Green Card by Investment

What is a Green Card through Investment?

Green Cards through investment (also called Fifth Preference) are available to anyone who invests a certain amount of money U.S. by creating a business or expanding one that already exists. The investor must be active in the management of the company. A number of investors may join together in creating or expanding a U.S. business and each may qualify for a Green Card through the single company. However, the individual investment of each person must still be for the minimum qualifying amount, and each investor must be separately responsible for the creation of new jobs. 10,000 principal applicants a year are approved for a Green Card through investment (spouses and family members are not considered principal applicants). Out of the 10,000, 3,000 are allocated to so call “targeted employment areas.”

Principal Requirements:

Direct investment in the U.S. in the amount of $1 million dollars or more in a new business or expansion of an existing business which employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers.

Direct investment in certain “targeted employment areas” in the amount of $500,000 or more in a new business or expansion of an existing business which employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. “Targeted employment areas” include rural areas or urban areas with an unemployment rate certified by the state government to be at least 150 per cent of the national average. Rural areas are defined as any location not part of an official metropolitan statistical area or not within the outer boundaries of any city having a population of 20,000 or more.

Family members of the applicant do NOT count toward the employment requirement of 10 U.S. workers.

Several investors may join together in creating or expanding a U.S. business and each may qualify for a green card through the single company. However, the individual investment of each person must still be for the minimum qualifying amount, and each investor must be separately responsible for the creation of 10 new jobs.

Certain investments in “troubled Business” can be exempted from the requirement to create 10 new jobs.

The investor (applicant) must be active in the management of the company.

You must maintain the investment in the U.S. for at least three years.

Your principal residence must be in the U.S.

You are subject to U.S. Taxation on worldwide income.

You cannot remain outside the U.S. for more than one year at a time without special permission.

A Green Card is initially issued on a conditional basis for a period of two years.