A winning opportunity

For students planning to study in the U.S., the EB-5 Visa offers several advantages over the F-1 Visa.

The American Dream has captured the fancy of many, especially those Indians aspiring to live and work in the U.S. Moreover, with limited options and tough competition in the motherland, many choose education as a stepping-stone towards starting a new life abroad.

One of the reasons why international college applications keep pouring into the U.S. is the multicultural environment that enables like-minded foreigners to integrate socially and adapt easily. This is why, even while Britain and Germany are in the running as choice destinations for overseas students, according to a study by the British Council’s Student Decision Making Survey, 38% prospective students chose the U.S. to enhance their career prospects.

According to World Education Services (WES), the U.S. is the most favoured destination among overseas Indian students, with close to 1,00,000 prospective Indian students getting admitted to various institutes every year. Most of these students travel to the U.S. on a F-1 Visa — a student visa that allows them to stay in the country for one more year after their course, to find suitable employment.

Added advantage

While the F-1 Student Visa is the first choice for Indian aspirants, it comes packaged with its own list of worries, spanning from changing visa rules to getting a job within the U.S. This is where the lesser-known EB-5 Investor Program is fast picking up, especially since resident tuition under the EB-5 Visa is often one-third the cost at many participating public universities in lieu of the F-1 Visa.

The EB-5 Investor Program is a winning opportunity for HNIs looking to obtain permanent residency to the country. Immigration benefits apart, EB-5 investors gain attractive benefits after relocation to the U.S. The EB-5 investor gets a Green Card (Legal Permanent Resident status), helping them receive almost all of the same benefits as anyone who is a U.S. citizen. Furthermore, the investor and their family will have equal opportunities available to their children and succeeding generations.

For those who qualify, the EB-5 Investor Visa Program offers many increased advantages over the traditional F-1 Student Visa. No annual renewals, fees, or expenses are required under the EB-5 Visa because it is permanent, rather than extended annually. Also, students have the option of changing their course details, selecting new courses, and applying for internships. Students have no work limitations and may continue to reside and work permanently within the U.S. after graduation, without restrictions. After five years of permanent residency in the U.S., the EB-5 Visa enrollees are eligible for U.S. citizenship automatically.

David Gunderson, the writer, is founder and CIO of US Freedom Capital.

Original article featured in The Hindu on April 01, 2018 and a link to it can be found here.