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.
Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status is filed by EB-5 investors to remove the conditions on their two (2) year green cards. The investors obtained the conditional green cards through their investment in a new commercial enterprise. Filing the Form I-829 is a crucial step in the EB-5 investor’s immigration process as once approved it allows the investors, along with their spouses and unmarried children under twenty-one (21), to achieve permanent residency in the United States. In this article, we explore the I-829 Form in detail, covering its purpose, eligibility requirements, necessary documents, filing timeline, common challenges, and practical tips for a successful submission.
Due to the conditional nature of the EB-5 investors’ permanent resident status, between 21 – 24 months after receiving the conditional green card, the EB-5 investors have to file an I-829 EB5 Form with USCIS to remove the condition on their permanent resident status. The EB-5 investors provide documentation to demonstrate they fulfilled the program’s requirements, including proof they sustained their investment and created the required number of jobs. The I-829 form is the final step in the EB-5 investors’ immigration process, and once approved investors become unconditional permanent residents of the United States.
To successfully remove the conditions on the green card, the following requirements must be met:
When filing Form I-829, the EB-5 investor needs to provide a variety of documents to support their petition, including:
The I-829 form must be file within the 90-day period immediately before the second anniversary of the EB-5 investor’s admission as a conditional permanent resident. Filing early or late may result in complications or even the termination of the EB-5 investor’s conditional permanent resident status, so it is critical to adhere to this timeline.
The processing time for Form I-829 is listed on USCIS website. During this period, USCIS reviews the I-829 petition, request additional evidence, if necessary, and eventually reach a decision. It is important to note that while the EB-5 investor’s I-829 petition is pending, the conditional permanent residency status is automatically extended for the period indicated on the EB-5 investor’s filing receipt. After filing the I-829 Petition, the EB-5 investor receives a filing receipt notice from USCIS, which should accompany their expired green card.
Filing Form I-829 can be complex, and applicants may face several challenges, including:
What is the I-829 Form?
The I-829 Form is a petition filed by EB-5 investors to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status. It is the final step in the EB-5 process, allowing investors to obtain an unconditional green card if the EB-5 Program's requirements are met.
How Do I Fill Out the I-829 Form?
To fill out the I-829 Form, the EB-5 investors must provide personal information, details about their investment, and evidence they have sustained the investment and created the required number of jobs. The I-829 Filing is a voluminous filing, containing numerous exhibits which generally include financial statements, tax returns and bank statements for numerous years, as well as constructions draws, expenditure reports, revenue repots and a job creation analysis, encompassing thousands of pages of supporting documents.
Why Do You Need to Fill Out the I-829 Form?
Filling out the I-829 form is necessary to remove the conditions on the EB-5 investor’s green card. if this petition is not filed, the conditional resident status will expire, and the investor will lose the ability to become a permanent resident of the United States.
What Happens After the I-829 Form is Approved?
Once the I-829 Form is approved, the EB-5 investor, their spouse, and their unmarried children under 21 become permanent resident of the United States of America. This status grants EB-5 investors many rights and privileges, including the ability to live and work in the United States, to own property, attend public school and colleges, and be protected by the laws of the United State and of the State where the EB-5 investors reside.
For more information about the I-829 Form and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, consider consulting the following resources:
Begin your journey to U.S. residency with an EB-5 investment.
Take a moment to fill out the contact form on our website.
