Consumer spending in the United States is currently at a whopping $13,000 Billion dollars. With numbers like that, it’s no secret entrepreneurs from all over the world are vying to move to the U.S and get a piece of that $13,000 billion pie.
With that said, let’s look at three ways entrepreneurs can get a green card and settle in the USA.
Family-Based Green Cards
One of the most popular ways of getting a green card revolves around having a family member who is already a U.S citizen or permanent resident.Â
Here are some of the familial relations that make you eligible to receive a family-based green card.
- Being the spouse of a U.S citizen, an unmarried child not more than 21 years old.
- Being the parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years.
- Being an unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen 21 years old or older.
- Being a married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen, brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old.
- Being the spouse of a lawful permanent resident.
- Being the unmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent resident.
- Being the unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older.
If you’re going down the family-based route to get a green card, you’ll need to prove that you don’t have a criminal record – and you’ll need to prove that your relationship with the U.S citizen or permanent resident is authentic.
If you fall into any of these categories and can meet the requirements your family member can sponsor you to get a green card.
Green Card Lottery
The Diverse Immigrant Visa Program popularly known as the ‘Green Card Lottery’ is another way an entrepreneur can secure a green card.Â
It was set up by the Department of State to increase the diversity of immigrants coming to the US.Â
Each year the program gives out 50,000 immigration visas.
For an immigrant to qualify for the lottery his country of origin must have had less than 50,000 immigrants into the United States in the last 5 years.
The state department supplies a list of eligible countries every year and the applicant must have at least a high school level degree or must have working experience of 2 years within the last 5 years in a field that requires at least 2 years of working experience.Â
The application process is not too tedious as it doesn’t require a fee to be paid.
The winners of the lottery are randomly selected by a computer and are then granted visas for themselves and their immediate family members.Â
Investing in an EB-5 Visa Project
As an entrepreneur you can get your green card with an EB-5 visa project.
This is the most popular way through which entrepreneurs secure green cards into the United States.
Here’s how it works;
The EB-5 Visa project was a program set up by Congress in 1992 in order to bolster foreign investments and job creation in the United States.
Applicants are simply required to invest $1 million in a non-TEA project or $500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area(TEA) project.Â
This investment must then create and maintain at least 10 jobs.Â
One of the most important requirements is that the source of funds must be legal.Â
If all requirements are met an applicant can secure a green card for himself/herself and their immediate family friends.Â
This method is the best way for entrepreneurs seeking to get green cards because it means that you can secure a green card by simply setting up your business in the United States and investing the right amount of capital.
Lastly, you should consult a legal representative, accountant, and consulting agency to assist you with the process of securing a green card.
