EB-5 Investor Immigration WESTLEAD CAPITAL INC. EB-5 Investor Immigration EB-5投资移民 Jason Andrew Blatt 包杰生 法学博士 各地联络处 Beijing : +86-10-51660558 Shanghai: +86-21-31265455 Guangzhou: +86-20-61139855 Vancouver: +1-604-3777109 Taipei Document Center: +886-2-25472277

What is EB-5? 何谓EB-5? Foreign investors who create U.S. jobs are granted permanent residency 创造美国工作岗位的外籍投资人可拿到美国永 久居留权 Immigrant visa, permanent residency = “Green Card” 移民签证, 永久居留权 = “绿卡” Green Card holders may become U.S. citizen after 5 years 持有绿卡者可在五年后申请归化成为美国公民

Who Gets ‘Green Cards’? 谁能得到"绿卡"? Applicant and ‘immediate family’ 申请人及其 “近亲属” ‘Immediate family’ means spouse and unmarried children not yet 21 years old “近亲属”系指配偶及21岁以下未婚子女 Cutoff date for children is the date U.S. government receives application 美国政府以收到申请当天來計算子女年龄

Advantages of EB-5 EB-5优势 Only requirement is to make investment with lawfully earned funds 唯一的条件就是用合法赚来的资金投资 Investors only prove source of investment funds, not their entire net worth 投资人仅需要证明投资款的来源 – 不需要证明一 切财产的来源 Don’t need business experience, U.S. relatives, English ability, etc. 不需要商业背景, 美国亲戚, 英语能力等 No age restrictions 没有年龄限制

EB-5 vs. Other Countries’ Investor Immigration Programs Investors may freely travel outside of U.S. – no ‘immigration prison’ 投资人可以自由的进出美国 – 没有所谓 ‘移民监’ Investors only prove source of investment funds, not their net worth 投资人仅需要证明投资款来源 – 不需要证明其他 财产的来源 Investors may reside anywhere in the U.S. – not restricted to regions where investments made 投资人可以居住在美国任何地方 – 不限制住在投 资标的所在地区

EB-5 vs. Other Countries’ Investor Immigration Programs Investors have same rights as other ‘green card’ holders 投资人的权益与其他持有 ‘绿卡’ 的人 一样 Only difference is EB-5 investors’ ‘green cards’ only valid for 2 years pending lifting of restrictions making them permanent 唯一不同的是: EB-5投资人的‘绿卡’为期两年, 要解除条件才变成正式的綠卡

Sole Qualification For EB-5 Investors: EB-5投资移民之必要条件: Invest US$500,000 in a U.S. government-approved “Regional Center” 投资50万美元于 美国政府批准之“特区中心”

What About Large Families? 大家庭怎麽办? Only a single investment totaling US$500,000 necessary 仅需进行一项总额高达50万美元之投资案 No need to invest separately for each immediate family member 无需为多数的近亲属分别进行多项投资 Example: Indian couple with 9 children 实例: 有9个孩子的印度夫妻

Children Studying in U.S. 已在美国读书的子女 May adjust immigration status within U.S 子女可在美国境内转换身份 No need to leave or interrupt studies 不需要回国或影響就學 Child’s F-1 student visa status not affected while EB- 5 application pending 在EB-5申请过程中, 子女的F-1学生签证不受影响

Children Over 21 Years Old 超过21岁的子女 U.S. government allows parents to gift investment funds to adult child 美国政府允许父母赠与投资額给成年子女 Only need to prove gift of funds is “genuine” 仅需要证明赠与的行为是 “真实的” China has not yet implemented a gift tax 中国至今还没有施行 “赠与税” This is another major difference between EB-5 and other countries’ investor immigrant programs 这也是美国EB-5 与其他国家投资移民方案的重要不 同點