当我们获得您的信息后，我们的一位投资者关系经理将与您联系。
EB-5移民投资者计划的目的是通过吸引外国投资进入美国境内需要经济刺激和创造就业机会的各个地区，刺激美国的经济增长和创造就业机会。
通过EB-5计划获得永久居留资格，外国投资者必须至少投资105万美元。如果外国投资者投资目标就业区（TEA），则最低投资额可以减少到80万美元。
在这篇文章中，我们将：
TEA 是由美国国会设立并由美国国会强制执行的名称 美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS） 吸引对失业率高的地区或农村地区的投资。因此，有两种类型的TEA：农村地区和高失业率地区。TEA的失业率必须至少为全国平均水平的150％。
2022年《EB-5诚信改革法》（RIA）提出了签证预留类别或也称为保留签证。所有EB-5签证中有32％是预留的。它规定每年预留所有EB-5签证的10％，用于投资高失业率的TEA，并每年预留所有EB-5签证的20％，用于对农村TEA的投资。这些预留款为后RIA投资者提供了在I-526E批准后可能立即获得的签证，即使他们来自积压的国家，并且提供的最低投资额为80万美元。
要使一个地区有资格成为高失业率的TEA，该地区的失业率必须至少为美国全国平均失业率的150％。
高失业率的TEA现在只能包括投资项目的人口普查区域和直接相邻的人口普查区域。这个新定义是由2022年《EB-5改革与诚信法案》（RIA）确立的。TEA 称号由美国公民及移民服务局授予。高失业率认证的有效期为两年，可以每两年续期。
这些预留款为后俄新社投资者提供了在 I-526E 或 I-526 批准后可能立即获得的签证，即使他们来自积压的国家。
农村TEA是大都市统计区之外且人口在20,000或以上的城市或城镇的外部边界以外的区域。农村TEA鼓励EB-5农村投资于需要经济发展和创造就业机会的农村地区。
尽管移民局尚未确定确切的处理时间表，但农村EB-5申请人有资格获得优先处理。2022年的《EB-5改革与诚信法》规定，每年预留所有EB-5签证的20％，用于对农村茶叶的投资。这笔预留款为后RIA投资者提供了在I-526E批准后可能立即获得的签证，即使他们来自积压的国家。此外，农村的EB-5申请可能会得到优先处理，平均处理时间为12个月。
使用TEA制图工具可以找到目标就业领域清单。投资美国（IIUSA），EB-5行业的贸易组织提供了一个交互式的TEA映射工具，可在此处找到：https://iiusa.org/resources-data/targeted-employment-areas/。人们可以访问TEA地图并查看有关每个人口普查轨道的深入数据。该地图每年根据美国劳工统计局发布的各县劳动力数据进行更新。
根据美国劳工统计局发布的地理和失业数据，农村或高失业率地区TEA或基础设施项目的EB-5投资额从105万美元减少到80万美元。
除了目标就业领域外，基础设施项目还预留了占EB-5签证总额的2％的签证，就所需的投资金额而言，它们的待遇与TEA EB5项目类似。
2022年的《EB-5改革与诚信法》定义了 “目标就业领域” 和 “基础设施” 项目；但是，基础设施项目的待遇与TEA项目类似，因为它们的投资金额相同，为80万美元，并且预留的签证占EB-5签证总额的2％。
桃树集团的项目位于目标就业区。当前的项目包括：
在Peachtree Group的专业知识以及对简单、透明和成功的奉献精神的指导下，您可以通过以下方式通过EB-5投资开始获得美国居留权的旅程。了解有关 Peachtree 的优势。
开始于 访问我们的网站 在这里您可以了解有关我们特定EB-5投资机会的更多信息。
我们将网站设计为用户友好且简单。
花点时间 填写联系表 在我们的网站上。
当我们获得您的信息后，我们的一位投资者关系经理将与您联系。
许多外国投资者已考虑在海外投资以实现投资组合多元化。投资美国商业房地产基金可能是一个特别有吸引力的选择。除了将一些资产转移到稳定的美元计价资产外，商业房地产资产组合的回报波动性应低于单一住宅或单一资产商业房地产交易。
投资商业房地产债务涉及向业主或开发商提供贷款。该策略带来了几个关键好处：
股权投资的吸引力涉及 拥有房产本身的股份。以下是股权投资的显著优势：
精明的投资者可以通过分散商业房地产的债务和股权投资来进一步优化其投资组合。这种混合方法平衡了债务投资的稳定收入与股权投资获得更高回报的潜力。在经济不确定时期，它尤其具有吸引力，可以对冲市场波动，为财富创造提供了多种途径。
美国的私募股权房地产基金为投资者提供了以两种方式进行分散投资的机会。首先，通过分散普通公开交易的债务和股权证券，投资者可以获得与整个股票市场无关的回报。其次，通过投资具有专业管理能力的基金，投资者可以获得比单一资产投资波动性更小的回报，同时受益于管理团队的专业知识和经验。
在寻求与基金经理一起投资时，请考虑整个基金的往绩以及团队中个别高管的经验。在尽职调查中，了解经理的投资流程：他们如何识别、承保、完成和管理个人交易？根据他们的经验，他们是否有意义的重点？他们建立了成功的往绩记录吗？
回答这些问题将使您走上寻找有动力保护和增加投资的信誉良好的基金经理的道路。海外投资并不容易，但是有了正确的知识和合作伙伴，这可能是一次非常有意义的经历。
关于桃树集团
桃树集团 是一个 投资公司推动增长 拥有多元化的商业房地产资产和其他风险投资组合，专攻酒店业。自成立以来，我们已经进行了数百项投资，重点是房地产收购、开发和贷款。今天，我们管理着数十亿美元的股权，并辅之以旨在保护、支持和增加您的投资的服务。
