EB-5 Citizenship by Investment Program

The EB-5 Visa Program allows a person and his or her immediate family to obtain a Green Card (live permanently in the U.S.) by investing in an enterprise that creates jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.

Citizenship By Investment Overview

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers wealthy families a compelling pathway to permanent U.S. residence, combining access to the American market, the ability to live, work, and study anywhere in the U.S., and the opportunity for visa-free travel via a U.S. Green Card, making it a strategic choice for global mobility and long-term international business positioning.

Investment

Minimum Investment of USD 800,000

Key Benefit

Unrestricted Travel & Re-entry — With a U.S. Green Card via EB-5, investors and their families can freely leave and return to the U.S., and enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to many countries.

Benefits of Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

  • The EB-5 visa grants green cards (permanent resident status) to the investor, spouse, and unmarried children under 21, allowing them to live, work and study anywhere in the U.S.
  • After five years of permanent residency, EB-5 green card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship, enjoying the rights and privileges that come with it.
  • Green card holders can travel freely in and out of the U.S. without needing a separate visa for re-entry. Their status ensures minimal visa restrictions for return travel.specific privileges in the UK and other member states.
  • U.S. permanent residents enjoy in-state tuition rates (much lower than international student fees) for public universities, and access to the U.S. public education system from K-12 to higher education.
  • No need for employer sponsorship or a specific job offer — the investor’s qualifying investment and job-creation plan are key elements.
  • Flexibility to live in any U.S. state, and freedom from the requirement to manage the investment day-to-day (especially when investing through regional centers)

TRADITIONAL EB-5

The Different EB-5 Investment Visa Option

The Entrepreneurial EB-5 Visa can be through both a direct (non regional center) project or using a regional center project.  MSP attorneys will strategize with the investor entrepreneur to determine the best and most cost-effective solution.

EB-5 Entrepreneurial

Many believe that the regional center allows the investment to decrease from the required USD 1.05 million to USD 800,000.  This is false.  The decrease in investment funds is due to the geographical location of the project.  If the project is located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), the required amount of investment then becomes USD 800,000.

10 full-time permanent jobs must be created per an investment to qualifying U.S. workers Qualifying US workers include: U.S. citizens, Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), Immigrants authorized to work in the U.S. (e.g., asylees, conditional residents and refugees).

Those not qualified

  • Investor and his/her immediate family member
  • Persons in nonimmigrants status (eg. H1-B)

Full-time position means a postion that requires  a minium of 35 hours/week

EB-5 Regional Center Program

Job Creation

  • Direct Project – Only includes direct jobs (W-2s / I-9’s required
  • Rc – Required direct, indirect, and included jobs(basically, more jobs can be created with an RC involved)
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Corporate Structure

  • Direct Project – Rigid Structure
  • Rc – Flexible structure allowing for corporate layering

Investor's Role

  • Direct Project – allows more flexibility and responsibility
  • RC – limited Involvement

EB-5 DIRECT INVESTMENTS VS. REGIONAL CENTER

CATEGORY

  1. Active business operation management
  2. Applicable business sectors
  3. Business Plan
  4. EB5 Investor Eligibility
  5. EB5 Investor Participation
  6. EB5 Investor Relationship with us Entity/Project
  7. Escrow of Funds
  8. Job creation Requirements
  9. Job Counts
  10. Job Creation Verification
  11. Project Specific Economist Report
  12. Proof of EB5 Investment Funds
  13. Capital Investment Range
  14. Targeted Employment
  15. Transactional Documents
  16. Uscis Application Process

DIRECT EB-5 INVESTMENT

  1. Day-to-day or through Policy
  2. All that creates Required Jobs
  3. Matter of HO Complaint
  4. Accredited Investor preferred, not Essential
  5. Directly affiliated with US Entity
  6. Direct
  7. May be Utilized
  8. 10 Full-time jobs for qualified US workers
  9. Direct Employement
  10. Job Projection/Payroll tax returns
  11. Not Required
  12. Must be Verifiable
  13. $900,000 Minimum
  14. If qualified, Eligible for the reduced $900,000/EB5 Unit
  15. PPM Required unless one investor apply for himself
  16. Historically Shorter Than RC

REGIONAL CENTER

  1. Day-to-day or through Policy
  2. All that creates Required Jobs
  3. Matter of HO Complaint and RC business Plan
  4. Accrediated Investor Prefferred
  5. Capital Investment through a regional center sponsorship
  6. Indirect
  7. May be utilized
  8. 10 Full-Time jobs for direct. Also Count indirect and induced Jobs
  9. Direct/Indirect/Induced
  10. Project Specific Economist Report/Expenditure invoices/subject to final approval of USCIS
  11. Required
  12. Must be Verifiable
  13. %900,000 Minimum or Higher raise per project
  14. If qualified, Eligible for the reduced $900,000/EB5 Unit
  15. PPM Required
  16. As Posted by USCIS or Longer

SOURCES OF FUNDS

It is crucial to provide a detailed explanation of the investor’s source of funds (SOF). The source of funds refers to how the investor earned or accumulated the money used for the investment. Common sources of funds may include the following:

  1. Employment Income and Bonuses: Funds accumulated from regular salary, wages, commissions, and performance-based bonuses.
  2. Business Earnings: Profits or dividends generated from the investor’s own company or entrepreneurial ventures.
  3. Proceeds from Business Asset Sale: Capital obtained through the sale or liquidation of business equipment, shares, or ownership interests.
  4. Inheritance: Assets or funds received from an estate or will following the passing of a family member.
  5. Gift: Monetary or asset-based contributions received from relatives, friends, or associates without repayment obligations.
  6. Investment in Stocks or Securities: Returns or proceeds earned from the sale of shares, bonds, or other market investments.
  1. Retirement Savings: Funds accumulated through pension plans, provident funds, or other retirement accounts
  2. Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions: Capital generated from the sale of residential, commercial, or investment properties.
  3. Home Equity Loan: Financing obtained by leveraging the equity built up in the investor’s primary or secondary residence.
  4. Business Loan: Funds borrowed from the investor’s own company or business operations.
  5. Loan from a Financial Institution: Capital sourced through a verified bank or lending organization.
  6. Personal Loan from Family or Friends: Financial assistance provided by close relatives or trusted acquaintances.