The cost of the EB-5 Investor Visa is going up

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After years of speculation, we finally have confirmation that the minimum qualifying investment for the EB-5 Investor Visa will be increasing as of November 21^st, 2019. This is the first price increase since the program was launched in 1990. The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced these changes as part of their EB-5 Modernization Regulations.

Price Increase

The minimum investment will increase from US$500,000 to US$900,000 in qualified targeted employment areas (“TEAs”), whilst other areas will see the minimum investment increase from US$1 million to US$1.8 million. These changes maintain the rule of a 50% minimum investment differential between the TEA and non-TEA. Moving forward, these increases will be adjusted every five years to ensure that the investment amounts reflect today’s dollar value.

TEA Designations

Further changes include the DHS now deciding what qualifies as a TEA, which was previously decided by the individual states. This is to ensure the TEA designations better align with congressional intent. As such, it may become more difficult to invest in major cities at the lower investment threshold.

Latitude’s View

Latitude’s Jon Green understands the reasoning behind the price increase:

“This is one of the world’s oldest residency-by-investment programs. It has not seen a price increase since its inception nearly 30 years ago. As such, it is long overdue and is only being adjusted for inflation which is reasonable. The United States remains a highly desirable destination if you’re looking for business opportunities in America, better education for your children, and greater overall quality of life for your families.”

What does it all mean?

As we get closer to the November 21^st price increase, it is highly likely that we will see a dramatic rise in the number of application submissions, which will only result in longer processing times. As such, this may bring some clients to consider other English-speaking destinations to avoid excessive processing delays, such as Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom.

The Way Forward

Latitude is proud to partner with the top Regional Centers in the United States that offer a variety of investment options. From chartered schools on the East Coast to Hotel Developments on the West Coast, there is the right project for every applicant’s preference.

To start your journey towards a US Green Card, don’t delay and contact Jon Green today.