“I’m buying a green card”

Speaking with a potential EB5 visa client recently he made the statement above and followed it up with “I’m prepared to pay $500,000 for a green card”

It still amazes me, maybe it shouldn’t, that in certain countries around the world potential EB5 visa applicants believe that the EB5 visa process is about them buying a green card.

The gentleman I was talking to, the one who made the statements above, was convinced that, whatever his choice of EB5 program, he would never see his $500,000 again.

Let’s spell out the facts: The EB5 program is NOT a “Green Backs for Green Card” program no matter what certain anti-immigration movements would have you believe.

With careful guidance, adequate due-diligence and by making a decision based upon facts, you can and should expect to get your $500,000 back in a definitive time. In addition, you certainly should expect to not only get conditional green card but to have the conditions removed after about two years; meaning you get to keep your green card and are not forced to leave the USA because the regional center project you chose did not create the required number of jobs.

Let’s be clear here; with so many regional center projects fighting to get their hands on your $500,000 you need to be careful. You need to rely on some expertise from outside sources including established, independent EB5 consultants, and an experienced EB5 attorney BUT, you also need to keep a clear head yourself and take responsibility for the final decision about who you are going to trust with your $500,000. Not all EB5 projects are created equal, not all EB5 projects will make sense to you. Expect to go through some level of confusion as you look at project documents.

The EB5 pilot program is a job creation program for the USA. The US government would not have invested so much time and effort recently into making this program a success if it were simply a cash for green cards program. No one can guarantee you anything about the EB5 visa program (guarantees are specifically forbidden in the EB5 program) but I can assure you that the USA government, the ethical EB5 regional center operators and we at Which EB5 all want you to get and keep your green card AND get your $500,000 back within a reasonable time frame.

I am a first generation immigrant to the USA myself; I understand so many of the thoughts and motivations that go through your head once you have made a decision to make the USA your home. I made mistakes, I trusted advice from fellow countrymen (I can explain why that can be a very dangerous thing to do) and I have been through the USCIS immigration process; I can help you and will be glad to talk about things you should be paying attention to as you prepare for and make the move to the USA.

+Stephen Parnell