The EB-5 visa program represents the most expedited pathway to obtaining a US Green Card, which subsequently can facilitate the acquisition of US citizenship through the Naturalization process. According to Bloomberg Law, the revised fees for the EB-5 investor visa program have received approval from the Office of Management and Budget, marking a final step prior to the official announcement. To pursue a U.S. green card via the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, foreign investors are required to complete Form I-526. At present, the filing fee for Form I-526 is set at $11,160. Furthermore, the overall expense for an EB-5 investor visa varies between $21,130 and $22,225, contingent upon the location of filing. The EB-5 visa program is regarded as the swiftest route to securing a US Green Card. Consequently, through the Naturalization process, holders of green cards can achieve US citizenship. Green card holders are recognized as lawful permanent residents of the US, permitted to reside and work in the US legally. In order to acquire the EB-5 visa, foreign nationals must invest $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or $1,050,000 in other regions, while also creating or preserving a minimum of ten full-time jobs for American workers. The EB-5 program provides immigrants with a pathway to a green card by investing in businesses that generate employment opportunities within the United States.
A significant portion of the funds invested through this program is directed towards entities known as regional centers, which enable multiple visa applicants to combine their investments. EB-5 Visa Program Process Form I-526 must be submitted for the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, while Form I-526E, or the Immigrant Petition by a Regional Center Investor, serves as a document for foreign investors aiming to secure a US green card through the EB-5 program by investing in a USCIS-approved regional center. The I-526 petition confers two years of conditional residency in the US as part of the EB-5 visa application process. To transition to an EB-5 visa holder and permanent resident, an I-829 petition must be submitted prior to the expiration of the conditional residency, a process that typically takes between 22 to 45 months.