‘Conditional’ Green Cards ‘有条件限制’ 的绿卡 Reasoning similar to ‘marriage green cards’ 原理与‘结婚绿卡’一样 For ‘marriage green card,’ U.S. government wants to make sure couple is really married, so it checks up on them after 2 years 针对‘结婚绿卡’, 美国政府因为 要确认不是‘假结婚’,所以发卡两年后會再确认一次 For EB-5 investors, U.S. government wants to confirm the investment still operating after 2 years 针对EB-5投资人, 美国政府要确认过两年后, 投资项目 仍在运作 If investment still operating after 2 years, green card becomes permanent 若两年后投资案仍正常运作, 所持有的綠卡將轉為正 式綠卡

‘Conditional’ Green Cards and Citizenship ‘有条件限制’ 的绿卡与归化 After holding green card for 5 years, investor and family may become naturalized U.S. citizens 拿到绿卡5年后,投资人及其近亲属可归化成为美国公 民 This 5-year period includes the first 2 years as a ‘conditional’ green card holder 这5年时期包含投资人持有有條件式綠卡的二年時間

Rights of ‘Conditional’ Green Card Holders ‘有条件限制’ 绿卡持有人的权益 Exactly the same as any ordinary green card holder 与其他绿卡持有人没任何两样 Children regarded as state residents for school tuition, public school attendance, etc. 对于学费, 注册公立学校等方面, 子女被视为 ‘本地人’ Green card holders cannot vote in U.S. elections or serve on a jury 绿卡持有人无法投票或参与美国法院的陪审团

Costs 费用 US$500,000 invested into investment project 50万美元用于投资项目 Additional fee to pay costs associated with obtaining “Regional Center” designation from U.S. government 另外有发行费, 这是投资项目得到美国政府指定为 “特区中心”之相关费用 Attorney’s fees 律师费 U.S. government application fees 美国政府申请规费

How Are Funds Handled? 资金如何处理? Investment funds placed in escrow account pending U.S. government adjudication of EB-5 application 美国政府审查EB-5申请时, 投资金存放在監管帳戶 保管 Investment funds only transferred into project after U.S. government approves EB-5 application 美国政府必须先批准EB-5申请, 投资金才转汇入投 资项目 If EB-5 application rejected, all funds must be returned to investor 如果美国政府不批准EB-5申请, 一切的资金必须退 还给投资人

U.S. Government Filing Fees 美国政府申请规费 U.S. government filing fee: US$1,500 美国政府申请規费: US$1,500 U.S. government fee for removing green card conditions (paid after 21 months): US$2,850 入境美国21个月后, 美国政府解除绿卡条件申请费: US$2,850 Each green card holder pays additional US$80 “Biometrics Fee” 每一位绿卡持有人解除条件时, 必须付 US$80 “按指 纹费”

Additional Expenses 其它费用 Chinese citizens may hire professional accountant to prepare “Report on Source of Funds” 中国公民可聘请专业会计师准备一份 “资金来源报 告” Accounting company keeps all client information strictly confidential 会计公司将严密保护资料隐私

Documents Needed 需要那些文件? Biographical information 户政数据 Identification documents 身份文件 Individual income tax documentation for most recent 5 years 近5年的个人所得税报表 Corporate income tax returns for most recent 5 years 近5年企业所得税报表 Proof of ownership in any business 任何企业所有权的证明 Copies of business licenses for businesses owned 申请人所持有企业的營業执照复印件 Bank records 银行記錄 Proof of stock or real estate ownership 证券或房地产所有权证明

Documents Needed 需要那些文件? If investment funds originate from a specific transaction, documents originating from the transaction are needed 如果金额是来自于特定的交易, 证明该交易的文件 For example, if funds originated from sale of real estate, documentation of real estate transaction would be needed 例如: 如果金额是来自于一笔房地产的交易, 需提供该交易的相关证明文件

Application Process 申请过程 Collect materials and documents 收集资料及文件 Accountant prepares report (if necessary) 如果有必要, 会计师准备资金来源报告 Investor transfers investment funds into escrow account 投资人转投资金到监管帐户 Attorney submits EB-5 application (I-526) to U.S. government 律师向美国政府提交EB-5申请 (I-526)

