美国国务院每个月都会发布官方 签证公告，这是有关美国签证可用性信息的来源。它显示了哪些获批准的移民申请人可以根据原始申请的提交日期继续获得移民签证：如果您的EB-5申请获得美国公民及移民服务局的批准，请查看签证公告表，看看目前是否有签证可供您使用。
每年有14万张基于就业的绿卡可用，每个 “偏好” 类别都有特定的限额。美国移民法还根据原籍国对可用的绿卡数量设定了限制。在所有以家庭为基础和基于就业的类别中签发的绿卡中，任何单一原籍国所占的比例都不能超过7％。
尽管对于大多数国家来说通常不是问题，但这种原籍国上限可能会给来自中国和印度的EB-5投资者造成积压。（通常，来自墨西哥或菲律宾的EB-5申请人不足以为这些国家造成积压，而这些国家是唯一受原籍国上限限制的其他国家。）
潜在的 EB-5 参与者应参阅签证公告，了解他们在 I-526 之后是否可以立即获得签证，或 I-526E 申请获得批准。最新签证公告中的EB-5图表显示以下内容：
该签证公告显示，目前只有在 “旧” EB-5计划下获得批准的投资者有待处理的项目，该计划是在EB-5计划之前实施的 2022年EB-5改革与诚信法案 （“RIA”），于2022年3月15日生效。
但是，对于中印两国在实施RIA之前的投资者来说，也有好消息，因为中国申请人的申请日期已从2015年12月15日推迟到2016年7月15日，印度申请人的申请日期已从2020年12月1日推迟到2022年1月1日。在规定的截止日期（中国为2016年7月15日；印度为2022年1月1日）之后根据旧计划申请的中国和印度投资者无法立即寻求签证并移居美国。他们必须等待列出的日期才能提前到申请的申请日期，通常称为 “优先日期”。
请注意，只有EB-5中的 “非保留” 优先类别显示截止日期。EB-5的新保留优先类别均显示为 “C” 或 “当前”，这意味着任何获得批准的与RIA创建的新保留签证相关的EB-5申请的人都可以开始移民到美国的程序，即使是来自中国和印度的移民也是如此。
传统的EB-5观点是，国家上限是在每个优先类别中计算的，而不是在所有优先类别中计算的。这意味着在任何保留的签证类别中，没有一个国家可以拥有超过EB-5签证的7％。
这是错误的。
在一个 2023 年 3 月 28 日美国联邦公报公告，美国政府承认他们计算的国家上限不正确，并概述了今后将如何计算国家上限。
自2023年4月起，国家上限是根据所有优先类别的签证总数计算的，包括家庭签证和基于就业的签证。来自特定县的移民在该国所有优惠类别的申请达到7％之前，不受国家上限的限制。
一旦特定国家的家庭签证和就业签证申请均达到7％，国务院将根据所有类别的优先日期，在每个优先类别中对该特定国家的申请进行积压。
本签证公告显示，中国、印度、墨西哥和菲律宾的家庭和就业类签证均已达到7％的上限。由于墨西哥和菲律宾不是EB-5优先权的大用户，因此中国和印度是目前唯一受EB-5无保留签证国家上限限制的国家。除非另一个国家达到所有优惠类别的7％配额，否则我们不应指望这些国家的EB-5申请会出现积压。
截止日期与现实世界的日历不一致。中国和印度上次更改日期是：
签证公告日期由国务院根据美国公民及移民服务局提供的有关批准申请的信息计算。这些图表没有显示以前可能已经提交但尚未获得批准的请愿书的影响。
《签证公告》是故事的结局。要知道潜在移民可能需要等待多长时间，重要的是要了解他们之前可能有多少请愿书正在处理中。
可以把《签证公告》想象成高速公路上的收费广场。它列出了收费站的线路长度，并将存在积压的特定国家/地区的线路分开。但是，签证公告并未显示有多少汽车在前往收费广场的途中在高速公路上。这些是待处理的请愿书。这些信息通常不公开，但是EB-5行业团体一直在努力获取这些信息。我们将单独提供对这些信息的分析。
并行申报是一种机制，已经在美国的EB-5投资者可以在第一份 I-526E 表格申请的同时提交某些表格，而不必等到该申请获得批准。通过同时申报，投资者可以同时填写和提交其 I-485 表格（申请永久居留权或调整身份）和 I-526E 表格的申请。
通常，这将允许这些投资者在没有任何其他签证的情况下进出美国，并且无需任何单独的就业担保或签证即可在美国合法工作。这些投资者可能会在 I-526E 申请待审期间获得这些好处， 不管他们之前可能已经提交了多少请愿书。
用我们的比喻来说，这意味着无论前方有多少辆汽车在高速公路上。只要收费站还没有排队，您就可以申请这些福利。本质上，如果你在这里，你可以待在这里。
对EB-5有疑问，访问我们的 网站 或者联系亚当·格林， 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:
