Si está considerando el programa de visas EB-5 pero no tiene disponible el monto total de la inversión de $800,000, tal vez se pregunte: ¿puede usar un préstamo EB5 para financiar su inversión? La respuesta es sí, pero hay requisitos y consideraciones importantes que hay que entender.
La Ley de Reforma e Integridad EB-5 de 2022 aportó una claridad significativa a la cuestión de los préstamos. «La nueva ley aclaró que los préstamos están bien. Antes de eso, no estaba claro si un préstamo estaba bien», explica Adam Greene, vicepresidente ejecutivo de EB-5 de Peachtree Group. Anteriormente, el servicio de inmigración había adoptado la posición de que los fondos prestados no calificaban como capital si no eran activos propios del inversor.
Según la nueva ley, los fondos donados o prestados pueden contabilizarse siempre que cumplan con dos requisitos clave: los fondos se obtuvieron «de buena fe» y no se utilizaron «para eludir ninguna limitación de las fuentes de capital permitidas».
Al documentar un préstamo EB-5, el USCIS requiere evidencia específica:
«Siempre y cuando puedas rastrear el dinero hasta un préstamo de un banco autorizado en EE. UU., no pasa nada», señala Greene. «Sin embargo, si pides préstamos a particulares, tendrás que demostrar que su fuente de capital es legítima».
Hay varios tipos de préstamos que pueden funcionar para las inversiones EB-5:
«Cualquiera de estos préstamos es válido siempre que exista un acuerdo de préstamo legalmente exigible y se pueda establecer que los fondos que obtiene del préstamo se obtuvieron de manera legítima», explica Greene.
La mayor señal de alerta es intentar eludir los requisitos de fuente de fondos. «Si estás intentando hacer algo gracioso o engañoso o algo que simplemente facilite la documentación de tu fuente de fondos, estás infringiendo el espíritu de la ley EB-5 y correrás un alto riesgo de que te denieguen la I-526E», advierte Greene.
Otros riesgos incluyen:
Reconociendo las complejidades de la documentación de los préstamos EB-5, Peachtree Group ha creado un prestamista afiliado que otorga préstamos específicamente para los inversores EB-5. Este programa ofrece varias ventajas:
Estructura de préstamos sin garantía: «Tenemos un prestamista afiliado que, de hecho, concederá un préstamo a un inversor que no tenga un acuerdo de garantía formal contra los activos del prestatario», explica Greene. Esto elimina las posibles complicaciones con el servicio de inmigración en relación con las garantías reales de la propia inversión en la EB-5.
Plazos de reembolso flexibles: No es necesario reembolsar el préstamo hasta cinco años después de su originación. «Es muy posible, o incluso probable, que su inversión en la EB-5 se amortice en esos cinco años», señala Greene, lo que significa que los inversores podrían utilizar el capital EB-5 que hayan devuelto para reembolsar el préstamo. Por supuesto, los inversores EB-5 seguirían siendo personalmente responsables de cualquier déficit en los ingresos de reembolso, lo cual es necesario para cumplir con los requisitos de «riesgo» del programa EB-5.
Fuente de fondos simplificada: Dado que el prestamista afiliado obtiene fondos de un banco autorizado en EE. UU., el proceso de documentación se simplifica. «Podemos demostrar que financiamos a través de una línea bancaria y, por lo tanto, esa cantidad debería ser suficiente para la fuente de fondos», explica Greene.
Estructura de riesgo clara: Los inversores que utilizan 400 000 dólares de sus propios fondos más un préstamo de 400 000 dólares corren «el riesgo de recibir 800 000 dólares», lo que cumple con los requisitos del USCIS y, al mismo tiempo, ofrece flexibilidad de financiación.
«La nueva ley permite los préstamos de manera inequívoca; está escrito en el texto de la ley», enfatiza Greene.
El éxito requiere una planificación cuidadosa y una documentación adecuada. El préstamo debe representar un riesgo real para el inversor y deben cumplirse todos los requisitos de fuente de fondos.
El programa de préstamos afiliados de Peachtree Group está diseñado para cumplir con estos requisitos y, al mismo tiempo, ofrecer a los inversores opciones de financiación flexibles. Antes de continuar con cualquier estructura de préstamos EB-5, consulte con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia para garantizar el cumplimiento y evitar posibles complicaciones durante el proceso de adjudicación.
If you're working in the United States on an H-1B visa and seeking permanent residency, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a promising path forward. This comprehensive guide walks you through the process of transitioning from an H-1B to an EB-5 visa, helping you understand your options to make an informed decision about your immigration journey.
The H-1B visa is a temporary, employer-sponsored visa that ties you to a specific company. You need to win a lottery to get one, and you'll face regular renewal requirements. Plus, your stay in the U.S. is always dependent on your employment status.
The EB-5 visa, on the other hand, offers a direct path to permanent residency. No employer sponsorship needed! With an EB-5 visa, you can:
Yes, while it's not exactly a "conversion," you can apply for an EB-5 visa while maintaining your H-1B status. Here are the key requirements for an EB-5 visa:
Acceptable funding sources for H-1B holders include:
The transition from H-1B to EB-5 status typically requires between 4 to 18 months, depending on USCIS processing times. Your immigration journey begins with selecting and investing in a qualified EB-5 project. Once you've made your investment, you'll submit your petition to USCIS. During this waiting period, maintaining your current H-1B status provides important immigration security.
The concurrent filing option presents an interesting opportunity for H-1B holders pursuing EB-5 visas. This process allows you to receive an Employment Authorization Document and advance parole privileges (travel authorization) immediately after filing your EB-5 petition. These benefits enable work authorization independent of your H-1B employer and facilitate international travel. However, immigration attorneys often advise maintainingH-1B status throughout the EB-5 process, as switching to concurrent filing status may prevent you from returning to H-1B status if needed.
The journey from H-1B to permanent residency through the EB-5 program represents a significant opportunity for foreign workers in the United States. While the $800,000 investment requirement is substantial, the benefits of permanent residency and workplace freedom make it an attractive option form any H-1B professionals. Consulting with qualified immigration attorneys helps ensure you understand all aspects of the process and make the visa choice aligned with your long-term immigration goals.
Converting from an H-1B to an EB-5 visa offers a clear path to permanent residency in the United States. By understanding the requirements, timeline, and potential challenges, you can make informed decisions about your immigration future. Remember that professional legal guidance proves invaluable throughout this complex but rewarding process.
Peachtree Group has more than 40 years’ experience in EB-5 investing. Have questions about EB-5, visit our website or fill out our contact form.
For international investors dreaming of permanent U.S. residency, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a promising pathway—but navigating its complex landscape, which includes EB-5 visa annual limits, requires more than just capital.
Imagine investing substantial funds in a U.S. project, only to discover that your country's immigration quota could dramatically impact your timeline for obtaining a green card. Each year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implements intricate EB-5 annual limits and country-specific caps that can significantly affect your immigration journey.
These regulations aren't just bureaucratic footnotes; they're critical strategic considerations that can mean the difference between immediate progress and years of unexpected waiting. Read on to learn what you need to know about navigating these restrictions.
Conventional wisdom states that the EB5 visa country cap is calculated within each preference category, not across all preference categories.
Conventional EB-5 wisdom on country caps is wrong.
A US Federal Register announcement dated March 28, 2023, dramatically transformed how EB-5 visa annual limits are calculated. This update represents a significant change in understanding EB-5 country limits, offering new perspectives for investors navigating the complex immigration landscape.
Since April 2023, the latest news on EB-5 visa calculations reveals a comprehensive approach to annual limits:
This approach means immigrants from a particular country are not subject to EB-5 country limits until applications across ALL preference categories reach 7% of the total available visas.
The USCIS annual limits are governed by a nuanced 7% country cap mechanism designed to prevent any single country from dominating immigration allocations. Here are the three basic things you need to know to understand how the limits are governed:
Four countries have reached the critical 7% cap across family-based and employment-based visas, they are China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.
For China and India, this means significant waiting periods and strategic investment planning. Mexico and the Philippines experience minimal practical impact due to lower EB-5 application volumes.
Investors from countries outside of China and India enjoy significant advantages in navigating EB-5 annual limits. These investors face fewer restrictions, with greater flexibility in project selection and potentially faster processing times under current USCIS regulations.
Conversely, investors from China and India encounter more complex EB-5 country limits. These nations experience heightened scrutiny and longer waiting periods, requiring more sophisticated immigration and investment strategies to navigate the annual visa constraints.
Further, the EB-5 country limits are treated separately for the unreserved EB-5 category and each of the reserved categories (rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure). To understand current backlogs for the reserved categories, and any recent changes, pay close attention to the monthly visa bulletin put out by the Department of State.
Understanding the EB-5 annual limit is crucial for successful immigration planning. Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs, both rural and high unemployment areas) offer a strategic approach to managing visa allocations, providing:
Proactive planning becomes essential in managing USCIS annual limits. Investors should consult EB-5 immigration experts to help develop comprehensive long-term strategies and understand intricate priority date implications.
While USCIS annual limits and country caps are critical, they should not be the sole focus of your EB-5 investment strategy. Be sure to consider project quality, job creation potential, long-term investment objectives and your own personal and family immigration goals.
The EB-5 visa landscape continues to evolve, with recent USCIS updates providing new opportunities and challenges. By understanding the nuanced approach to annual limits and country caps, investors can make informed decisions that align with their immigration and investment aspirations.
Ready to navigate the complexities of EB-5 visa annual limits? Contact Peachtree Group today for a personalized consultation.
Peachtree Group is an investment firm driving growth with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and other ventures, with a specialty in hospitality. We’ve executed hundreds of investments since inception with a focus on real estate acquisition, development, and lending. Today, we manage billions in equity, augmented by services designed to protect, support, and grow your investment.
Peachtree Group has an EB-5 visa by investment program which allows foreign nationals the opportunity to attain permanent residency in the United States. The EB-5 visa program allows you to invest in job creating projects in the U.S. creating a path to a green card for you and your family. The minimum investment is $1,050,000. However, investment in Targeted Employment Areas reduces the minimum cost to $800,000. Learn more about the EB-5 visa by investment program.
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Form I-485, or the "Application to Register Permanent Residence" allows an EB-5 investor to adjust their investor's status from a non-immigrant to a conditional permanent resident (CPR). To take advantage of this, the EB-5 investor must already be in the United States lawfully on a non-immigrant visa such as a F-1 or H-1B. The form is generally filed after the I-526E Petition which is the first step in the EB-5 visa process. This blog post explains how the Form I485 fits into the overall EB-5 process, the essential documents needed, and how to avoid potential delays in the adjustment of status journey.
The passing of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) allowed EB-5 investors to file Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-526E if visas are available. This is called concurrent filing and allows investors to remain in the US while their application is processed. In short, if you are in the U.S. you can stay in the U.S. while you wait for the adjudication of your Form I-526E Petition.
Once the I-485 is approved, the investor becomes a conditional permanent resident which is good for two years. During this time, they need to fulfil the promise they made with the I-526 form to invest in a project that creates US jobs. In order to remove the conditional and become a permanent resident, the investor must file Form I-829 or the "Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status". Once this is granted, the investor and their eligible family members receive permanent green cards.
Investor Benefits During I-485 processing:
While the I-485 is processing, EB-5 investors may also file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization" and Form I-131, "Application for Travel Document" to receive an employment authorization and travel permit, which allows them to work in the US and travel while their applications are pending.
Peachtree Group encourages ourEB-5 investors to consult with their immigration attorney and to read through the Form I-485 form instructions as the specific evidence required with theForm I-485 application may vary depending on the immigrant category you are filing under.
Documents required to be submitted with your Form I-485 include:
As November 2024, the filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440. The EB-5 investor pays additional filing fees if they are also filing Form I-765 and Form I-131. Be sure to check the USCIS website for the most up to date fee information. In addition, this site has information on what to do while you wait for your green card application.
By following the I 485 form instructions and submitting all the required evidence and supporting documentation at the time of the Form I-485 filing, EB-5 investors may avoid receiving a Request for Evidence (“RFE”) from USCIS.
Tips to prevent receiving an RFE include:
For more information about the I-526E Form and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, consider consulting the following resources: