You may wish to obtain an employment-based visa if you hope to permanently live and work in the United States. If you are business-minded and have a significant income to invest or trade, then your best bet may be to apply for an EB-5 visa. Read on to discover how to obtain a United States visa through investment and how a seasoned Baltimore County, Maryland employment immigration lawyer at Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC can help determine your eligibility.
Is it possible to obtain a United States visa through investment?
The short answer is, yes, you may obtain a United States visa by making a business investment. This is thanks to an investment green card known as the EB-5 visa. The application that is associated with this type of visa is Form I-526. Of note, the cost of submitting this application is more than other green card applications at approximately $3,675.
If your Form I-526 is approved, then you may go ahead and file for a Form DS-260 if you are abroad and seeking admission into the United States. But if you are already residing in the United States and are looking for permanent residency or an adjustment of status, then you may proceed forward with a Form I-485.
Regardless, if you are approved as an immigrant investor, your immediate family may be granted conditional permanent residency for two years, as well. As this two-year mark is approaching for you and your immediate family, specifically 90 days or more beforehand, you must file Form I-829. This similarly comes with an application fee of $3,750 and a biometric service fee of $85.
What are the eligibility factors for an EB-5 visa?
First things first, you must worry about your Form I-526 being approved. You are required to supplement this application with documentation that proves your eligibility for an EB-5 visa in the first place. That said, such documentation should point to the following circumstances as true:
- You have invested at least $1 million into a new commercial enterprise.
- The capital you invested was contributed appropriately (i.e., cash, cash equivalents, etc).
- The capital you invested is yours and was obtained lawfully.
- Your capital has or will remain invested in this enterprise for at least two years.
- You are or will be continually managing your investment in this enterprise.
- Your enterprise has created at least 10 full-time jobs for qualified employees.
- Your full-time, qualified employees have been working at least 35 hours per week.
Any discrepancy in this documentation may jeopardize your chances of obtaining an investment green card. In the end, you must take the initiative and reach out to a competent Baltimore County, Maryland immigration lawyer. Our team at Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC will be happy to serve you.
