The impact of the financial crisis has ushered in a true spring for investment immigration. In addition to the continued popularity of immigration to countries like Australia and Canada, the U.S. investment immigration EB-5 program is also vigorously entering the Shanghai market and gaining popularity. Officials from several U.S. state governments have personally come to major cities in China, such as Shanghai, to promote the program, and local immigration agencies have started to strengthen their promotion of the U.S. investment immigration EB-5 program. According to immigration experts, U.S. investment immigration is intensifying efforts this year, and 2010 will be the 'Year of U.S. Immigration'.
The most popular U.S. investment immigration program is the EB-5 program, which allows foreign investors to obtain a conditional residency for two years by investing $1 million in the U.S. or $500,000 in a government-approved 'economic zone' and creating 10 job opportunities. If the investment activity continues to exist after two years and the required number of jobs has been created, the investor can obtain permanent residency.
The U.S. investment immigration program is considered the most flexible immigration program in the world. It does not impose any restrictions on investors regarding age, business background, experience, or language ability. Moreover, permanent residents are not required to reside continuously in the U.S., allowing investors to maintain their careers and networks in their home countries. The U.S. investment immigration program also provides investors with considerable freedom, as it does not require them to participate in the daily management of the company, merely requiring 'active participation' in the business entity. This means investors can play the role of limited partners while engaging in other personal business ventures and investments.
Immigration experts suggest that the EB-5 program also carries certain risks, and investors must choose the right investment projects while discerning the reliability of intermediary agencies. In light of the high-risk incidents related to EB-5 projects that occurred in previous years, relevant departments of our government have issued warnings and regulated intermediary agencies and investment projects. We believe that increasingly standardized services will make U.S. investment immigration more attractive.
