EB-5 Investor Visa for International Graduates

2 minute read

"It is a dream for many graduating international students to establish their own business in the United States. The US offers excellent opportunities of an open market for new businesses to thrive and grow. While it is not easy to establish a business in the US, there is one visa program that will not only authorize you to start your own business but you can also obtain permanent residence in the US (Green Card)."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Jun 21, 2021

It is a dream for many graduating international students to establish their own business in the United States. The US offers excellent opportunities of an open market for new businesses to thrive and grow. While it is not easy to establish a business in the US, there is one visa program that will not only authorize you to start your own business but you can also obtain permanent residence in the US (Green Card).

What Are the Requirements for the EB-5 Investor Visa?

To be eligible for the EB-5 Investor Visa, you must be capable of making at least a $90,000 investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1.8 million, if the business is to be established anywhere in the US. The EB-5 Visa also allows the primary applicant to add their accompanying family members and dependents on their permanent residence application.

The EB-5 Visa has a visa cap based on the country of residence of the applicant. Each country is granted just over 700 visas every year, meaning there could be a backlog if the number is exceeded.

How Is the EB-5 Visa Useful for International Graduates?

The EB-5 Investor Visa presents the fastest pathway for US permanent residency. With a Green Card, you would no longer need to renew your F-1 Visa, go through Optional Practical Training (OPT), or hope for an H-1B Visa to gain work authorization. Both OPT and H-1B Visas will allow you to work for a specific employer. This makes it hard to negotiate monetary compensation and benefits as a foreigner who needs to maintain their status.

The EB-5 Visa will help you sidestep all these hurdles. With an EB-5 Visa, your presence in the US will not be directly linked to your employment status, this allows you to enjoy a greater degree of freedom. While it will be a bit more complex to establish a business, the freedom to operate without hindrance in the US can be very rewarding.