Many residents in the United Arab Emirates are interested in obtaining the United States Green Card for themselves and their family members to take advantage of the various benefits offered. For the past 30 years, the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program has been popular amongst residents in the region given both the ease of applying and the low requirements relative to other immigration by investment programs, such as minimum professional experience and language level requirements. In short, the EB-5 program requires that an investment of $500,000 be made with clean funds into a new commercial enterprise in the United States with which a minimum of 10 jobs must be created for U.S. persons. By virtue of the investment, the applicant along with the applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 will have the opportunity to obtain their U.S. Green Cards.
Following a rush of applications in June 2021, the EB-5 Regional Center Program lapsed due to a lack of reauthorization by the U.S. Congress. Therefore, UAE residents considering immigrating to the United States are not able to file their EB-5 applications at the moment. That said, EB-5 industry experts and stakeholders expect that the program will shortly be reauthorized in early December 2021 following which there will be a huge rush of applications. Given the short timeline, families interested in applying for their Green Cards must act fast to stay ahead of the curve as soon as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) once again begins accepting applications.
Here are the top three steps in ensuring that you beat the December 2021 EB-5 rush:
- Collecting the necessary documentation to prove your source of funds.
An investor’s source and path of funds for the investment must both be lawful. Failure to show sufficient documentation will place your application at risk of denial. Your consulting and legal team will provide you with a list of documents to begin collecting in preparation for your application.
- Choose the right EB-5 project.
Choosing the right project is important because if the project does not meet the requirements set forth by USCIS, your EB-5 application is at risk of denial. The right project must have the correct documentation in place, including but not limited to a business plan, economic analysis report, job creation reports, and an offering memorandum. Other considerations with respect to choosing the right project include the existence of transparency for the investor with respect to the project, such as whether the project site has a camera that would allow for the monitoring of the entire construction and whether quarterly financial and construction reporting is available for investors.
- Engage with the right EB-5 advisors.
For a successful application, it is imperative that you engage the services of a top immigration consultant to assist you through the entire EB-5 process. Consultants act as a liaison between the client, attorney of record, and the regional center which sponsors the project. Consultants will be responsible for overseeing the application, including conducting source of funds analysis, introducing the client to the right regional center, assisting the client in choosing an optimal project, and regularly communicating with the attorney of record to ensure the timely filing of the application. You should feel a sense of ease with your advisors as the EB-5 process takes a few years to complete and you will develop many questions along the way.
The American Legal Center is a top immigration consultancy in Dubai and is laser-focused on the EB-5 program. Its team of U.S. licensed lawyers and professionals have years of experience in helping individuals and families apply for U.S. residency via the EB-5 program. As one of the best advisors in the region, they will be able to readily assist you in ensuring that you swiftly manage the upcoming December rush and file your application as soon as the program reopens. Contact The American Legal Center today for a free consultation.
