H-1B Visa Holders Are Rushing Towards EB-5 Visa To Fulfill Their 'American Dream’

The Trump government might have banned the H1-B visas till year-end, but the grand American dream is far from over for Indians. Now, US investor visa EB-5 is getting its mojo back, the demand is driven by current H-1B and H4 visa holders in the US.

A majority of the inquiries are from the current Indian H-1B and H4 visa holders, who are worried about their status in the US after living and working there for decades, said an immigration services firm.

The demand for EB-5 visas was a decline between December 2019 and March 2020 as the minimum investment criteria were hiked from $500,000 to $900,000 from November 2019.

Earlier in 2017, when H1-B visa rules were tightened, there was a sudden attraction for the EB-5 route. However, it stopped after the investment amount was hiked. Indians continue to aspire to work and live in the US.

In the last 3-years, thousands of IT professionals have returned home and are looking at another exodus at the back of the pandemic and stringent visa regulations that continue around H-1B visas.

Also, there are over 5 lakh Indians waiting for Green Cards. A report estimated that it would take up to 150 years before these Indians get their GC, which translates to ‘never’. That is why Indians who can afford it are looking at fast-tracking their Green Card through the EB-5 route so that it could benefit their children.

Unlike H-1B visa holders, getting hands-on a Green Card through EB-5 takes only 3-5 years. There is a country cap of 700 per year for EB-5 visas that India reached in July 2019.