Obtaining USA citizenship through investment allows foreign nationals to become permanent residents and eventually citizens of the United States. This program is designed to stimulate the U.S. economy by attracting foreign investment and creating jobs. Here’s how to obtain USA citizenship by investment:
Understand the EB-5 program requirements:
To qualify for the EB-5 program, foreign investors must meet specific eligibility criteria. This includes making a qualifying investment in a new commercial enterprise in the United States, creating or preserving a certain number of full-time jobs for U.S. workers, and maintaining the investment for a specified period.
Make a qualifying investment:
The minimum investment amount required for the EB-5 program varies depending on the location of the commercial enterprise. Generally, the minimum investment is $1.8 million, but it may be reduced to $900,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA), which is an area with high unemployment or rural designation.
Select a regional center or direct investment:
Investors can choose between two investment options under the EB-5 program: investing in a USCIS-approved regional center project or making a direct investment in their own commercial enterprise. Regional centers are organizations designated by USCIS that pool EB-5 investments to fund large-scale projects, while direct investments involve establishing and managing a new business.
Submit the I-526 petition:
Once the investment is made, the investor must submit an I-526 petition to USCIS to demonstrate eligibility for the EB-5 program. The petition should include evidence of the investment, business plan, job creation projections, and other supporting documents. Upon approval, the investor and their immediate family members (spouse and unmarried children under 21) can apply for conditional permanent residency.
Obtain conditional permanent residency:
If the I-526 petition is approved, the investor and their family members will be granted conditional permanent residency for a period of two years. During this conditional residency period, the investor must fulfill the requirements of the EB-5 program; including creating or preserving the required number of full-time jobs.
File the I-829 petition:
Within the 90-day period before the end of the conditional residency period, the investor must file an I-829 petition to remove the conditions on their permanent residency. This petition requires evidence that the investment was sustained, the required jobs were created or preserved, and the investor complied with all EB-5 program requirements.