|
|
E-2
|
L-1
|
Regional Center EB-5
|
Individual EB-5
|
|
Amount of investment
|
Any amount, but usually over $100,000
|
Any amount
|
Usually $500,000
|
$500,000 or $1,000,000
|
|
Must Create Jobs?
|
Can be small
|
Can be small
|
10 direct or indirect jobs
|
10 direct jobs
|
|
Investors' Employment
|
Manager or essential skills, unless investor
|
Manager or Specialized Knowledge
|
Limited partner
|
Policy making
|
|
Timing
|
1-2 months or more
|
Can be < 15 business days with premium processing
|
Approximately 1 year
|
Approximately 1 year
|
|
Procedure
|
Can go direct to consul
|
CIS 1st, unless blanket
|
CIS, then consul or I-485
|
CIS, then consul or I-485
|
|
Can your spouse work?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
3 months after I-485
|
3 months after I-485
|
|
Permanent Residence
|
Can be EB-1 after 1 year
|
Can be EB-1 after 1 year
|
Start now
|
Start now
|
|
Can family/investor attend school?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
In-state tuition sooner
|
In-state tuition sooner
|
|
Employment authorization
|
Immediate
|
Immediate
|
Usually 5-9 months
|
Usually 5-9 months
|
|
Can investment be a gift?
|
Can be problem
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Can investment funds be a loan?
|
Enterprise cannot be collateral
|
Yes
|
Enterprise cannot be collateral
|
Enterprise cannot be collateral
|
|
Expedite
|
Depends on consul or premium process
|
Premium Process
|
No
|
No
|
|
Relevance of country
|
Only Treaty country
|
Not relevant
|
Source and tracing of funds issue
|
Source and tracing of funds issue
|
|
Necessity of overseas company
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
|
Buying existing company
|
OK
|
OK
|
No
|
Must add 10 jobs
|
|
Geographical area
|
Any
|
Any
|
Rural/high unemployment for $500,000
|
Rural/high unemployment for $500,000
|
|
Prior employment overseas required?
|
No
|
Yes, 1 year
|
No
|
No
|
|
Initial length of visa
|
Up to 5 years
|
1 year start-up
|
2 year conditional permanent residence, then permanent residence
|
2 year conditional permanent residence, then permanent residence
|
|
Maximum period
|
Unlimited extensions available
|
5 or 7 years
|
Permanent
|
Permanent
|
