THE EB-5 PROGRAM THE BIG PICTURE
THE EB-5 PROGRAM OVERVIEW The EB-5 program is diverse and ever-changing. Our objective is to help navigate you through the program by providing essential program facts and highlights.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Congress created the fifth employment-based preference (EB-5) immigrant visa category in 1990 for qualified foreigners seeking to invest in a business that will benefit the U.S. economy and create or save at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. The basic amount required to invest is $1 million, although that amount is reduced to $500,000 if the investment is made in a rural or high unemployment area (i.e. Targeted Employment Area (TEA)). Of the 10,000 EB-5 green cards available each year, 3,000 are reserved for foreign nationals who invest through a Regional Center. USCIS estimates that approximately 90+% of EB-5 visas are based on Regional Center investments. Foreign national investment through the EB-5 program promotes widespread economic growth, in addition to the creation of numerous American jobs. All investors must meet the stringent requirements and screening processes mandated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A Regional Center is a private enterprise/corporation or a regional governmental agency with a targeted investment program within a defined geographic region. The EB-5 Regional Center Program does not require that the foreign investor's enterprise itself directly employ 10 U.S. workers. Instead, it is enough if 10 or more jobs will be created directly or indirectly as a result of the investment. The Regional Center Investment Program aids foreign investors by directing and professionally managing their investment in the designated business and geographic focus of their Regional Center.
INVESTOR BENEFITS FAMILY. The EB-5 program allows the foreign investor and his immediate family (spouse and all unmarried children under the age of 21) to immigrate to the U. S., obtain a green card and proceed to U.S. citizenship with the benefits of a U.S. passport while at the same time they invest their money in a project of their choosing. REGIONAL CENTER ADVANTAGE. The Regional Center Investment Program aids foreign investors by directing and professionally managing their investment in the designated business and geographic focus of their Regional Center. EXPEDIENCY. Obtaining citizenship through an EB-5 investment is considerably more expeditious than traditional methods of immigration, some of which can take as long as ten years or more. Through an EB-5 investment, investors can typically obtain permanent residency within 3-5 years. JOB REQUIREMENTS. The EB-5 Regional Center Program does not require that the foreign investor's enterprise itself directly employ 10 U.S. workers. Instead, it is enough if 10 or more jobs will be created directly or indirectly as a result of the investment.
THE ECONOMICS OF EB-5 Spending associated with EB-5 investors contributed $3.4 billion to U.S. GDP and supported over 42,000 U.S. jobs in 2012. Spending by EB-5 investors also contributed $448 million to federal tax revenues and $265 million to state and local tax revenues.
THE EB-5 PROGRAM G R O W T H T R E N D S The successes afforded by the EB-5 program have garnered national attention, resulting in increased popularity. This popularity is the driving force behind the bright future forecasts, and projected growth of the program.
PROVEN SUCCESS 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Foreign Investor Applications (I- 526) FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 I-526 Receipts + The 6,517 I-526 petitions received in FY2013 accounts for $3.25+ billion in capital formation a record setting year. + The I-526 approval rate over the last six years (FY2008-2013) averages out to 83.7%, much higher than the 64.4% over the entire span of the Program s existence. + This data serves as evidence that EB-5 policy has become far more predictable in recent history, improving approval rates along the way. Given the higher volume of I- 526 filings over time, we expect even higher I-829 volume in FY2014. * Data according to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) FY2013 dataset.
TOP 5 COUNTRIES (2006-2012)
W H O WE ARE G A T E I N D U S T R I E S GATE has helped guide both investors and EB-5 proprietors to navigate their way through the complex EB-5 process. GATE is dedicated to working tirelessly to help our investors and clients to achieve equitable results.
GATE BACKGROUND Gate is a multi-faceted Georgia-based entertainment finance and consulting firm. Gate specializes in the sourcing and facilitating of a variety of financing options including but not limited to private offering funding through foreign nationals (EB-5 investments), and domestic private funding. TRACK RECORD Gate has successfully applied for and established two regional centers anchored in the State of Georgia. Both regional centers feature multi-million dollar projects in the highly sought-after, and lucrative entertainment industry. Gate has consulted and assisted with countless other EB-5 projects nationally, across a broad platform of industries. Gate recognizes that each client is different, and takes a individualized approach to each and every project to ensure maximum success and profitability. Gate is comprised of leading EB-5 industry experts, including the top attorneys, business planners, economists, and brokers in the field.