Congress Extends EB-5 Investor Visa Program Until Sept. 30, 2016 Without Changes

MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNT STAYS AT $500,000

After much speculation and debate, the U.S. Congress has extended EB-5 U.S. Investor Visa Program until September 30, 2016. As recently as last Monday December 14, 2016, the draft legislation would have raised the minimum investment required in Targeted Employment Areas to $800,000 from the current $500,000 and also would have implemented a new $10,000 filing fee per investor but the draft fell apart last minute.

Thus, on December 15, 2016, Congressional leaders finalized the legislation and the current provisions the EB-5 program will continue as is without any changes.

While we would have liked to see some permanency to the EB-5 investor visa program with meaningful changes, this is certainly good news for investors that took the wait and see approach and that have been on the fence about investing for U.S. immigration purposes.