Possible Changes in the EB-5 Immigrant investor program

EB-5 investment program is considered to be the fastest immigration option for the investors and their family including unmarried children below 21 years of age to secure a USA Green Card with the initial investment of $500,000. US Senators has tabled a bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee demanding amendments in the EB-5 investment program. As of now, the bill haven’t been approved by the Senators, so applicants who are interested can pick this opportunity to invest in the program and secure a conditional green card for him/her as well as their family.

Following the bill being tabled in the senate, there is a possibility of changes in the investment program requirements such as the investment amount, employment area definitions, job creation requirement, source of funds, etc. The new investment amount however hasn’t been announced yet but there are speculations that:

•  Investment amount might be increased to $800,000 instead of $500,000 for targeted employment area whereas $1.2 million instead of $1 million for non-targeted employment area.
• It is also possible that the EB-5 program which provides a conditional permanent resident is likely to be changed to permanent inorder to avoid renewals.
• It might be made mandatory for investors to provide seven years of tax returns.
• Funds gifted by the applicants spouse, parents, child, sibling or grandparents can be taken into account.
• Concurrent filing period for I-526 and I-829 is likely to be reduced to 150 days and 180 days respectively.
• Job creation requirements likely to be changed as it was required to create 10 full time indirect or direct jobs but now it might be changed to 10 full time direct jobs.

All the above changes have not been finalized yet so before the amendments are made, consider choosing EB-5 investor program and in return for investment and creation of jobs in the USA, you and your spouse along with unmarried children below 21 years of age will become eligible to apply for the USA Green Card.

Manitoba Business Immigration Program

Manitoba is also opening its own business immigration program wherein the entrepreneurs and investors can make an investment and gain permanent resident status.

Manitoba has two business immigration programs:   

1.  Manitoba Entrepreneur Program 
2.  Manitoba Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative

Unlike other provinces, Manitoba signs a deposit agreement for the investment amount of $100,000 CAD and issues a nomination certificate to the applicant upon approval. The minimum net worth required for both the business immigration program is $350,000 CAD and the applicant needs to provide the documents related to the source of the income. Moreover, the minimum investment amount for the Manitoba business program is $150,000 CAD along with $100,000 CAD which the applicant needs to provide as a security deposit amount. If the applicant isn’t successful in fulfilling the requirements of the Manitoba business program then the applicant is bound to lose the deposit amount.

Whereas for the Manitoba Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative, the applicant needs to make the minimum investment of $75,000 CAD which will be transferred to the Manitoba Development Corporation after the nomination certificate is issued prior to applying for the permanent resident status. Apart from the investment amount, the applicant is termed to manage and run the business just like any other business immigration program.

Once the applicant receives the nomination certificate, he/she will have to make an investment of $100,000 CAD as deposit amount which will be refunded once the terms and conditions of the deposit amount is met by the applicant and if at all prior to filing for permanent resident status, the applicant feels to withdraw his/her application then also the deposit amount will be refunded.

The business immigration program offered by the Manitoba province is considered to be more realistic if at all the applicant couldn’t fulfill the terms of deposit amount still his/her permanent resident status will be remain unharmed. Following all this regulations, many people choose to immigrate to Canada through the Manitoba business immigration program eventhough they lose their deposit amount. 

Better Opportunity for Indian Companies to invest in Canada

The decrease in crude oil prices and reduction in investment into the energy sector in Canada comes as a perfect time for many of the Indian companies to make an investment.

Canada is also keen in welcoming more Indian students interested in seeking higher education as the working population in Canada is nearing their retirement stage and the country needs to enter new force in the job market. So, India can expect cooperation from the Canada in the education sector as well. Moreover, focusing on the hydrocarbon sector, the private and public sector companies in India have huge opportunities as the energy prices are also extremely low in Canada. Looking at all the huge opportunities available to private and public sector companies, it’s the right time for Indian companies to make the investment into the Canadian oil sector. Once our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Canada has agreed for a long term supply of uranium to India inorder to promote the Canada-India ties and so Indian companies should grab the opportunities.

Mr. Modi also said that Canada has the capacity to attract more number of Indian students and are eager to welcome more students and want them to stay back even after the completion of their programs because Canada is one such country with reducing working population. The one with high education and industrial experience are among the largest immigrant in Canada.   

CIF Chief Someshwar said that inorder to attract more Indian students as well as investors the Canadian government has ensured to ease the visa processing. Ultimately, the investors along with the family reside in Canada whereas for Indian students, Canadian government allows them to stay back in Canada for limited period of time to get a job offer and issue a work permit. 

Different options related to Investment Visa for USA

Many Indian investors, businessmen or entrepreneurs are looking to have access into the US market and so USA has come forward with different business immigration programs. But for very few visas only the Indian entrepreneurs and businessmen are eligible:

B1 visa – applicant who wishes to conduct a due diligence, business meetings, meeting potential employees etc. in the USA then they can opt for the B1 visa. B1 visa holders can’t manage or operate their business in the USA and if they wish to they need to change their status into E-2, E-1, L-1 or EB-5 Status.

L-1 visa – if you own a well-established business in India and willing to expand it in the USA then L-1 visa is suitable which enables the applicant to open a business in the USA. After one year of securing a L-1 visa the applicant can apply for a green card.

