| The fifth preference employment based visa (EB5) | | | | |
| was created in 1990 as a way for foreign investors to | | | | |
| gain United States permanent residency (and eventual | | | | |
| citizenship if desired), through an investment in a new | | | | EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa – In stark contrast to |
| or pre-existing American business that sees the | | | | the F-1 Visa, lays the Immigrant Investor Visa. |
| creation of at least 10 new full-time jobs for American | | | | According to the government's web page, to qualify |
| workers. The F-1Visa allows a foreign student to enter | | | | for the EB5 Visa Program you must: |
| the United States for the purpose of continuing their | | | | |
| studies. In this article we will take a closer look at the | | | | |
| R-1 and Eb5 Green Card visas to see how their paths | | | | |
| to a Green Card Visa compare and contrast. | | | | 1) Invest or be in the process of investing at |
| | | | | least $1,000,000. If your investment is in a designated |
| | | | | targeted employment area (A Targeted Employment |
| F-1 Student Visa – As per the government's | | | | Area is defined by law as "a rural area or an area that |
| website, the F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows a | | | | has experienced high unemployment of at least 150 |
| foreign citizen to enter the United States as a full-time | | | | percent of the national average) then the minimum |
| student at an accredited college, university, seminary, | | | | investment requirement is $500,000. |
| conservatory, academic high school, elementary | | | | 2) Benefit the U.S. economy by providing goods |
| school, or other academic institution or in a language | | | | or services to U.S. markets. |
| training program. The foreign citizen must be enrolled in | | | | |
| a program or course of study that culminates in a | | | | 3) Create full-time employment for at least 10 |
| degree, diploma, or certificate and their school must be | | | | U.S. workers. This includes U.S. citizens, Green Card |
| authorized by the U.S. government to accept | | | | holders (lawful permanent residents) and other |
| international students. | | | | individuals lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. |
| | | | | (however it does not include you (the immigrant), or |
| You may enter in the F-1 visa category provided you | | | | your spouse, sons or daughters). |
| meet the following criteria: | | | | 4) Be involved in the day-to-day management |
| 1) You must be enrolled in an "academic" | | | | of the new business or directly manage it through |
| educational program, a language-training program, or a | | | | formulating business policy – for example as a |
| vocational program | | | | Limited Partner, corporate officer or board member. |
| 2) Your school must be approved by USCIS | | | | |
| 3) You must be enrolled as a full-time student | | | | We see in this comparison that the F-1 and EB5 |
| at the institution | | | | immigrant investor visa are very different in nature and |
| 4) You must be proficient in English or be | | | | offer disparate paths to a Green Card Visa. While the |
| enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency | | | | F-1 allows a foreign citizen to enter the country in order |
| 5) You must have sufficient funds available for | | | | to continue their education in the American school |
| self-support during the entire proposed course of | | | | system, the EB5 visa relies on an immigrant's |
| study | | | | investment to create new full-time jobs for the |
| 6) You must maintain a residence abroad | | | | American workforce. |
| which he/she has no intention of giving up. | | | | |