会工作人员会面 IIUSA 季度飞入。这是一次忙碌的一天会议,与18个国会办公室讨论了EB-5问题。以下是IIUSA代表团向工作人员解释的内容:
什么是《EB-5区域中心项目咨询委员会授权法》?
由IIUSA支持的《EB-5区域中心项目咨询委员会授权法》将在内部设立一个咨询委员会 美国公民及移民服务局 (USCIS)就区域中心计划的管理进行沟通、协调和建议。
该法案的目的是设立一个咨询委员会,就区域中心计划的管理问题向移民局进行沟通、协调和建议。
EB-5投资者的主要好处:
- 增强透明度和问责制: EB-5区域中心项目咨询委员会授权法案的显著优势之一是促进该计划内的透明度和问责制。通过建立一个由来自不同背景的利益相关者(包括EB-5投资者、开发商和区域中心代表)组成的咨询委员会,该法案确保所有相关方的利益得到代表。透明度的提高可以使BE-5投资者对该计划的完整性和决策过程更有信心。
- 简化计划运营: 该法案授权的咨询委员会将在简化EB-5区域中心计划的运营方面发挥至关重要的作用。通过提供有关监管和政策变更的建议,以及应对区域中心面临的运营挑战,该委员会可以为提高该计划的效率和对EB-5投资者的需求的响应做出贡献。这种精简可以缩短投资者申请的处理时间,并为该计划的参与者提供更顺畅的整体体验。
- 改善了冲击力: EB-5区域中心咨询委员会授权法案的另一个好处是有可能改善EB-5计划的影响。该咨询委员会将负责评估区域中心项目的有效性,并就增强其经济影响力和创造就业机会的潜力提出建议。通过促进符合该计划目标的高质量项目的开发,EB-5投资可以提供更好的经济影响和更高的安全性。
- 缓解风险: 成立一个专注于EB-5区域中心计划的顾问委员会也为降低与EB-5投资相关的风险提供了机会。通过对区域中心活动和结构的持续讨论,该委员会可以帮助该行业构建符合EB-5规则和法规的投资。这种积极的风险管理方法可以帮助保护EB-5投资者的利益,维护整个计划的完整性。
《EB-5区域中心项目咨询委员会授权法》将帮助EB-5投资者驾驭美国EB-5计划的复杂格局。作为IIUSA的官员和公共政策委员会的成员,Peachtree的亚当·格林能够参与与决策者的讨论,以完善该立法的细节。EB-5投资者可以期待潜在的改进,这将增强他们对该计划的信心,为成功的结果铺平道路。
有关以下内容的更多信息 EB-5 签证计划 要了解桃树集团的产品,请联系亚当·格林, agreene@peachtreegroup.com。
关于桃树集团
桃树集团 是一个 投资公司推动增长 拥有多元化的商业房地产资产和其他风险投资组合,专攻酒店业。自成立以来,我们已经进行了数百项投资,重点是房地产收购、开发和贷款。今天,我们管理着数十亿美元的股权,并辅之以旨在保护、支持和增加您的投资的服务。
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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.
H-1B vs. EB-5: Understanding the Key Differences
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:
- Live and work anywhere in the United States
- Include your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 in your application
- Avoid the stress of visa renewals and employer dependencies
Can You Convert from H-1B to EB-5?
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:
- Make an $800,000 investment in a qualifying Regional Center project
- Create jobs for U.S. workers through your investment
- Demonstrate a legitimate source of investment funds
Acceptable funding sources for H-1B holders include:
- Accumulated earnings verified by wage statements and tax returns
- Personal savings and investments
- Retirement plan funds
- Secured loans or documented gifts
The Timeline and Process for EB-5 Approval
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.
Understanding Concurrent Filing Benefits and Risks
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.
Making an Informed Decision
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.
Taking the Next Step
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.
Understanding EB-5 Visa Annual Limits: Navigating Country Caps and USCIS Regulations
For international investors dreaming of permanent U.S. residency, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a promising pathway—but navigating its complex landscape, which includes EB-5 visa annual limits, requires more than just capital.
Imagine investing substantial funds in a U.S. project, only to discover that your country's immigration quota could dramatically impact your timeline for obtaining a green card. Each year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implements intricate EB-5 annual limits and country-specific caps that can significantly affect your immigration journey.
These regulations aren't just bureaucratic footnotes; they're critical strategic considerations that can mean the difference between immediate progress and years of unexpected waiting. Read on to learn what you need to know about navigating these restrictions.
The Evolution of EB-5 Country Limits: A Paradigm Shift
Conventional wisdom states that the EB5 visa country cap is calculated within each preference category, not across all preference categories.
Conventional EB-5 wisdom on country caps is wrong.
A US Federal Register announcement dated March 28, 2023, dramatically transformed how EB-5 visa annual limits are calculated. This update represents a significant change in understanding EB-5 country limits, offering new perspectives for investors navigating the complex immigration landscape.
