Applying for the eb5 visa program can be exciting, as it is one of the fastest ways to get to the United States with the chance of eventually becoming a citizen. You may be curious how long exactly it will take you to be able to move to this country. The answer is that is can vary, but the average is about one year. Finding a good lawyer, having all required documents in order, and knowing what to expect when it comes to this process is one thing that the most successful eb5 investors have in common.
The average wait time from when you apply to when you can come to this country is about a year, with the typical range being nine to fifteen months. This may seem like a long time to wait after turning in your documents, but there is a lot that needs to be done by the officials at USCIS during that time. You will also need this time to complete physicals and background checks before you can enter the country, so be sure to stay in touch with your lawyer to schedule these appointments.
You should know that after you move to the U.S., you will need to continue with the program for two years. This means that the business should be profitable enough to continue to employ at least ten citizens for over two years. During this time, you will be in the U.S. with a conditional green card, which means that if the conditions of the program are not met by eb5 investors, it can be revoked. Your lawyer should then submit a petition to remove the conditional part of your green card so that you can get an unconditional ten-year green card. This typically takes two years after submittal of the petition. Finally, about five years after your initial move to the U.S., your naturalization application can be submitted and you can become an official citizen.
You may think that waiting a year from now to get into the U.S. will feel like it takes forever, but it should go by quickly since there is so much preparation during that time. Not only is the application process complex enough to require screenings of various kinds during the wait, but moving to another country also requires a lot from eb5 investors. Between packing, arranging for a new residence in the U.S., and preparing your family for the move, the waiting time involved in the eb5 visa program will fly by.