美国投资移民 EB-5
为了吸引外资，创造就业机会，刺激美国经济增长，美国政府于1990年在《美国移民归化法案》中，创立了职业移民第五优先（第203(b)(5)条的8 U.S.C.§1153(b)(5)款, 又称 EB-5)，鼓励外国投资者通过投资方式获得美国永久居留权。 投资移民（EB-5）对于拥有足够资产并有意移民美国的外国公民来说具有普世的优越性。投资移民不要求申请人拥有任何学历或者其它履历以及资质，无论申请人是什么国籍，是否有投资经验，是否有企业管理技能，是否会说英文等都可以申请。 根据美国国土安全局和移民局于2010年6月16日发表的对投资移民（EB-5）的备忘录， 美国每年有一万个投资移民签证提供给合格的外国投资移民申请人，其中有3000签证名额预留给投资到目标就业区（TEA）创立新企业的投资移民者，3000签证名额预 留给投资到地区中心（RC）的投资移民者。只要申请人资金来源合法，再满足以下三个条件，即可以获得批准。
美国投资移民 EB-5 绿卡介绍
- 申请人投资的对象必须是以盈利为目的的企业以及其他法人或个人独资企业，但非盈利机构不包含在内。
- 新的商业企业（New Business Enterprise） 作为最基础的投资方式，申请人可以：第一，在美国任何地域创立和经营管理一个新的企业，或收购一个原已存在的企业并实质性的重建或重组此企业；第二，投资一个存在的企业并使其净值或员工数增长40%。 多个 EB-5 申请人可以同时投资一个企业，但该投资的数额和创造的工作机会平均到各个投资者依然必须满足移民局的要求。
- 困难企业（Troubled Enterprise） 申请人可以通过收购并经营管理一个困难企业来申请 EB5 移民签证。困难企业是指存在两年以上，并且在申请人提出投资移民申请（I-526表格）之 前的一年到两年内企业净值（net worth loss）亏损了超过20%。对于收购困难企业的申请人，美国移民局并不要求增加10个就业岗位，而只是要求在至少两年内保持现有的10个以上的岗位或投资时的雇佣状态，但作为收购已经存在的企业的特殊情况，依然要求净值上升40%。
- 地区中心移民方案（Regional Center Pilot Program） 投资者也可以把钱投给移民局核准的 “地区中心”， 成为某个项目的合伙人或股东。 为了刺激外国资本的投资，美国移民将每年3000个签证放给投资“地区中心” 的 EB-5 申请人。“地区中心” 相对其他投资方式独具特色，比如：不要求投资者参与日常公司管理；除了直接创造的就业机会，间接创造的就业机会也符合移民局对于 “创造10个就业机会” 的要求等。目前，几乎90%-95%的 EB-5 申请人都选择了这种投资方式。根据美国政府计划，这个项目将于2012年9月30年截止，但考虑到美国当前的经济状况，该项目有可能再延长一段时间。
对于投资方式，移民局的规定同样相当宽泛，申请人可以通过以下三种投资方式来申请绿卡。
- 投资金额
- 创造就业岗位
除了投资钱金额，另外一个核心的要求是创造就业。法律的一般规定是：对于创立新企业的申请人，必须通过投资的企业在 I-526 表格批准后的两年内直接雇佣10个全职以上的美国公民或美国绿卡持有者或者其他合法移民；对于参加地区中心计划的投资人需要证明区域中心正在按照其被批准的商业计划运营；对于收购困难企业的申请人，需要至少保持投资时的雇用人数。EB-5 投资人自身和配偶子女不算在内。
律师建议：评估 EB-5 项目的几大考虑因素 1. 是否有足够充裕的就业机会
从经济学研究的角度讲，计算就业机会的经济模型有很多种。在 EB-5 的领域中，最常见的有 RIMS II 和 IMPLAN 两种。无论EB-5 项目使用哪一种就业模型，投资人都应该确认项目所创造的就业机会大于需要的就业机会，这样才能够保证 I-526 和 I-829 的顺利通过。 2. 有关租赁就业机会 从就业分析报告可以看出一个项目创造就业机会的数量，其中多少是建造花费产生的就业机会，多少是项目运营产生的就业机会，多少是后期租赁产生的就业机会。如果每个投资人创造的10个就业机会需要用到后期租赁就业，则需要了解清楚这个就业报告是否已经经过移民局的审核。 目前移民局对很多项目的租赁就业数据提出疑问，但同时指出会承认之前已经审批过的项目就业报告，详情请见移民局的网站2012年5月8日刊登的解释：http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2012/May/Tenant Occupancy Guidance - FINAL 5 8 12 pdf.pdf 因此如果能够确认项目是移民局已经批准的就业报告（区域中心首个项目或者后期新项目的典范申请），那么这个就业报告也是可靠的。 3. 项目工期及进度 EB-5 项目在招募投资人的时候，项目工程都处于不同的进展阶段和状态。有些项目刚刚开工，有些项目工程已经过半，而有些项目可能还未开工。总体来讲，已经开工的项目比未开工的项目少了一些不确定因素。尤其是大的工程项目，可能会因为很多原因被一拖再拖。投资人的临时绿卡只有两年的有效期，投资项目只有在临时绿卡的有效期内创造就业机会才能取得 I-829的批准。 例如，华盛顿特区区域中心2011年初推出了马里兰州政府大楼项目，该项目由于诉讼案件一直不能开始动工，而当时已经有投资人投入了该项目的EB-5 基金。最终，好在该区域中心将客户的投资转到了其他项目而没有让投资人继续以该项目进行申请，否则这些投资人如果以马里兰项目为基础申请临时绿卡，而项目一直不能顺利开始，届时临时绿卡到期后是无法转为正式绿卡的。 因此，至少从这个角度来说开工了的项目是少了一些不确定因素的。 |
