Get a visa by investing into the US!

Did you know you can get a visa by investing into the US?

An EB-5 visa permits "entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) who make an investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States and who plan to create or preserve ten permanent full time jobs for qualified United States workers, are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) (USCIS, 2013)."

Up to 10,000 visas may be authorized during the year and you must invest $1,000,000, or at least $500,000 in a targeted employment area, thus also enabling the possibility for  permanent residency. (USCIS, 2013)."

Jay Peak ski resort in Vermont has taken full advantage of this opportunity, offering investors from over 56 countries monthly updates and a 4 to 6 percent annual return on investment. They also get two weeks' accommodation with skiing and golfing privileges (O'Neill, 2011).

Interestingly, "Critics rail against the program for its immigration implications, but not many of the critics live in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, where reliable jobs are scarce. "This has allowed us to develop facilities and services that make the resort a 12-month resort," said Stenger, who was named the Vermont Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Citizen of the Year. "It lets us employ our workers year round. It's a win-win for all (O'Neill, 2011)."

What's your take?

References:

O'Neill, D. (2011). Ski dollars in exchange for visas. Retrieved on November 2, 2013 from http://xgames.espn.go.com/skiing/article/7304426/foreigners-investing-jay-peak-ski-area-exchange-us-visas

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Green Card Through Investment". Retrieved November, 1, 2013 from http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job/green-card-through-investment