EB-5 Visa Law and Legal Definition
The EB-5 Visa provides a green card for Immigrant Investors who 1) invest at least $1,000,000, and create at least 10 jobs anywhere in the USA, or 2) invest at least $500,000, and create at least 10 jobs in an area where the unemployment rate exceeds the national average unemployment rate by 150%, or 3) Invest at least $500,000 under a Pilot Program in a regional center. A “Regional Center” is defined as any economic unit, public or private, engaged in the promotion of economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation and increased domestic capital investment. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has designated specific areas as Regional Centers. These Regional Centers are eligible to receive immigrant investor capital. Of the 10,000 EB-5 Visas available annually, 5,000 are set aside for those who apply under a pilot program in a "Regional Center."
The EB-5 Visa provides the most flexible path to a green card. The EB-5 Visa does not require the applicant to manage the day-to-day affairs of a business. One may invest in an existing business, or a new business. More than one person may invest in the same business. The EB-5 investor may even be a minority owner of the business.