International Investing Into USA Real Estate and Business Opportunities - Immigration Investing
Is it right for you? Do you have what it takes?
The United States is a land of opportunity. America welcomes successful business people.
Despite global crisis, American economy is stable and will survive and thrive. Large, multi cultural population: every country of the world is represented. American public receptive to goods and services from other parts of the world: ex. Mexican salsa now sells more than ketchup. America has a business friendly, transparent and safe environment. Successful business person can enjoy fruits of his labor without risk to his person or family. A successful business person can relocate himself and his family (wife and children under 21) to America and become lawful U.S. residents and citizens.
How can I succeed in America?
America is a land of laws: Successful business owners need to follow the law. Successful business people surround themselves with honest, successful and competent advisors: business counselors, attorneys, accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents. Successful business people invest wisely: they create the right structures, hire good people and focus on providing the goods and services that Americans want and need. Successful business people do business the American way; not the way they do/did it at home
A Promising Tool for Foreign Buyers
If you are an international customer who would like to buy real estate and retire in the United States or simply acquire unrestricted access to entering the US, you have probably already learned that there is no visa option that specifically addresses your needs. Because of this, foreign nationals have long held back from buying real estate ... the hurdles to obtaining permanent residency status are simply too great.
But for clients with the financial wherewithal, there are two viable options. There are the Regional Center EB-5 Program, informally known as the "investment visa" and the Business Acquisition L-1 Program, for owners and management level employees of companies that open or acquire a business in the United States.
EB-5 Program Detail
L-1 Program
Prominence Capital Advisors facilitates in the process of acquiring or starting up of your business investment venture in the US. We manage, develop, administer and staff your project for you during, and if requested after, your visa petition period.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND TRUST IS THE KEY OF OUR SUCCESS!
The EB-5 Program
The program is intended to attract foreign sources of capital into the United States for development projects that can provide employment for American workers. It allows foreign nationals, whether they are working or not, to own property anywhere in the United States and to travel in and out of the country as they please, as well as obtain green cards for themselves, their spouse, and unmarried children under the age of 21.
What’s the Catch? (EB-5 Regional Center Green Cards ONLY)
To obtain Lawful Permanent Resident Status (a Green Card!!), foreign nationals must invest a specified amount of money (usually $500,000, but sometimes $1 million) in a commercial enterprise that is located in a geographical area classified as a "Regional Center" approved and designated by the U.S. government (USCIS). There are currently more than 80 such Regional Centers, more than half of them established just in the past 12 to 18 months, and each one is approved for different types of projects. To name just a few, South Dakota (“SDIBI”) has different dairy projects, Florida Overseas Investment Center (“FOIC”) has projects all over Florida, CMB Export is involved in infrastructure projects in California, American Life in Seattle focuses on urban commercial redevelopment, Vermont focuses on ski condominiums (Sugarbush and Jay Peak), and the Los Angeles center invests in movie studios. The investor into a Regional Center project is a passive investor; which means they don’t take part in the daily operation of the business and are typically Limited Partners into these ventures.
Investors don't have to live in the same state as the Regional Center; they are free to live wherever they like, work wherever they like, go to school or even retire. Each Regional Center has a contact person who can provide a prospectus and information regarding investments in that center. An immigration attorney who is knowledgeable about EB5 projects will be able to provide a list of established regional centers and contact names.
As with any investment, due diligence is very important to determine the safety of your investment and the expected rate of return. Prominence Capital Advisors LLC and our affiliates provide such due diligence for potential investors. You should also have an accountant, lawyer, or other financial adviser review the details and provide guidance in connection with the Regional Center that is chosen.
Before you are allowed to invest your money in a Regional Center, you will have to go through a vetting process. The government has stringent requirements for documenting the lawful source of the funds; if the funds are gifted, there is a process for validating the source of those funds as well. Investors can expect the process (from the time of investment to the issuance of the green cards) to take between 8 to 18 months (if investors are outside of the United States when the I-526 is approved, extra time is needed to schedule an appointment at the US Embassy in your country).
