Vietnam and Brazil are the countries with greatest increase in EB-5 visas issued between 2016 and 2017, according to the FY 2017 report released by US Department of State. Vietnam and Brazil has low waiting times compared to Chinese. The $500,000 REA’s attracts large number of foreign investors and is the popular route to gain access to EB-5 statistics reveal.
The United States EB-5 Program came into existence in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program.
On February 9, 2018, the President signed Public Law 115-123; extending the Regional Center Program through March 23, 2018.
The required minimum investments are:
- General. The minimum qualifying investment in the United States is $1 million.
- Targeted Employment Area (High Unemployment or Rural Area). The minimum qualifying investment either within a high-unemployment area or rural area in the United States is $500,000.
| 5th Employment Creation | 5th Target Employment Areas | 5th Regional Pilot Program | 5th Regional Target Areas | 5th
Total |
Waiting | |
| $1m | $500k | $1m | $500k | |||
| China | 180 | 283 | 11 | 7053 | 7567 | 88% |
| Vietnam | 1 | 24 | 0 | 446 | 471 | 2.2% |
| Brazil | 0 | 6 | 0 | 276 | 282 | |
| South Korea | 11 | 2 | 0 | 182 | 195 | 0.9% |
| India | 4 | 25 | 0 | 145 | 174 | 1% |
Source:
