Studying and working abroad in the U.S. is a dream that several want to accomplish. Getting a study visa after getting through a university or college is usually what every student does to study and then possibly work here.
However, there is a lesser-known immigration visa that permits international students to study in any university/college here and get a green card for two years. The green card can become permanent if one meets the criteria. Every person can’t afford this visa, but if you are amongst the few that can afford, then you must apply this visa to get an entry to the U.S. for studies and work.
The FB-5 Visa
The Immigrant Investor Visa Program or the EB-5 gives an international student permission to work for any number of hours off-campus and continue their stay in the U.S. even after they have completed their graduation. The regular F-1 visa, which is the Student Visa, doesn’t permit both the perks to the holder.
To get these special permissions, the EB-5 visa holders have to invest at least $900,000 in the U.S. in Targeted Employment Area (regional sectors). This amount was $500,000, but from November 21, 2019, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the amount of investment would be increased to $900,000.
In another option of investment under the EB-5 where the investment requirement is $1 million, the amount will be raised to $1.8 million, w.e.f November 21, 2019. The investment under this option is made in other sectors of the country.
This is the first time since the creation of this law in 1990 that this investment amount has been increased. The rule also says that the minimum investment amounts will spontaneously adjust for inflation every five years.
Under the first option, the investor’s funds are invested at risk in a commercial project for five years. But in the second option where the investment is more, the foreign investors can control the investment of their funds. Nevertheless, both the funds require that the investment create at least ten jobs.
A Path to Immigration
Many wealthy students are looking forward to studying in the U.S., and the FB-5 visa would be a perfect solution to both studying abroad while investing here simultaneously.
Under the EB-5 program, individuals are eligible to apply for conditional lawful permanent residence in the United States. If they fulfil the criteria of investing in a commercial enterprise in the U.S. and create preserve ten permanent jobs for competent U.S. workers. Most of the EB-5 applicants prefer to invest in the regional sectors.
Studying in the U.S. with a FB-5 visa gives a student the freedom to work any number of hours and also enjoy all the benefits of a green card such as:
- Pay an ominously less for tuition to attend college, universities any other vocational training.
- They can contribute to the U.S. election campaigns (make donations; however, they cannot vote)
- Working for more than ten years in the U.S. with a Green Card permits them to receive Social Security benefits.
- Making short trips outside the U.S. is very easy for a Green Cardholder.
Thus wealthy students have the upper hand while studying in the U.S. if they arrive on FB-5 visa.
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