How Does the Process Work?
Procedurally, obtaining a Green Card through EB5 Regional Center investment works like this:
1. After placing USD $500,000 into escrow account designated by attorney/Regional Center (each Regional Center operates a bit differently for their escrow accounts), I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur is submitted to USCIS at the California Service Center for adjudication.
2. Upon approval of the I-526 (current processing time is 5 months), investor and all included family members Adjust Status to Lawful Permanent Residents.
i. If inside the United States, the application is sent again to California Service Center.
ii. If outside the United States, the California Service Center forwards I-526 approval to the National Visa Center (“NVC”) who forwards it on to the pertinent US Embassy in your home country. NVC works with your attorney to continue processing your Green Card and investor will be scheduled to attend interview at US Embassy abroad for stamp in passport showing Lawful Permanent Resident status has been approved.
3. 21 months after issuance of Green Card, I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions must be filed at California Service Center and upon approval, conditions lifted and 10 year Green Card is issued. 5 years after first issuance of Green Card investor is eligible to apply for US Citizenship through Naturalization application if they desire (N-400 Application for Naturalization).
A Good Fit for Some
Because of its cost and requirements, this program isn't for everyone. Customers who want to be in the United States only for part of the year will do fine with a visitor's visa. Generally, foreign nationals who can prove continuing ties to their home country are able to visit the United States for up to six months as long as they don't work here. Canadians may travel without a visa to the United States and may stay for up to six months. For foreign nationals from “visa waiver countries" who are accustomed to traveling without a visa, their stay in the United States is limited to three months with no extension of stay possible. If they want to stay six months, they also need to obtain a visitor's visa.
But for those who want total flexibility to live, work or simply retire in the United States as they like, and who have the resources to invest, the EB5 Regional Center Green Card can make that possible.
Note: This column provides general information only. Information is not provided as advice for a specific matter, nor does its publication create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary from one state to another. For advice on a specific matter, consult your attorney and CPA.
The United States is a land of opportunity. America welcomes successful business people.
Despite global crisis, American economy is stable and will survive and thrive. Large, multi cultural population: every country of the world is represented. American public receptive to goods and services from other parts of the world: ex. Mexican salsa now sells more than ketchup. America has a business friendly, transparent and safe environment. Successful business person can enjoy fruits of his labor without risk to his person or family. A successful business person can relocate himself and his family (wife and children under 21) to America and become lawful U.S. residents and citizens.
How can I succeed in America?
America is a land of laws: Successful business owners need to follow the law. Successful business people surround themselves with honest, successful and competent advisors: business counselors, attorneys, accountants, real estate agents, insurance agents. Successful business people invest wisely: they create the right structures, hire good people and focus on providing the goods and services that Americans want and need. Successful business people do business the American way; not the way they do/did it at home
A Promising Tool for Foreign Buyers
If you are an international customer who would like to buy real estate and retire in the United States or simply acquire unrestricted access to entering the US, you have probably already learned that there is no visa option that specifically addresses your needs. Because of this, foreign nationals have long held back from buying real estate ... the hurdles to obtaining permanent residency status are simply too great.
But for clients with the financial wherewithal, there are two viable options. There are the Regional Center EB-5 Program, informally known as the "investment visa" and the Business Acquisition L-1 Program, for owners and management level employees of companies that open or acquire a business in the United States.
EB-5 Program Detail
L-1 Program
Prominence Capital Advisors facilitates in the process of acquiring or starting up of your business investment venture in the US. We manage, develop, administer and staff your project for you during, and if requested after, your visa petition period.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND TRUST IS THE KEY OF OUR SUCCESS!
The EB-5 Program
The program is intended to attract foreign sources of capital into the United States for development projects that can provide employment for American workers. It allows foreign nationals, whether they are working or not, to own property anywhere in the United States and to travel in and out of the country as they please, as well as obtain green cards for themselves, their spouse, and unmarried children under the age of 21.
