Green Cards for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Green Cards for Foreign EntrepreneursCitizens of foreign countries can get US Green Cards by investing in business ventures in America. America makes available 10,000 immigrant visas for eligible entrepreneurs, every year. These investors fall under the EB-5 category. To enter this EB-5 program, they need to invest between $500,000 and $1,000,000, in commercial enterprises in America. To become eligible for Green Cards through this EB-5 program, foreign nationals must establish new commercial enterprises or invest in existing businesses.

Investment they make must create a minimum of ten new jobs in the country. This investment must be made in a targeted employment area. These investors will initially be granted 2 year conditional Green Cards. Applicants must first file, Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur and this application must be approved by the USCIS. The foreign investors can apply for immigrant visas at overseas US Embassies or Consulates, only after the approval of their petitions.

After they are notified about the approval of their petitions, they can file DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application, for immigrant visas. When the primary applicants apply for immigrant visas, their eligible dependents also can apply for immigrant visas. Eligible dependents can be included in the petitions that the primary applicants file for immigrant visas. They need to file the forms with the required fees and they must undergo medical examinations and attend interviews. Form filing fee must be paid separately for each intending immigrant.

Immigrant visa applications that the investors file may not be approved immediately. There are numerical limitations on the number of immigrant visas issued every year to foreign investors. They may also be required to wait for several years to immigrate to the United States.

Once they get their immigrant visas, they can travel to the United States. But they need to wait for two years to get Green Cards valid for ten years as they will initially be issued conditional Green Cards valid for two years. At the end of the two year period these investors must file Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions, to get ten year Green Cards. They need to file this form around three months prior to the expiration of their conditional status.

Form I-829