Application Process 申请过程 After reviewing EB-5 petition, U.S. government issues decision letter (I-797) 审查EB-5申请后, 美国政府将发出批准函 (I-797) Investor’s case is transferred to Guangzhou consulate 投资人的案子转到广州领事馆 Guangzhou consulate schedules interview 广州领事馆安排面试时间 Applicant and family conduct physical examinations 申请人及其家属进行体检

Application Process 申请过程 Investor and family receive Immigrant Visas after interview 面试后, 投资人及其亲属收到移民签证 May enter United States within 180 days after receiving Immigrant Visas 收到移民签证后, 180天之内入境美国 Green cards received in mail after entering United States 入境美国后, 美国政府将寄绿卡给投资人及其亲属

After Green Cards Are Received 收到绿卡之后 One year and nine months after arrival, must apply to remove conditions 入境美国1年9个月后, 必须向美国政府申请解除条件 After conditions are lifted, green card becomes permanent 条件解除后, 條件式绿卡变成正式綠卡 After 5 years, may naturalize to become U.S. citizen 过了5年后, 可以归化成为美国公民

After Green Cards Are Received 收到绿卡之后 After conditions are lifted (2 years), U.S. government no longer monitors EB-5 investment project 绿卡条件解除后 (两年), 美国政府不再检查EB-5投 资项目 Most investment projects strive to return investment funds after 5 to 7 years 大多投资项目过了5至7年后, 将还投资金给投资人

After Green Cards Are Received 收到绿卡之后 There is no requirement for green card holders to remain in the U.S. for certain number of days per year 美国没有规定绿卡持有者每年必须留在美国境内多 少天 ("移民监") Green card holders are advised to enter the U.S. at least once every 6 months 拿绿卡的人最好要半年入境美国一次

After Green Cards Are Received 收到绿卡之后 Green card holders only need to show intent to reside in United States: 拿绿卡的人只要证明有意愿居住在美国: Get Social Security card 拿社会安全卡 Open bank account 开银行帐户 Get credit cards 办理信用卡 Purchase or rent home 购买或承租房子 Enroll children in U.S. schools 子女在美国上学 File U.S. tax returns 在美国申报所得税

How Long Does It Take? 需要多久? U.S. government usually issues approval letter within 4-6 months after receiving application 美国政府收到申请后, 通常4至6个月内发出批准函 Process may be delayed another 1-2 months if U.S. government requests additional documentation 如果美国政府向申请人要求更多文件, 过程可能拖 延1至2个月

How Long Does It Take? 需要多久? After approval letter received, interview usually arranged within 1-2 months 收到批准函后, 通常1至2个月内可进行面试 Immigrant Visas usually issued within a few days after passing interview 面试通過后, 通常短短几天之内发出移民签证 Investor may expect to receive Immigrant Visas within about 8-9 months of submitting application 投资人可预期在提交申请8至9个月后收到移民签证

Investment Security 资金安全 U.S. law requires some financial risk associated with EB-5 investment projects 美国法律规定EB-5投资项目必须有些风险 Investment projects not permitted by law to guarantee return of investment funds 法律规定投资项目不得向投资人保证归还投资金 However, “Regional Center” projects may be structured to minimize risk: 但“特区中心”的项目得透过架构将使风险降到最 低: Collateralization 适当担保 Strong financial standing 合伙事业得处于强健的 财务状况

Advantages of ‘Regional Center’ ‘特区中心’ 的优势 Multiple investors may reduce risk by pooling into a single investment project 多位投资人可集合于一项计划里以减低风险 This makes investment projects more financially stable than those of a lone investor 该计划在规模上及财务上都会比只有一位投资人的 计划来得大而稳固

New Options 新的选择 EB-5 investors may independently purchase insurance on their investment funds EB-5投资人可以单方面购买保险 Insurance company would pay investor if project unable to return investment funds 如果投资项目最后无法归还投资金, 由保险公司理 赔

Taipei Document Center: +886-2-25472277 各地联络处 Beijing : +86-10-51660558 Shanghai: +86-21-31265455 Guangzhou: +86-20-61139855 Vancouver: +1-604-3777109 Taipei Document Center: +886-2-25472277 www.westleadcacp.com