VWP and EB5 Immigrant Investor Visas Compared
In this article we will take a closer look at the Visa Waiver Program and Eb5 Green Card Visa Program to see how the two compare and contrast.
The fifth preference employment based visa (EB5) was created
in 1990 as a way for foreign investors to gain United States permanent
residency (and eventual citizenship if desired), through an investment in a new
or pre-existing American business that sees the creation of at least 10 new
full-time jobs for American workers.The VWP, or Visa Waiver Program is
available to foreign nationals who wish to visit the United States for a period
of ninety days or less without obtaining a visa. In this article we will take a
closer look at the VWP and EB5 Green
Card Visato see how their paths to a Green Card Visa compare and contrast.Visa
Waiver Program (VWP)The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36
participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business
(visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining
a visa.The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel,
stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to
focus consular resources in other areas.VWP eligible travelers may apply for a
visa, if they prefer to do so.Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility
requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers
from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program.VWP travelers are
required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel
Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into
the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Securitys
US-VISIT program.EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa In stark contrast to the VWP, lays
the Immigrant Investor Visa.According to the governments web page, to qualify
for the EB5 Visa Program you must: 1)Invest or be in the process of investing
at least $1,000,000. If your investment is in a designated targeted employment
area (A Targeted Employment Area is defined by law as a rural area or an area
that has experienced high unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national
average.) then the minimum investment requirement is $500,000.2)Benefit the U.S.economy
by providing goods or services to U.S.markets.3)Create full-time employment for
at least 10 U.S.workers. This includes U.S.citizens, Green Card holders (lawful
permanent residents) and other individuals lawfully authorized to work in the
U.S.(however it does not include you (the immigrant), or your spouse, sons or
daughters).4)Be involved in the day-to-day management of the new business or
directly manage it through formulating business policy for example as a Limited
Partner, corporate officer or board member.We see in this comparison that the
VWP and Eb5 Visa Program are very different in nature and offer disparate paths
to a Green Card Visa.While the VWP allows a foreign citizen to temporarily
enter the country without a visa, obtaining the EB5 visa relies on an immigrants
investment to create new full-time jobs for the American workforce.
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About Article Author

This article was written by Terry Martin. For information on earning a Green Card Visa through the Immigrant Investor Visa, also known as the Eb5 Visa Program, he recommends you visit Eb5Central.com.
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