2013 saw the National Visa Center of the United States issue a total of 8,567 EB-5 investment immigration visas, surpassing the 7,641 issued in the 2012 fiscal year (of which 6,124 were to Chinese investors).
Why has the EB-5 investment immigration program in the United States remained so popular in recent years? This is closely related to the perceptions of the Chinese people towards the United States. Many Chinese who have visited and lived in the United States have summarized the following points:
• Americans do not discriminate against the elderly
Recently, I saw several reports in local newspapers about mothers attending college with their children. Such occurrences are unimaginable in China, but similar stories happen all over the United States. The attitude of Americans towards aging is evident. Look, American seniors have forgotten the fear of aging; what could be more important for an elderly person than this? Many of them plan to attend college with their children to earn a degree.
• Easy returns in American stores
Many housewives deal with groceries and shopping every day. Aside from food, returning any item purchased in American stores is not a difficult task. Even without a receipt, and even if the clothing tag has fallen off, as long as you want to return it, the store will not make it difficult for you. The convenience of returns in American stores greatly relaxes my mind; even after impulsive shopping, I can quickly find a solution—just return it.
• No need to give doctors red envelopes in the United States
As bodily organs age day by day, seeing a doctor becomes inevitable. In the United States, patients do not need to give red envelopes, and doctors always greet patients with a smile. If a doctor yells at a patient, that doctor is likely to be out of a job or wants to be fired. Patients are respected, and that feels great. In the United States, you not only do not fear encountering quack doctors, but the medical standards and treatment plans are standardized across all cities. Even if you live in remote areas, you do not have to worry about being mistreated by doctors. American laws are strict; doctors can only treat patients honestly and dare not act recklessly.
• American teachers do not scold parents
Regardless of how well children perform on exams, American teachers do not embarrass parents. When faced with difficult children, American teachers will contact parents in a collaborative manner. Parents are not in a cat-and-mouse relationship with teachers, but rather in a peer-to-peer relationship, engaging in equal dialogue to find solutions together.
• American men are models of family devotion
Men returning home after work is the mainstream lifestyle in American society. If men can return home on time, what more can women complain about? Americans have a strong sense of family; living in such a country, men gradually become models of family devotion.
• In the United States, people do not take excessive eating and drinking too seriously; life is simple, allowing people to use their remaining time to relax and recharge.
• In the United States, there is no need to worry about falling into an open well, nor about toxic food;
• In the United States, if I fall and someone happens to see my plight, someone will definitely ask me, Are you OK? Do you need help?
• In the United States, there is no need to worry about whose income is less than family A, B, or C; everyone lives their own life, earning more or less, each has their own way of living;
• In the United States, if I do not wear a diamond ring or carry a designer bag, no one will mock me for being poor;
• In the United States, no one sympathizes with me for not working, nor do they lament that I do not earn money;
• In the United States, although there is no need to study any documents, one’s awareness and understanding may not be poor;
• In the United States, although people rarely go to karaoke, many hymns and spiritual songs are sung every Sunday.
• Although the United States is not perfect, it generously accepts foreign immigrants.
Many times, when people mention the United States, the immediate concepts that come to mind are: a developed economy, high living standards; and also cold interpersonal relationships, a weak sense of family ties, open attitudes among men and women, and a money-first mentality, etc. In fact, it was mentioned long ago in a book by Bai Yansong that these concepts are not closely related to the United States.
Many times, when people mention the United States, the immediate concepts that come to mind are: a developed economy, high living standards; and also cold interpersonal relationships, a weak sense of family ties, open attitudes among men and women, and a money-first mentality, etc. In fact, it was mentioned long ago in a book by Bai Yansong that these concepts are not closely related to the United States.
Many people who have lived in the United States have almost all experienced a complete adjustment of these perceptions: the imagined United States while in China is not the same as the real United States.
