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Immigration Through Investment
Overview
Eligibility
How Do I?
Where Do I Apply
Important Notice:
Attend the USCIS September 17, 2004, Public Meeting on Regional Centers and the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program in Washington, DC! Learn more from our here.
Under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5), 10,000 immigrant visas per year are available to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their engagement in a new commercial enterprise.
Of the 10,000 investor visas (i.e., EB-5 visas) available annually, 5,000 are set aside for those who apply under a pilot program involving an CIS-designated “Regional Center.”
A "Regional Center:"
"Alien investors" must:
Permanent resident status based on EB-5 eligibility is available to investors, either alone or coming with their spouse and unmarried children. Eligible aliens are those who have invested -- or are actively in the process of investing -- the required amount of capital into a new commercial enterprise that they have established. They must further demonstrate that this investment will benefit the United States economy and create the requisite number of full-time jobs for qualified persons within the United States.
In general, "eligible individuals" include those:
For a full description of the requirements, see 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5) and 8 C.F.R. § 204.6.
...Seek Status as an Immigrant Investor
In order to seek status as an immigrant investor, you must file CIS Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. The Form I-526 must be filed with supporting documentation which clearly demonstrates that the individual’s investment meets all requirements, such as:
For a full description of the requirements, see 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5) and 8 C.F.R. § 204.6.
You can find the Form I-526 and the fee information on our Forms, Fees, and Filing Locations chart.
...Obtain Status as a Conditional Resident
Once the Form I-526 is approved, immigrant investors may obtain status as a conditional resident by:
...Become a Permanent Resident Based on Investment
In order to become a lawful permanent resident, eligible investors must file a CIS Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions. Form I-829 must be filed within 90 days before the second anniversary of an Alien Investor’s admission to the United States as a conditional resident.
For a description of the requirements for removal of conditions, see 8 C.F.R. § 216.6.
You should file the CIS Form I-526 at the CIS Service Center having jurisdiction over the area in which the new commercial enterprise will be principally doing business.
Last Modified 08/12/2004