Key Changes in EB-5 Visa Allocation
Since April 2023, the latest news on EB-5 visa calculations reveals a comprehensive approach to annual limits:
- Visas are now calculated across ALL preference categories
- Family-based and employment-based visas are considered together
- A new method for tracking country-specific visa usage has been implemented
This approach means immigrants from a particular country are not subject to EB-5 country limits until applications across ALL preference categories reach 7% of the total available visas.
Understanding the EB-5 Annual Limit and 7% Rule
The USCIS annual limits are governed by a nuanced 7% country cap mechanism designed to prevent any single country from dominating immigration allocations. Here are the three basic things you need to know to understand how the limits are governed:
- Total Visa Pool: Annual allocation of visas across various categories
- Proportional Allocation: No country can receive more than 7% of total visas
- Backlog Mechanism: Priority date-based restrictions when 7% threshold is reached
Current Landscape of EB-5 Country Limits
Four countries have reached the critical 7% cap across family-based and employment-based visas, they are China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.
For China and India, this means significant waiting periods and strategic investment planning. Mexico and the Philippines experience minimal practical impact due to lower EB-5 application volumes.
Strategic Implications for EB-5 Investors
Investors from countries outside of China and India enjoy significant advantages in navigating EB-5 annual limits. These investors face fewer restrictions, with greater flexibility in project selection and potentially faster processing times under current USCIS regulations.
Conversely, investors from China and India encounter more complex EB-5 country limits. These nations experience heightened scrutiny and longer waiting periods, requiring more sophisticated immigration and investment strategies to navigate the annual visa constraints.
Further, the EB-5 country limits are treated separately for the unreserved EB-5 category and each of the reserved categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure). To understand current backlogs for the reserved categories, and any recent changes, pay close attention to the monthly visa bulletin put out by the Department of State.
Investment Strategies to Manage EB-5 Annual Limits
Understanding the EB-5 annual limit is crucial for successful immigration planning. Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs, both rural and high unemployment areas) offer a strategic approach to managing visa allocations, providing:
- Reduced minimum investment ($800,000 vs. $1,050,000)
- Potential acceleration through high-unemployment or rural project designations
Proactive planning becomes essential in managing USCIS annual limits. Investors should consult EB-5 immigration experts to help develop comprehensive long-term strategies and understand intricate priority date implications.
Key Takeaway on EB-5 Annual Limits
While USCIS annual limits and country caps are critical, they should not be the sole focus of your EB-5 investment strategy. Be sure to consider project quality, job creation potential, long-term investment objectives and your own personal and family immigration goals.
Mastering EB-5 Visa Annual Limits
The EB-5 visa landscape continues to evolve, with recent USCIS updates providing new opportunities and challenges. By understanding the nuanced approach to annual limits and country caps, investors can make informed decisions that align with their immigration and investment aspirations.
Ready to navigate the complexities of EB-5 visa annual limits? Contact Peachtree Group today for a personalized consultation.
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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USCIS Form I-485 for EB-5 Investors Explained
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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.
Concurrent Filing
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.
Conditional Permanent Residency
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.
I-485 Filing Requirements: Documents to be submitted with your Form I-485
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:
- Passport-style photographs
- Government-Issued identity document with photograph
- Birth Certificate
- Inspection and Admission or Inspection and Parole
- Passport page with admission or parole stamp;
- Passport page with nonimmigrant visa; and
- FormI-94 Arrival-Departure Record.
- Evidence of Maintenance of Status
- Original Sealed Medical Exam Results (FormI-693)
I-485 EB5 Filing Costs
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.
Prevent unnecessary delays in the adjudication of Form I-485
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:
- Form I-693, Report of Immigration MedicalExamination and Vaccination Record
- Only a USCIS designated civil surgeon can perform this medical examination in the United States. The civil surgeon will document the results of the examination on Form I-693. USCIS considers a complete Form I-693 to remain valid for two years from the date the civil surgeon signs the form.
- Due to the limited time validity of Form I-693, EB-5 investors are not required to submit Form I-693 at the time they file their adjustment application but may select to do so in order to avoid a RFE and delay the adjudication process. USCIS cannot approve the Form I-485 without having the report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, so if the Form I-693 is not filed with the adjustment of status, USCIS will have to issue an REF to obtain the medical report.
- File all required initial evidence and supporting documentation as described in the form instructions; and
- Use the current edition of Form I-485
Additional Resources
For more information about the I-526E Form and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, consider consulting the following resources:
- USCIS Website: Access official forms, instructions, and updates on processing times.
- A Simple Guide to EB-5 Immigration by Investment
- Immigration Attorneys: Seek legal advice from professionals specializing in EB-5 cases. If you are not familiar with an immigration attorney, contact Peachtree Group, our team can give you contact information for several knowledgeable lawyers.
- Contact Peachtree Group: Contact Peachtree Group for guidance on specific investment opportunities and compliance requirements.
- Learn more about the Peachtree Advantage
- What is form I-526E for EB-5 investors?
- What is Form I-826 for EB-5?