What’s the Catch? (EB-5 Regional Center Green Cards ONLY)
To obtain Lawful Permanent Resident Status (a Green Card!!), foreign nationals must invest a specified amount of money (usually $500,000, but sometimes $1 million) in a commercial enterprise that is located in a geographical area classified as a "Regional Center" approved and designated by the U.S. government (USCIS). There are currently more than 80 such Regional Centers, more than half of them established just in the past 12 to 18 months, and each one is approved for different types of projects. To name just a few, South Dakota (“SDIBI”) has different dairy projects, Florida Overseas Investment Center (“FOIC”) has projects all over Florida, CMB Export is involved in infrastructure projects in California, American Life in Seattle focuses on urban commercial redevelopment, Vermont focuses on ski condominiums (Sugarbush and Jay Peak), and the Los Angeles center invests in movie studios. The investor into a Regional Center project is a passive investor; which means they don’t take part in the daily operation of the business and are typically Limited Partners into these ventures.
Investors don't have to live in the same state as the Regional Center; they are free to live wherever they like, work wherever they like, go to school or even retire. Each Regional Center has a contact person who can provide a prospectus and information regarding investments in that center. An immigration attorney who is knowledgeable about EB5 projects will be able to provide a list of established regional centers and contact names.
As with any investment, due diligence is very important to determine the safety of your investment and the expected rate of return. Prominence Capital Advisors LLC and our affiliates provide such due diligence for potential investors. You should also have an accountant, lawyer, or other financial adviser review the details and provide guidance in connection with the Regional Center that is chosen.
Before you are allowed to invest your money in a Regional Center, you will have to go through a vetting process. The government has stringent requirements for documenting the lawful source of the funds; if the funds are gifted, there is a process for validating the source of those funds as well. Investors can expect the process (from the time of investment to the issuance of the green cards) to take between 8 to 18 months (if investors are outside of the United States when the I-526 is approved, extra time is needed to schedule an appointment at the US Embassy in your country).
How Does the Process Work?
Procedurally, obtaining a Green Card through EB5 Regional Center investment works like this:
1. After placing USD $500,000 into escrow account designated by attorney/Regional Center (each Regional Center operates a bit differently for their escrow accounts), I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur is submitted to USCIS at the California Service Center for adjudication.
2. Upon approval of the I-526 (current processing time is 5 months), investor and all included family members Adjust Status to Lawful Permanent Residents.
i. If inside the United States, the application is sent again to California Service Center.
ii. If outside the United States, the California Service Center forwards I-526 approval to the National Visa Center (“NVC”) who forwards it on to the pertinent US Embassy in your home country. NVC works with your attorney to continue processing your Green Card and investor will be scheduled to attend interview at US Embassy abroad for stamp in passport showing Lawful Permanent Resident status has been approved.
3. 21 months after issuance of Green Card, I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions must be filed at California Service Center and upon approval, conditions lifted and 10 year Green Card is issued. 5 years after first issuance of Green Card investor is eligible to apply for US Citizenship through Naturalization application if they desire (N-400 Application for Naturalization).
A Good Fit for Some
Because of its cost and requirements, this program isn't for everyone. Customers who want to be in the United States only for part of the year will do fine with a visitor's visa. Generally, foreign nationals who can prove continuing ties to their home country are able to visit the United States for up to six months as long as they don't work here. Canadians may travel without a visa to the United States and may stay for up to six months. For foreign nationals from “visa waiver countries" who are accustomed to traveling without a visa, their stay in the United States is limited to three months with no extension of stay possible. If they want to stay six months, they also need to obtain a visitor's visa.
But for those who want total flexibility to live, work or simply retire in the United States as they like, and who have the resources to invest, the EB5 Regional Center Green Card can make that possible.
Note: This column provides general information only. Information is not provided as advice for a specific matter, nor does its publication create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary from one state to another. For advice on a specific matter, consult your attorney and CPA.
