US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

No, to date there are no language requirements to apply to the EB-5 visa program.

No. To date, there are no age restrictions for the EB-5 investor program.

The transfer of your capital is made once the legal team has completed compilation of your I-526E application and immediately prior to its submission with USCIS. The confirmation of your transfer will be included in your application. However, Step Global, an immigration consultant in Dubai, may ask for partial finance and payment plans for our clients depending on the project. This provides investors the flexibility to enter the application queue immediately with a deposit while continuing to fund the total investment in installments over time through a payment plan. 

Should any or all parts of your investment be returned, it can only happen after the sustainment period and/or I-829 petition is filed to ensure to the US government that your funds remained invested. The terms of repayment should be specified in writing within the project offering documents and legal contracts signed between the Regional Centers, developers, and investors at the time of the initial investment.

If your application I-526E is denied, the capital investment which was placed in the U.S. escrow account will be returned to you within a commercially reasonable period of time. The terms of return of capital investment should be specified in writing within the project offering documents and legal contracts signed between the Regional Centers, developers, and investors at the time of the initial investment. Any Sponsorship, legal, and consultancy fees will be deemed non-refundable upon payment.

Yes, a student who is also a green card holder is considered a domestic student and thus pays significantly less for college and university tuition than international students. For instance, undergraduate residents at the top public university in 2022 – the University of California – Los Angeles – paid approximately $13,268 in annual tuition, compared to approximately $43,022 for international students. This means that you can save approximately $30,000 on a yearly basis per child. A student holding a U.S. green card and willing to obtain a master’s degree will save up to $150,000 within five years. This benefit is especially helpful for families who choose to send multiple children to the US for post-secondary education or children who are obtaining multiple degrees.

Yes, you can travel in and out of the US while the EB-5 application is in the process if you have a valid visitor visa. Once your I-526 petition is approved and a conditional green card is issued you can live in the US while awaiting the approval of your I-829 petition for you to become a US permanent resident.

As of March 15, 2022, the US government also introduced the concept of Adjustment of Status (AOS) Concurrent filing for EB-5 applicants. This means that those already in the US on any legal visa status can apply to adjust their status from within the US while waiting for their EB-5 application to be processed. Along with this submission, they can submit for an Employment Authorization Card and Travel Document. Within months, the applicant will have the ability to legally live and work in the US without employer sponsorship while they wait for their EB-5 green card application to process and their visa to be obtained.

In order to apply for US citizenship, you must stay in the US for two and a half years out of five years as a permanent resident/green card holder. This is easy for students who are already studying in the US.

Step Global is an immigration consultancy and advisory firm based in Dubai specializing in facilitating the Canada Startup Visa Program and the Portugal Golden Visa Program, which grant permanent residency in Canada and Portugal, respectively.

Dubai residents may choose to invest in the US EB-5 Investor Visa route if they’re looking to migrate to the United States to access new job opportunities. Many Dubai Residents also apply to the EB-5 Investor visa to unlock educational benefits for their children studying in the United States such as lower tuition fees, access to scholarships and limited program spots, and overcome job limitations during education. The EB-5 Visa Program also allows F-1 international students who have graduated from a US university and were unable to secure an H1-B visa to remain in the US and work without the need of employer sponsorship.

In 2023, the industries or businesses that qualify for the EB-5 visa are generally diverse. While there are no strict industry restrictions, it’s important to meet the program’s criteria for job creation and capital investment. It’s advisable to consult with the Step Global immigration professionals to ensure your business aligns with the program’s guidelines. For those who are not planning to establish a business in the US, they can select and invest in one of the government-approved projects which will be presented to applicants by the Step Global lawyers directly.