U.S. Immigration

Since the events of September 11, 2001, the laws that govern immigrating to this country have changed dramatically. It can take a skilled professional to lead a client through the maze of regulations, red tape, and qualifications. Our law firm represents many foreign immigrants and investors from Asia. We have bilingual staff that speak fluent Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tagalog. Our firm has experience in obtaining F-1, EB-5, H-1B, and L-1 visas, as well as assist real estate developers to establish USCIS approved EB-5 Regional Centers in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA).

EB-5 INVESTOR VISA

The Immigration Act of 1990 created the Immigration Investor Program (or EB-5) as the fifth of five preference categories for employment-based immigration applications. This was the first time a category specifically facilitated the admission of investors as lawful permanent residents. EB-5 is available to those individuals who have invested, or are in the process of investing, at least $1 million in a new commercial enterprise employing at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. The purpose of EB-5 is to stimulate job-creating investment by offering to investor immigrants the benefits of permanent residence in the United States .

EB-5 candidates do not need investment experience or any specific technical skills. The three requirements for EB-5 status are: investment in a new commercial enterprise; investment of at least $1 million (or $500,000 in certain cases) into the business; and creation of full-time employment for at least 10 full-time US workers.

The minimum investment is reduced to $500,000 in cases of investment in “targeted employment areas,” – rural areas and/or areas with high unemployment. For investment in a designated “Regional Center Program”, investors do not need to directly employ 10 U.S. workers. They need only demonstrate that the investment has indirectly created 10 or more jobs and has resulted in improved regional productivity.

There are approximately 10,000 visa numbers allocated annually to EB-5 investors. However, participation in the investor program has been far below capacity. Recently, USCIS has made efforts to encourage more investors to apply for EB-5 permanent residence.

EB-5 offers an ideal immigration solution for those who have the financial resources. It does not require an employment offer from a U.S. employer as other EB categories do, nor does it require a labor certificate. Investors participating in a “Regional Center Program” do not even need to be involved in the daily operation of their business. Most importantly, because the annual quota consistently exceeds the number of applicants, those who qualify for EB-5 status are virtually assured of a visa.

美国EB-5移民投资签证项目

对很多中国人而言，移民美国是个不可实现的梦想。事实上，对于具备条件的中国人来说将会有许多机会。其中就提供了一个为中国移民到美国的项目，被称为美国EB-5移民投资签证项目（“EB-5项目”）。

概念和基本要求

EB-5项目是指某些有资质的投资将有权使投资者在美国获得“永居”身份（“绿卡”）。当其他签证项目需要考察个人家庭关系、特殊才能、或雇佣情况时，EB-5项目明确的要求个人只需在美国投资。

EB-5项目有三个基本要求。第一，投资必须和建立一个“新商业企业”联系起来。EB-5项目旨在一个“新商业企业”能够通过以下几种方式建立起来：（1）创建一个新的企业；（2）购买一个既存企业，进行重组致使形成一个新的企业；（3）通过扩充投资前就业数或净值的140%来扩大企业，或者维系一个“面临困境”企业的就业量（企业在过去的12到24个月中丢失了20%的净值）。第二，“新商业企业”必须使美国经济受益以及实现“就业”要求。 —（1）创造不少于10个独立的全职工作岗位，或（2）对于“困境企业”（上面提及），在2年期限内保持既存员工的数量不低于投资前的水平。第三，投资必须满足定量的美元数额和“地点”要求。这些美元数额和“地点”要求对于客户通过EB-5项目获得签证实际上产生了3种不同的方法：（1）50万美元区域中心EB-5项目（如下所述）；（2）50万美元针对性就业领域EB-5项目（如下所述）；（3）100万美元EB-5项目（如下所述）。

50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目

“50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目”类似于50万美元区域中心EB-5项目，因为移民也必须投资至少50万美元。但是，并不投资在被指定的 “区域中心”，在“50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目”下，投资必须是在一个“有针对性的就业领域”。术语“有针对性的就业领域”是指失业率是国民平均失业率1.5倍的区域或着由美国管理和预算办公室指定的农村地区。

50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目提供移民者亲自积极主动管理投资的机会。但是，因为根据EB-5项目，既需满足EB-5“新商业企业”要求（如上所述）又要达到“就业”要求（如上所述），并且因为“有针对性的就业领域”总体上是在经济贫困或经济增长缓慢的地区，由此，50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目并没有被广大客户采用。

100万美元EB-5项目

“100万美元EB-5 项目”和50万美元区域中心EB-5项目或50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目相比，要求投资更多的美元 — 最少投资100万美元。当然，100万美元EB-5 项目提供了比50万美元区域中心EB-5项目或50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目更多的灵活性，因为没有对于投资“地点”做出限制；因此，投资无需在指定的“区域中心”，也不必在“有针对性的就业领域”。

由于“100万美元EB-5项目”能投资在美国的任何地区，所以100万美元EB-5项目潜在的决定了比投资在50万美元区域中心EB-5项目或 50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目有更好的经济回报。然而，这样的有利条件必须和100万美元EB-5项目的2个不利条件进行比较衡量—（1）高昂的最低出资，以及（2）与50万美元区域中心EB-5项目或50万美元针对性的就业领域EB-5项目相比，移民者必须独立的完成既满足EB-5的“新商业企业”要求（如上所述）又要达到“就业”要求（如上所述）。