What is an EB5 Visa?
EB-5 visa for Immigrant Investors is a United States visa created by the Immigration Act of 1990. This visa provides a method of obtaining a green card for foreign nationals, who invest money in the United States that leads to job creation. To obtain the visa, individuals must invest $1,000,000 (or at least $500,000 in a “Targeted Employment Area” – high unemployment or rural area); creating or preserving at least 10 jobs for US workers, excluding the investor and their immediate family. Investments can be made directly in a job-generating commercial enterprise (new, or existing – “Troubled Business”), or into a “Regional Center” – a 3rd party-managed investment vehicle (private or public), which assumes the responsibility of creating the requisite jobs. Regional Centers may charge an administration fee for managing the investor’s investment. The Regional Center provision of the program is currently scheduled to end on September 30, 2012, but an extension of the program is anticipated and has already been passed by the US Senate.
How does the process work?
An application is made to the USCIS detailing among other things the source of the funds to be invested and a business plan outlining how the required jobs will be created or preserved. When the foreign national investor’s application is approved, the investor and their dependents are granted a conditional temporary green card valid for two years. Within the 90 day period before the conditional temporary green card expires, the investor must submit evidence documenting that the full required investment has been made and that 10 jobs have been maintained, or 10 jobs have been created.
Why is the investment threshold with BHC higher than the program requires?
BHC investments are not typical of other EB-5 investments. We target only quality operating companies, rather than traditional real estate related transactions, that have an opportunity to create the required number of jobs, but also generate higher than normal returns. BHC chooses to only work with a limited number of investors, who have an appetite for these types of investments.
What about Canada?
BHC also has experience with investing and doing business in Canada. Currently, the investor program is being reorganized by the Canadian Government. As a result, the success rate for obtaining a visa in Canada is much lower than the EB-5, as the investor must work in the commercial enterprise that is purchased. Until the Government removes that from the program, BHC is not working on Canadian Visa investments.
How is my investment protected?
The EB-5 program requires that the invested capital be at risk. Any EB-5 promoter claiming that their investment is without risk is not sharing an accurate picture of the investment. With BHC, your risk is reduced due to our extensive experience operating companies and generating strong returns.
How are fees and disbursements made?
BHC works with only the most reputable financial institutions to hold your funds in trust until the investment is made (PLEASE VISIT OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TAB FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL COMPANY’S). All fees for management of the investment will be disbursed by these financial institutions only as detailed in the investor agreements. All legal fees for the EB-5 application will be paid directly to the legal team.
Will I get a return on my money?
The founders of BHC have a track record of exceeded market returns. Although, the EB-5 program requires that your investment be at risk, it is our intention to provide a return that compensates for that risk. As an incentive to BHC and a protection to investors, most of our compensation comes from the profits after our investors have recouped their principal.
Will my children qualify for in state tuition fees?
Yes, and with the top ten universities in the country that will be a savings of over $100,000 over a four year period.