4. 开发商投入和背景 项目开发商即借款方（以贷款型项目为例）在项目中的投入也是一个很重要的考虑因素。一般来说，开发商如果自身也在项目中有重大的资金投入，那么他们有动力要尽快完成项目。这种项目比开发商完全依靠 EB-5 资金才能完成的项目要让投资人感觉可靠的多。 另外，开发商本身的实力、经验历史和信誉情况也是一个重要的考虑因素。EB-5 贷款类似于银行的商业贷款，成功和信誉卓著的开发商是不会轻易在还款方面出差错而影响自己的信用等级的。 5. EB-5 投资比例 我们有时会看到一些很大的项目，投资全部都是要依靠 EB-5 的资金。如果项目非常大，开发商又没有其他资金来源，在目前 EB-5 项目竞争非常激烈的情况下，如果项目方招不到足够的投资人，那么项目的顺利完成也就有可能得不到保障。 6. 银行贷款 许多项目的资金构成中有银行贷款，很多时候这能说明这个项目是比较可靠的。银行对项目的风险评估体系是很完善的，他们可以了解到许多投资人不可能了解透彻的信息。如果一个项目可以拿到银行贷款，那么至少说明这个项目经过了银行的严格审查和风险评估，银行认为是具有良好商业前景和可行性的项目才会批准贷款。 7. 抵押物和担保 贷款型项目的借款方都会为贷款提供一定的抵押物或担保。今后如果借款方没有能力归还 EB-5 贷款，投资人所投入的有限合伙企业是可以追索抵押物和担保的。 8. 项目本身的商业前景 这需要根据投资人自身的知识和行业背景来考量，投资人可以对投资地该行业的情况做一些调查，看看是不是当地对项目提供的产品或服务有强劲的需求。如果市场对项目有很强的需求，那么这也是一个很好的正面因素。 |
申请流程表
第一步
签署投资合伙协议和认购协议，将投资款项汇出，完成投资手续， 向美国移民局提出申请并提供相关材料， 美国移民局受理申请并进行审核，审核过程一般一到三个月。 第二步 移民申请获批后，收到移民局寄出文件包，完成填写， 等待美国使馆的通知，前往使馆进行面谈， 等待过程一般六到八个月。 第三步 面谈后，美国使馆发给条件绿卡，拿到绿卡后需在180天内入境美国。 第四步 拿到有条件绿卡21个月后，向美国移民局提出申请，解除条件限制。 获得永久绿卡，在美国居住满5年可以宣誓成为美国公民。 |
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Visa Description
USCIS administers the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as “EB-5,” created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under a pilot immigration program first enacted in 1992 and regularly reauthorized since, certain EB-5 visas also are set aside for investors in Regional Centers designated by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
All EB-5 investors must invest in a new commercial enterprise, which is a commercial enterprise:
Note: This definition does not include noncommercial activity such as owning and operating a personal residence.
Job Creation Requirements
A troubled business is an enterprise that has been in existence for at least two years and has incurred a net loss during the 12- or 24-month period prior to the priority date on the immigrant investor’s Form I-526. The loss for this period must be at least 20 percent of the troubled business’ net worth prior to the loss. For purposes of determining whether the troubled business has been in existence for two years, successors in interest to the troubled business will be deemed to have been in existence for the same period of time as the business they succeeded.
A qualified employee is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or other immigrant authorized to work in the United States. The individual may be a conditional resident, an asylee, a refugee, or a person residing in the United States under suspension of deportation. This definition does not include the immigrant investor; his or her spouse, sons, or daughters; or any foreign national in any nonimmigrant status (such as an H-1B visa holder) or who is not authorized to work in the United States.