EB-5 visa – under the EB-5 visa, the applicant needs to make a minimum investment of $500,000 and which enables the applicant with the spouse and children below 21 years to migrate to USA securing a conditional green card for two years. This business visa program also requires the applicant to create 10 new jobs in the USA during the stay as conditional green card holder. As per the EB-5 visa, the applicant can live, work, study and retire anywhere in the USA and also enjoy all the merits of an USA citizen. After 5 years, the applicant secures a USA citizenship.

Whether you are expanding or establishing a business in the USA or making an investment you need to have a perfect business plan. The choice of which visa is suitable need to be taken based on the type of business, industrial sector, investment plans and long term goals.

USA Investment Visa-Key Requirements and its Benefits

In general, the applicant needs to meet the investment and job creation requirements along with ensuring that the business also qualifies for the EB-5 visa program. The qualifying investor will get the privilege to immigrate with the spouse along with children below 21 years to the USA as conditional green card holders and will secure a permanent green card once the requirements are fulfilled.

EB-5 USA visa is an employment based program wherein the applicant needs to make an investment of minimum $500,000 and create employment for atleast 10 full time USA jobs.

The basic requirements of EB-5 visa are:

• Have net worth of $1 million.
• Make minimum investment of $500,000.
• Make investment into a commercial enterprise established on or after November 29, 1990.
• All the investment funds must be derived through lawful means.
• Provide $60,000 as other expenses such as administrative fee, attorney fee and application fee.
• Create atleast 10 direct or indirect jobs within two years.
• Within 90 days of getting the conditional permanent residence expire, the applicant needs to provide with proper documentation that the 10 new jobs have been created or will be created within the specified time period.

Benefits of EB-5 visa are:

• Permanent residency status for the whole family including unmarried children below 21 years of age.
• Obtain conditional green card within 16-18 months.
• Obtain permanent green card within 4 years.
• Live anywhere in the USA.
• Take up any job or start any business.
• No language requirements.
• Enjoy the privilege of USA citizen such as free public school education, Medicare for 5 years, etc.
• Citizenship after 5 years.
• No need to renew and re-qualify visa status for EB5 Visa permanent residents.

For those who wish to live, work and retire in the anywhere in the USA and those who can afford to make an investment of minimum $500,000, EB-5 USA immigration program is worth considering. 

How to Start a Business or make Investment in Canada

Before starting a new business, you need to do lots of research work, develop an innovative idea, craft the business plan, name and register your business, find financial support etc. whereas buying a franchisee or investing into a business needs a bit of research work, with very little finance and risk. The only thing that depends on is whether you are investing into or buying a right franchisee.

It’s always affordable to invest or buy a franchise instead of starting from scratch to start up a new business in Canada.

Find a business which is up for sale. Ensure whether the business opportunity is genuine or not because it might happen to be misleading. It’s always recommendable to do your due diligence ahead of taking a final decision.

Identify which business sector is suitable for you whether a franchise or independent business which depends as per the amount of funds available with you.

If it’s a franchise business, ensure its track record up till now. By owning a franchise, you get to run the business with less control over the operations part compared to having an independent business. Moreover, you will be required to pay a portion of revenue earnings to the parent company as well.

If you intend to own an independent business, then you get to control the business operations along with the whole responsibility of running the business. Moreover, you won’t be sharing the revenue earnings with anyone.

Before taking a final decision, evaluate the business venture you are planning to buy or invest in. While evaluating the business, keep few things in criteria like the location/space, whether it’s dealing in online business, target market, products/services etc.

As a buyer, now it’s time to think about the finance. You need to evaluate whether you can afford to buy the business and how you can negotiate with the owners. You need to determine the value of the business based on its assets, building, location etc.

Before getting into a contract, you can seek for review by talking to any of the clients or banks who are dealing with the same business.

Take your time and evaluate all the information provided to you, its reputation, return on investment, talk with the suppliers, clients etc.

You can also seek for expert advice or take the help of some accredited professional consultants in evaluating and clarifying your doubts ahead of making a final call on the business deal.

Take your Business to New horizons with Canada Business Visa

If you are an established businessmen and thinking about taking your business to a new horizons then Canada business visa will help you to chase your dream of launching your business in Canadian land.

The objective of Canada business immigration program is to enable the immigrant to move to Canada along with their family as permanent residents. By attracting businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs it will contribute to the economic growth of Canada.

If you own a business out in your home country and wish to expand it in Canada then Start up visa program is suitable for you. Initially, check whether your product/service is suitable for the Canadian market or not and all this needs some homework and market research.

• If your product/service is successful in your home country, then expanding your business in Canada has great potential in it. To make it a start, you need to have a business plan for Canada. The business plan should answer why you are selling your product/service in Canada, to whom you are selling, how will you promote your product/service, how to manage a workforce etc.
• Conduct market research – golden rule of establishing or expanding any business. You should know about the Canadian market for the easy transition of your business into Canadian market. Based on the research, identify and analyze the competitors, target market, distribution channels, location, market opportunities, risk factor, etc.
• Know about your rival companies in Canada. You should analyze which brands are offered by your competitors, what are their strategies, how do they price their products/services, etc.
• Analyze the consumer market in Canada. Identify who are your customers; what are their needs and requirements, what all things influences the customer behavior etc. Analyze the patterns and habits of Canadian customers.
• Based on the market research, analyze the scope of your product/service in the Canadian market. Identify the profitability and marketability of your product/service.
• Check whether hiring new employees from Canada or moving with the existing employees to Canada is favorable for you.  

Still if you don’t feel confident enough, then you can get in touch with some professional business consultants who will help you out in your international business planning.