The US EB-5 investor visa has been one of the most popular Golden Visa programmes worldwide and is due to expire on April 28, 2017. Back in December 2016 US Congress voted to temporarily extend the programmes but since that time Donald Trump has been inaugurated as US President and it is not clear what his views are on the EB5 programme. Several proposals were made in January 2016 by the Department of Homeland Security including raising the limits to $1.3 million and $1.8 million and reclassifying areas designated as high unemployment on the basis that most areas seem to have crept into this classification.
Investor can obtain a US Green card by investing a minimum of $500,000 into various different projects and regional centres which will create 10 jobs or more in the U.S.
Recently two Representatives Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein introduced proposals to end the EB-5 altogether. The general feeling is that this will have little chance of success. It would be difficult for Donald Trump to criticise the program as several Trump branded projects appear to have benefitted from EB-5 investment over the years. However Trump’s recent travel ban which was introduced on six predominantly Muslim countries and with his proposed hard-line stance on China, the outcome of any review remains uncertain.
If the programme ends or sees significant price increases, investors and applicants are likely to start turning their attentions to other golden visa programmes. The US programme is the largest in the world and has exceeded the numbers generated by all the European programmes put together. The US EB-5 programme for now remains open and the likelihood is it will be extended in some shape or form after the April 28th deadline. If you have been considering this programme for a while we would advice to proceed ahead of any changes and to also consider any potential knock-on effect to alternative programmes in Europe and the Caribbean if this scheme was to be changed or cancelled.
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