Full-time employment means employment of a qualifying employee by the new commercial enterprise in a position that requires a minimum of 35 working hours per week. In the case of the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, "full-time employment" also means employment of a qualifying employee in a position that has been created indirectly from investments associated with the Pilot Program.
A job-sharing arrangement whereby two or more qualifying employees share a full-time position will count as full-time employment provided the hourly requirement per week is met. This definition does not include combinations of part-time positions or full-time equivalents even if, when combined, the positions meet the hourly requirement per week. The position must be permanent, full-time and constant. The two qualified employees sharing the job must be permanent and share the associated benefits normally related to any permanent, full-time position, including payment of both workman’s compensation and unemployment premiums for the position by the employer.
Capital Investment RequirementsCapital means cash, equipment, inventory, other tangible property, cash equivalents and indebtedness secured by assets owned by the alien entrepreneur, provided that the alien entrepreneur is personally and primarily liable and that the assets of the new commercial enterprise upon which the petition is based are not used to secure any of the indebtedness. All capital shall be valued at fair-market value in United States dollars. Assets acquired, directly or indirectly, by unlawful means (such as criminal activities) shall not be considered capital for the purposes of section 203(b)(5) of the Act.
Note: Investment capital cannot be borrowed.
Required minimum investments are:
A rural area is any area outside a metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Office of Management and Budget) or outside the boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more according to the decennial census.
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All EB-5 investors must invest in a new commercial enterprise, which is a commercial enterprise:
- Established after Nov. 29, 1990, or
- Established on or before Nov. 29, 1990, that is:
1. Purchased and the existing business is restructured or reorganized in such a way that a new commercial enterprise results, or
2. Expanded through the investment so that a 40-percent increase in the net worth or number of employees occurs
- A sole proprietorship
- Partnership (whether limited or general)
- Holding company
- Joint venture
- Corporation
- Business trust or other entity, which may be publicly or privately owned
Note: This definition does not include noncommercial activity such as owning and operating a personal residence.
Job Creation Requirements
- Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years (or under certain circumstances, within a reasonable time after the two-year period) of the immigrant investor’s admission to the United States as a Conditional Permanent Resident.
- Create or preserve either direct or indirect jobs:
- Direct jobs are actual identifiable jobs for qualified employees located within the commercial enterprise into which the EB-5 investor has directly invested his or her capital.
- Indirect jobs are those jobs shown to have been created collaterally or as a result of capital invested in a commercial enterprise affiliated with a regional center by an EB-5 investor. A foreign investor may only use the indirect job calculation if affiliated with a regional center.
A troubled business is an enterprise that has been in existence for at least two years and has incurred a net loss during the 12- or 24-month period prior to the priority date on the immigrant investor’s Form I-526. The loss for this period must be at least 20 percent of the troubled business’ net worth prior to the loss. For purposes of determining whether the troubled business has been in existence for two years, successors in interest to the troubled business will be deemed to have been in existence for the same period of time as the business they succeeded.
A qualified employee is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or other immigrant authorized to work in the United States. The individual may be a conditional resident, an asylee, a refugee, or a person residing in the United States under suspension of deportation. This definition does not include the immigrant investor; his or her spouse, sons, or daughters; or any foreign national in any nonimmigrant status (such as an H-1B visa holder) or who is not authorized to work in the United States.
Full-time employment means employment of a qualifying employee by the new commercial enterprise in a position that requires a minimum of 35 working hours per week. In the case of the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, "full-time employment" also means employment of a qualifying employee in a position that has been created indirectly from investments associated with the Pilot Program.
A job-sharing arrangement whereby two or more qualifying employees share a full-time position will count as full-time employment provided the hourly requirement per week is met. This definition does not include combinations of part-time positions or full-time equivalents even if, when combined, the positions meet the hourly requirement per week. The position must be permanent, full-time and constant. The two qualified employees sharing the job must be permanent and share the associated benefits normally related to any permanent, full-time position, including payment of both workman’s compensation and unemployment premiums for the position by the employer.
Capital Investment RequirementsCapital means cash, equipment, inventory, other tangible property, cash equivalents and indebtedness secured by assets owned by the alien entrepreneur, provided that the alien entrepreneur is personally and primarily liable and that the assets of the new commercial enterprise upon which the petition is based are not used to secure any of the indebtedness. All capital shall be valued at fair-market value in United States dollars. Assets acquired, directly or indirectly, by unlawful means (such as criminal activities) shall not be considered capital for the purposes of section 203(b)(5) of the Act.
Note: Investment capital cannot be borrowed.
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.
A rural area is any area outside a metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Office of Management and Budget) or outside the boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more according to the decennial census.
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信息来源：美国移民局（USCIS）官方网站 http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
