1、什么是美国EB-5投资移民方案?
答：EB-5美国投资移民方案是美国移民法中针对海外投资移民所设立的移民签证类别，简称“EB-5”，它是美国所有移民类别中，申请核准时间最短，资格条件限制最少的一条便捷通道。

2、“EB-5”投资移民方案的主要内容是什么？
答：根据EB-5签证规则，人们可以依据以下任一项而取得EB-5资格：
a. 在美国任何地方投资一百万美元并至少雇请十位雇员；
b. 在国家认可的低就业地区投资五十万美元并至少雇请十位雇员；
c. 在经政府批准的“地区中心”投资五十万美元。

3、什么是美国地区中心移民方案？
答：为了吸引国外资金集中投资于政府特别规划核准的地区，以有效促进地方经济发展，美国政府于1993年起，在EB-5移民法规中特别设立一项“地区中心移民方案”即投资于美国政府核准的“地区中心”，则移民申请的投资额降到五十万美元，并对原移民申请条件“须直接创造十个就业机会”的规定，放宽为“可直接或间接创造十个就业机会”。

4、美国有哪些“地区中心”？
答：经过美国政府严格、繁复的审核，至今共有27家“地区中心”得到批准。其中本公司重点推荐的西雅图地区投资项目就是在1996年获准接受外国投资移民的地区中心。

5、每年“EB-5”签证的名额有限制吗？
答：有的。目前美国政府每年授予EB-5签证的名额有10,000个，其中有5000个名额保留给选择投资于“地区中心”内的投资人。

6、申请“EB-5”移民的条件有哪些？
答：美国“EB-5”对申请人的条件相当宽松，投资人不受任何商业背景、年龄、教育程度及语言能力的限制，只要证明其投资资金来源为合法取得。

7、申请“EB-5”移民，需要多久才能获得“绿卡”？
答：一般而言，符合资格的申请人可在资料备齐送件后的二至三个月，即可获知其申请是否被美国移民局批准，并于六至八个月内获发有条件的移民签证（有条件限制绿卡）。

8、有条件限制绿卡能变成正式的绿卡吗？
答：美国政府规定有条件绿卡的期限是两年。在两年届满的前三个月，投资人可向移民局提出解除有条件移民签证的申请。只要此时投资人的投资真实存在，就将获美国移民局的批准成为永久居民。

9、我获得绿卡后，是否必须去美国居住和经营？
答：凡是投资到美国政府特批的地区中心的移民，无移民监的困扰，可自由进出美国，投资者不用放弃自己本国的生意而亲自经营EB-5投资项目。

10、我可以为我的家人申请EB-5吗？
答：可以的。只要投资人的投资额达到“EB-5”的规定，则投资人及其配偶和未满21岁的未婚儿女均可同时申请移民。


How Alien Investors Apply for EB 5 Immigration Visas

EB5 is becoming one of the fastest processes for aliens to obtain US green card. How fast it is to obtain the EB 5 green card? What is the time frame? How to apply for it? Attorney Zhou will answer these questions in this article.

How fast it is to obtain the EB5 green card?

The total time from application to approval varies depending on the different individuals; however, usually it takes approximately as fast as 4 to 5 months for the alien investors living in the US, 9 to 15 months for those living outside the US.

But under the regulations, an investor approved for the EB-5 immigrant visa receives a "conditional" green card, which must be reissued after 2 years. So the total time length for obtaining permanent green card is approximately 3 years.

Applicant forms and materials

After the investment program is approved, a green card applicant must file Form I-526( Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur) with the appropriate regional USCIS Service Center including fees and evidence in support of the application.

Processing by the USCIS for Form I-526 is currently running between 2 and 8 months.

The application supporting submission includes: immigration forms, personal financial information, business plans, legal brief on qualifications under the proposed application, with a copy of the Regional Center approval letter, and funds must be placed in escrow prior to submitting an application.

One thing is important that the investor must demonstrate assets were gained in a lawful manner in their filling. The applicant must prove his investment funds come through lawful business, salary, investments, property sales, inheritance, gift, loan, or other lawful means.

Attending an interview

After the Form I-526 is approved, alien investor, if the investor and his or her family are legally living in the United States at the time of filling application, must submit a completed Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) to the appropriate office of the USCIS to obtain conditional resident status.

Overseas applicant must attend an interview with a consulate officer at the US Embassy in their country. At the interview, the consulate officer may address issues about investors’ medical, police, security and immigration history checks. When they pass the interview, the conditional permanent resident visas are issued.

Emigration to US

After a conditional Green Card is issued, the investor with immediate family is allowed to emigrate (Spouse and children under 21 at the time of application) to US.

The first requirement of any investor after they receive the conditional permanent resident visa at the United States consulate office is to enter into the US within 180 days of visa issuance. Then the investor and his/her family must establish residency in the US.
 
In order to show the evidence of intent to reside in US, the investors have to open bank accounts, obtain a driver's license or social security number, pay state and federal income taxes, rent or buy a home in US.

Hold the investment

To remove the “conditions” from the green card, the investment must be held effectively for a further 2 years. If during the two “conditional” years the investment project failed, the investor would NOT get the permanent green card. Processing for 'Removal of Conditions' submitted to Immigration Service office will takes a further two or three months. This will bring the total investment time to around 3 years.

Once the conditions have been removed, the investment may be sold in certain circumstances.