The US EB 5 investment visa is an immigrant investor program authorized primarily under the Immigration Act of 1990. The fifth priority visa, the Regional Center Program, is designed to increase foreign job creation and large-scale capital investment. The EB5 Investment Visa Program allows immigrant investors to become legal permanent residents of the United States. A permanent resident of the United States is also casually referred to as a “green card holder.”
Under the EB5 investor visa, aspiring investors receive a two-year conditional green card to meet investment requirements and create jobs in low-employment areas of the United States. The US eb5 investor visa is a permanent residence route for qualified individuals. In this priority five employment-based pool, immigrant investors can also bring spouses and dependent children over the age of 21.
Now that you are ready to submit your EB-5 visa application, you may wonder how much fee you will have to pay before your application is processed. Depending on the circumstances, you may only have one or two fee obligations, but you may be charged an additional fee for each family member added to your application. Keep reading this article to explore eb5 green card cost in detail.
How much does it cost to get EB5 green card?
The costs associated with the EB-5 investment process can be categorized into distinct categories, typically including investment costs, administrative fees, attorney fees, and USCIS filing fees. Here is the breakdown of the total eb5 green card cost.
Investment amount- The minimum investment is $500,000 and can only be used to invest in projects located in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA). The minimum investment required for a modular project (other than a TEA) is $1 million.
Administrative Fees- General management costs are usually around $50,000. These fees are charged to EB-5 investors by the issuer of the investment offering as operating and marketing costs.
Lawyer’s fees- Hiring an immigration attorney with EB-5 experience costs about $15,000 to $25,000. Attorney fees may include filing all necessary EB-5 forms (I-526, I-485, I-829), or the attorney may charge a fee for each step.
USCIS fee
I-526 filing fee: $3,675. This is the first investor solicitation.
Petition I-485: $1,225 for applicants ages 14 to 78. $750 for applicants under 14. $1,140 for applicants 79 and over. This form is used to reconcile the status of US resident applicants with an approved I-526 petition.
Fee for DS-260 (consular processing): USD 325. This form is for applicants residing outside the United States with an approved I-526 petition. Form DS-260 replaces the need for the I-485 application and associated fees.
I-829 filing fee: $3750. Additionally, applicants and each descendant between the ages of 14 and 79 will be charged an $85 biometrics fee. Form I-829 is filed to show evidence of adequate job creation and removal of the requirement for permanent residence.
So, the total eb5 green card cost can be as follows
Investments ($500,000 to $1,000,000) + Administrative Fee ($50,000) + Legal Fee ($15,000 to $25,000) + USCIS Fee ($8,585 to $9,655) = Total (573 $585 to $1,084,655)
Remember that the eb5 green card cost is generally payable to the National Visa Center or USCIS and is non-refundable. Some immigrants may request a waiver of certain fees based on recent financial hardship. However, these applications must be reviewed by USCIS to determine whether the applicant is eligible for a waiver. Waivers are not available to EB-5 investors.
Each investment in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program must be “risked” for potential losses or gains so that each asset may have some financial consequences. Capital and full return on capital with return on investment. Professional due diligence gives investors the best chance of achieving positive financial results.
Summary
EB5 visa is one of the simplest but the most expensive methods to get permanent residency in the United States. The EB5 status allows foreign citizens (including Italians) to directly apply for a residence permit, known as a “Green Card” or permanent residence, by investing money. The amount to invest is between half a million and a million dollars. This is a substantial figure, but it should be noted that recently the amounts have been almost halved. Once you have obtained the Green Card for the investor and their family, they will need to reside in the United States for five years before they can apply for citizenship, which will entitle you to an American passport and enjoy all the privileges that American citizenship entails. For those more interested in passive investment, it is advisable to rely on a Regional Center to obtain the EB-5 visa.
