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Green Card through Investment
What is a Green Card through Investment?
Green Cards through investment (also called Fifth Preference) are available to
anyone who invests a certain amount of money U.S. by creating a business or
expanding one that already exists. The investor must be active in the management
of the company. A number of investors may join together in creating or expanding
a U.S. business and each may qualify for a green card through the single
company. However, the individual investment of each person must still be for the
minimum qualifying amount, and each investor must be separately responsible for
the creation of new jobs. 10,000 principal applicants a year are approved for a
green card through investment (spouses and family members are not considered
principal applicants). Out of the 10,000, 3,000 are allocated to so call
“targeted employment areas.”
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Principal Requirements:
Direct investment in the U.S. in the amount of $1 million dollars or more in a
new business or expansion of an existing business which employs at least 10
full-time U.S. workers.
Direct investment in certain “targeted employment areas” in the amount of
$500,000 or more in a new business or expansion of an existing business which
employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. “Targeted employment areas” include
rural areas or urban areas with an unemployment rate certified buy the state
government to be at least 150 per cent of the national average. Rural areas are
defined as any location not part of an official metropolitan statistical area or
not within the outer boundaries of any city having a population of 20,000 or
more.
Family members of the applicant do NOT count toward the employment requirement
of 10 U.S. workers.
Several investors may join together in creating or expanding a U.S. business
and each may qualify for a green card through the single company. However, the
individual investment of each person must still be for the minimum qualifying
amount, and each investor must be separately responsible for the creation of 10
new jobs.
Certain investments in “troubled Business” can be exempted from the
requirement to create 10 new jobs.
The investor (applicant) must be active in the management of the company.
You must maintain the investment in the U.S. for at least three years.
Your principal residence must be in the U.S.
You are subject to U.S. Taxation on worldwide income.
You cannot remain outside the U.S. for more than one year at a time without
special permission.
Green Card is initially issued on a conditional basis for a period of two
years.
Can I Bring My Spouse and Children with Me to the United States?
If you are married or have children below the age of 21, your spouse and
children can get green cards as accompanying relatives by providing proof of
their family relationship to you and submitting other required paperwork and
documents. Their green cards will also be issued conditionally, and will become
permanent when yours does.
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