EB-5 program process comprises three main stages.
In the first stage, your initial I-526 petition for a conditional green card is filed with USCIS and you finalize the project in which you will invest. At this stage, we compile your initial case summary and prepare your I-526 and G-28 forms for filing. Simultaneously, we share with you the investment project documents for your review. Once you have reviewed the project, you sign the subscription documents as well as the I-526 & G-28 forms. The wiring instructions are provided to you for the transfer of the investment amount and administrative fee to the U.S. escrow account of the project. Upon confirmation of receipt of funds from the project, we attach this confirmation with your I-526 application and file the initial petition.
The initial approval of your I-526 petition normally takes around 24 months. Upon approval, you enter stage 2. At this stage after receiving I-526 approval, we schedule your interview with the nearest consulate and/or embassy. The interview is mainly for the physical verification of all the applicants. After the interview, the visa is stamped for entering the U.S. Once you land in the U.S. you obtain a conditional green card for an initial two-year period. Please note that you will be entitled to the same privileges and benefits as a permanent resident even on a conditional green card.
After holding the conditional green card for two years period, the final stage kicks in. 90 days before the expiry of the second year of the conditional green card, we apply for I-829 which is the petition for the removal of conditions on the green card. These are very general conditions, as the Government wants to verify if there is any kind of misrepresentation by the applicant in the application or if there is any criminal activity by the applicant during these two years in the U.S. The government also checks whether the applicant’s investment is still in place or not and whether 10 jobs have been created or not by that investment. Once the petition is approved, the applicant receives the final unconditional green card which is permanent in nature. By this time the investment term is also generally over so the investment is refunded to the investor as per the terms and conditions of the initial subscription agreement.