In 2013, the United States raised approximately $2 billion through the EB-5 investment immigration program; the application rate has increased threefold compared to 2010.
The EB-5 immigration program is the investment immigration category in the United States (classified as the fifth category of employment-based immigration under U.S. immigration law), where applicants can obtain U.S. permanent residency by investing $500,000 or $1 million locally and creating at least 10 jobs.
It is reported that 80% of the EB-5 investment immigration applications in the United States come from China. According to U.S. economist Scott Barnhart, many projects in the U.S. that lacked funding raised capital through the EB-5 program during the period of 2008-2009.
According to Scott Barnhart, the EB-5 program helps to increase employment in the United States, with 4,000 to 6,000 EB-5 projects each year capable of creating 35,000 jobs and raising $2 to $3 billion. "This economic impact is present every year, meaning that over 10 years, it can create 200,000 to 500,000 jobs and raise funds between $25 to $30 billion."
