<div itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Article”>
<h3 itemprop=”name”>
<!–ARTICLE TITLE START–>
EB-5 Minimum Investment Amount Increases to $900,000 November 21, 2019 – Can an EB-5 Applicant Invest Less Than the Full $500,000 Now and Still Qualify?
<!–END ARTICLE TITLE–>
</h3><h4><i>by <a href=”http://discuss.ilw.com/articles/articles/391975-article-eb-5-minimum-investment-amount-increases-to-900-000-november-21-2019-%E2%80%93-can-an-eb-5-applicant-invest-less-than-the-full-500-000-now-and-still-qualify-by-joseph-barnett-and-vivian-zhu#bio”>
<span itemprop=”author” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Person”>
<span itemprop=”name”>
<!–AUTHOR NAME START–>
Joseph Barnett and Vivian Zhu
<!–END AUTHOR NAME–>
</span></span>
</a></i></h4><br/>
<div class=”post-content”>
<p><span style=”color: #000000;”>With the minimum EB-5 investment amount increasing to at least $900,000 on November 21, 2019, Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP has been asked numerous times whether an EB-5 applicant can invest less than the current investment level of $500,000 to secure eligibility under the current EB-5 rules. Here are five things to know about this option:</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style=”color: #000000;”><strong><u>What EB-5 Law and Regulations Say</u>.</strong> The Immigration and Nationality Act states that EB-5 visas are available for those who have “invested (after November 29, 1990) or, is actively in the process of investing, capital” in a new commercial enterprise. The regulations indicate:</span></li>
</ol>
<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”><span style=”color: #000000;”>To show that the petitioner has invested or is actively in the process of investing the required amount of capital, the petition must be accompanied by evidence that the petitioner has placed the required amount of capital at risk for the purpose of generating a return on the capital placed at risk. Evidence of mere intent to invest, or of prospective investment arrangements entailing no present commitment, will not suffice to show that the petitioner is actively in the process of investing. The alien must show actual commitment of the required amount of capital.</span></p>
<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”><span style=”color: #000000;”>Thus, to qualify as an investment for EB-5, an immigrant investor must actually place his or her capital “at risk.” The mere intent to invest is not sufficient. Additionally, prospective investment arrangements involving no present commitment will also not suffice.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<ol start=”2″>
<li><span style=”color: #000000;”><strong><u>How Much Capital Must Be Invested</u>?</strong> USCIS has not articulated how much capital must be invested to qualify for an EB-5 visa, in the event the full minimum investment amount cannot be placed prior to filing the I-526 petition. It is best practice to provide a detailed explanation of the lawful source(s) of the <em>entire </em>subscription amount at the time of filing, emphasizing that the EB-5 investor has <em>already identified and sourced</em> <u>all</u> the funds that will comprise the $500,000 principal investment amount. Careful consideration is required in this instance to prevent any inconsistencies that could be deemed “material misrepresentations” which would adversely affect U.S. immigration options in the future. </span></li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<ol start=”3″>
<li><span style=”color: #000000;”><strong><u>When Must Balance of EB-5 Investment Be Invested?</u></strong> It is critical to demonstrate an EB-5 investor’s present commitment to invest the balance of the principal investment amount when filing the I-526 petition. A partial capital contribution, a signed subscription agreement, and an attestation showing the present commitment to fund the balance within 60-120 days can assist to demonstrate the actual commitment of investing the full amount, not a prospective investment arrangement. Illustrating how and when the funds will be available in the future (a closing date for a real estate transaction, or a bond coming due) is prudent. It’s advisable to complete the full investment amount prior to any action taken by USCIS on the case, and to interfile the remaining “source of funds” documents. </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style=”color: #000000;”><u> </u></span></p>
<ol start=”4″>
<li><span style=”color: #000000;”><strong><u>What Else Helps?</u></strong> Additional evidence showing how the EB-5 investor has already made arrangements or formulated a strategy for transferring the balance into the new commercial enterprise’s account could be helpful, as it demonstrates real and actual steps the investor has already initiated in preparation for the transference of the full EB-5 investment amount.</span></li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<ol start=”5″>
<li><span style=”color: #000000;”><strong><u>Eligible at Time of Filing</u>.</strong> While it is possible to invest less than $500,000 and file an I-526 petition before November 21, 2019, there are numerous challenges in presenting an approvable case to USCIS. A “petitioner must establish that he or she is eligible for the requested benefit at the time of filing the benefit request and must continue to be eligible through adjudication.” 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(l). In addition, “a petition cannot be approved at a future date after the petitioner becomes eligible under a new set of facts.” See <u>Matter of Katigbak</u>, 14 I&N Dec. 45, 49 (Comm ‘r 1971). It is highly recommended that prospective EB-5 investors speak with experienced EB-5 immigration counsel before moving forward with the investment decision. </span></li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p><span style=”color: #000000;”>Therefore, the safest route is to invest with the full amount before November 21, 2019. If, however, that is not possible, and you feel you might be able to qualify, contact attorney Joey Barnett at (</span><a href=”mailto:JBarnett@wolfsdorf.com”><span style=”color: #0000ff;”>JBarnett@wolfsdorf.com</span></a><span style=”color: #000000;”>) or attorney Vivian Zhu (</span><a href=”mailto:VZhu@Wolfsdorf.com”><span style=”color: #0000ff;”>VZhu@Wolfsdorf.com</span></a><span style=”color: #000000;”>) to discuss the merits of your case.</span></p>
</div>
<p>This post originally appeared on <a href=”https://wolfsdorf.com/blog/2019/10/30/eb-5-minimum-investment-amount-increases/” target=”_blank”>Wolfsdorf Rosenthal</a>. Reprinted with permission.</p>
</span>
<hr/><h4>
<a name=”bio”></a>
About The Author<br/>
</h4>
<!–AUTHOR BIO START–>
<p>
<b>Joseph Barnett</b>is a partner at Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP and specializes in employment and business immigration cases, including immigrant petitions and non-immigrant visa applications for foreign entrepreneurs and investors, management personnel of international companies, individuals with EB-1 extraordinary ability, EB-2 national interest waiver, and alien workers. She also handles complex immigration cases such as protecting age-out derivative children under CSPA, mandamus litigation, consular inadmissibility, as well as preparing responses to Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, and Notices of Intent to Revoke.
<b>Ms. Zhu</b>’s clients include Fortune 500 and medium size corporations, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals. She supervises large teams including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff vigilantly ensuring expeditious resolution of issues and resolves complex immigration cases. Ms. Zhu also has several years’ experience in corporate and securities laws representing companies in reverse mergers, PIPEs, initial public offerings, follow-on public offerings, and Exchange Act filings.
Ms. Zhu received her Master of Laws from USC School of Law (2007 – 2008) where she worked as a research assistant in U.S.-China International Transactions. She received her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University (2003 – 2007).
Ms. Zhu is licensed in the state of New York and practices exclusively in immigration law. She is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.
</p>
<!–END AUTHOR BIO–>
<p><hr/>
<div class=”ilwFinePrint”>The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of <span itemprop=”publisher” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Organization”>
<span itemprop=”name”>ILW.COM</span></span>.</div></p>
</div>
{$inline_image
