One of the most reliable ways for a foreign national to become a citizen of the U.S is through citizenship by investment. The USA Investment Visa program paves the way for foreign nationals to obtain U.S. residency and citizenship by creating economic opportunities and employment. Like most procedures, it requires an individual to obtain an EB-5 green card.

In the past, foreign investors who were prepared and able to invest $500,000 or $1 million in the American economy were granted the EB-5 immigrant visa. However, as per the revised rule, starting on November 21, 2019, prospective EB-5 applicants must invest at least $900,000 or $1.8 million.

If you plan to walk on this path to obtain your U.S. citizenship, this blog post will serve as a guide to help you obtain your visa and, eventually, citizenship.

The tips are as follows-

Find an EB-5 Project

The EB-5 Program extends numerous business opportunities for foreign nationals to venture into. This type of investment can either be a direct or a regional project.

Regional centres refer to business organisations approved by the U.S. government to provide services and platforms to assist foreign investors in managing their EB-5 investments. On the other hand, a direct project is a separate business venture established by a USA EB5 Visa. Under this project, you can invest in any existing regional centre dealing in a sector which is most appropriate for direct investment.

File the I-526 Petition

After investing in a project, file an I-526 to officially petition the USCIS for the EB-5 Visa. As this is a crucial step in the procedure of citizenship by investment, ensure the form is filled out appropriately. If not, then you are at risk of major delays or even rejection of your EB-5 visa and U.S. citizenship.

The I-526 petition includes different sections which require you to fill in your biographic information, details about your family as well as the business you’ve invested in. In addition, you must also provide evidence of investment funds placed at risk, prepared by an attorney, a business plan, and proof showcasing that the investment capital has been obtained from a legitimate source.

On average, it takes 12-18 months to process an I-526 petition. After your application is processed and approved, you will get a notice from the USCIS.

Get Conditional Residence

An approved I-526 will either make way for you to file for adjustment of status or apply for an immigrant visa. If you don’t reside in the USA, you’re required to file a DS-260 online immigrant visa application at the U.S. embassy or in your home country. If you live in the U.S., an I-485 visa application is to be filed to adjust your status from a nonimmigrant to an immigrant investor status. After the approval of this petition or upon arriving in the U.S., you and your family will be issued a conditional P.R. for two years.

During these two years, you must-

Abide by the immigration, local, and state laws
Avoid violating your conditional P.R. status in any way
Not stay outside of the U.S. for more than a year (without a re-entry permit)

The authorities assess your compliance with U.S. laws and immigration programs to determine if you are eligible for removal of conditions when your P.R. status expires.

Remove the conditions and become a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

Before your conditional resident status expires, you are required to file a petition to remove the conditions posted on your green card. Ensure that the petition is filed within 90 days before the conditional green card expires. It is one of the most scrutinised steps of the procedure for U.S. citizenship by investment. The petition must include evidence of investments, job creation and job reservation to show that you have met the eligibility requirements.

Apply for the U.S. Citizenship

You are now eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after completing five years of lawful permanent residence. The following are the standard eligibility requirements for obtaining U.S. citizenship by investment:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• For your last five years of permanent residence, you have shown that you have maintained continuous residence and physical presence in the United States.
• You have proven to have moral integrity and loyalty to the principles of the U.S. constitution.
• You know basic English.
• You can show that you have a solid grasp of American history and government.
• You are prepared to take the Oath of allegiance.

Are you planning to apply for a visa under USA citizenship by investment? Associate with Inzeit Consultants today. We hold an enviable reputation in the industry for extending high-quality services to people who wish to move to the USA. Connect with our immigration specialists today.