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Refreshing always to read different views on this forum. Facing this dilemma and going through crazy confusion. I am planning to apply for EB5 Green Card.

Background : I am aged 46, married with two kids (Girl 15 and Boy 9), Wife is a home maker and am working in senior management role in Middle East for the last 15 years. Currently we are all Indian Citizens.

Family : My parents were expired. In laws in India. We have 70% family connections are in US including my brother and my wife's borther (both are USCs). All these years, we visited India and USA alternate years. Having born and brought up in ME, kids do not have strong bondage with India unlike us. Few months back everyone was on board but now my wife and daughter are not sure whether to go with EB5.

Financials : Has a net worth of 1.5 million USD and would be spending 600K for EB5 GC. I am Non-IT and not sure whether I would be able to get a job in USA. However worked on short term assignment in USA on official duty and bit of networking might help in securing some job. Initial years, should manage with left over 900K. I will be around 50 years of age when I get my EB5 GC and has to leave the well paying current job with extraordinary benefits especially comprehensive med insurance.

Purpose of EB5 : To give better future for the kids. I intend to sponsor their education (bachelors and masters) in US. Hoping I would get to pay in-state fee but not international student fee. Why now?. Lot of reforms seems coming. Mainly increase in limit for the EB5 from 500K to 900K and other options for GC dried up.

Canada & Australia: In recent times, many Indians from ME are migrating to these countries. Daughter is keen to pursue IT and we are not sure opportunities in these countries would be as challenging/well paying as like USA

Worries: Not sure about getting job in USA?. If I get it, don't think it would be lucrative as like my current job. Apprehensive about USA healthcare. At the age of 50 and beyond, we all know the importance of health insurance. The investment under EB5 GC is supposed to be 'Risky' investment and everything may go wrong (Not getting GC and forgoing all capital). In the worst case scenario, full family should return to India . No US and No Middle East.

Silver lining : If things goes right, I might get back my investment with no return in 7 years time. It would ease my retirement. As such intend to work up to 60 and hoping for good health till then.

If I forget EB5, should accumulate USD 2.5 million by age of 60 which definitely gives comfortable retirement for us and even get to sponsor foreign education (masters) for both the kids in developed world. Confused as hell whether it is a right move to go with EB5 GC or not?. This forum has members from both ends (US and India) and appreciate the views.

Harvan;675471 If I forget EB5, should accumulate USD 2.5 million by age of 60 which definitely gives comfortable retirement for us and even get to sponsor foreign education (masters) for both the kids in developed world. Confused as hell whether it is a right move to go with EB5 GC or not?. This forum has members from both ends (US and India) and appreciate the views.

If I were you I will stick with this plan. Not advisable to take a big risk at age 50 to move to a different country when Trump can do anything with immigration and foreigners. Even if US was very welcoming I will not move at this age. First secure your and your wife's retirement so at least both of you can live comfortably in India once ME job is over. Send kids to EU, Aussie or Canada for education or to US with higher intl student fees. Financial advisors recommend to lower risk as you grow old and this applies to immigration too.

Other than the move the cultural adjustment required to live in a new country is huge at this age. Working for short term is different from living as a resident. By 50 many Indians get high BP, cholestrol and heart problems. US is a bad place to be in if you are not already well settled by then. Age discrimination in employment starts at this age. Worse case you may end up without a job and then suffer a heart attack that will blow away $100K from your savings. Just stay put in ME and there are many options for higher studies in other countries.

I am not sure $600k investment is a 100% guarantee of EB5 GC?

As per my knowledge you can invest in projects or start your own business with $500k investment in under served location or $1m in any location. The purpose of the investment is supposed to be creating jobs.

All these is subject to rigorous paper work, I wont trust the word of some agent who is promising a GC.

Please let me know if I am wrong.

You may want to check out Trump's son-in-laws real estate project that are approved for EB-5 visa.

Moving to US with 900k savings and trying to reboot a career at 50 will be a risk that you need to consider. It's likely that you will not add to your net worth for 4-5 years even if you start working. Add to it, the 150k college expense in-state for each kid .But it's a land of endless opportunities. Only you can decide if you are up to the challenge.

Did you explore the option of getting PR status in Canada. You may be able to continue to work in ME for few more years after getting the PR. I think the requirement is you need to spend only 2 years out of 5 years in Canada to maintain residency. Canada has many great schools like Univ of Toronto, Waterloo to name a couple. Tuition is very low for residents compared to US schools. Waterloo is a top engineering school and is listed in the top ten schools for recruitment by Silicon valley companies.

The other option may be send your kids to Carnegie Melon @Doha or NYU@ Dubai for UG and then send them to US for PG.

I just spent a weekend in ME with a cousin who spent 30+ years in ME in senior management positions retired to India only to go back to ME after 2-3 years as he got bored in India. He is in mid 60s and plan to work for another 5 years. So you may be living there for next 20+ years :)

Did not start the process recently. Gone through due diligence for the last one year. No agent is involved. Hired top attorney in this field. USICS requirement of funds trial is very strict prior investment. It took more than 6 months for the auditors to track and trace that the funds were legit. Just the wire transfer of investment without proper trial is sure shot for rejection.

The investment is supposed to be at risk and going through the historic figures, 33% rejection was seen at the initial stage. Those who made it through, one is third lost the investment and permanent GC. As I said in my post, one should be ready for everything going wrong (Not getting GC and forgoing all capital). If we are hit with this worst case scenario, full family should return to India after staying in US for 2-3 years on temporary GC. No US and No Middle East.

techynt;675485I am not sure $600k investment is a 100% guarantee of EB5 GC?

As per my knowledge you can invest in projects or start your own business with $500k investment in under served location or $1m in any location. The purpose of the investment is supposed to be creating jobs.

All these is subject to rigorous paper work, I wont trust the word of some agent who is promising a GC.

Please let me know if I am wrong.

Harvan;675493Did not start the process recently. Gone through due diligence for the last one year. No agent is involved. Hired top attorney in this field. USICS requirement of funds trial is very strict prior investment. It took more than 6 months for the auditors to track and trace that the funds were legit. Just the wire transfer of investment without proper trial is sure shot for rejection.

The investment is supposed to be at risk and going through the historic figures, 33% rejection was seen at the initial stage. Those who made it through, one is third lost the investment and permanent GC. As I said in my post, one should be ready for everything going wrong (Not getting GC and forgoing all capital). If we are hit with this worst case scenario, full family should return to India after staying in US for 2-3 years on temporary GC. No US and No Middle East.

What if the funds are invested on stock market?
Is there a way to show 10 indirect jobs were created?

Harvan,
It is a difficult decision to make. It looks like my situation in the next five years time...The Canadian PR option suggested by direstraits88 is worth exploring.

1) Ask yourself, Why you want to move to the US..Is it only for the kids education/kids future ?
If it is only/mainly for kids education/better future, They can do the first two years of College studies in the middle east and complete the second half of Under graduation in the US and continue further for PG in the States.
You and your wife can continue in the middle east with the same east earning/savings. When kids go on their own, they tend to be more independent and self sustained. You can visit them in the US with a tourist visa once/twice a year. They can come and visit middle east during the summer holidays etc.,

2) Think about where you and your wife feel at home/Retire (India or US). Kids are our world now. Eventually, they go out for college and they will make a world for themselves.
We will be a part of their lives and it also depends upon how much they let us into their lives.
I guess, Sometimes "letting go" is the hard and a good choice to make.

Good luck with your decision...

Few American and British universities had set up their branches in ME and there is no problem in studying Bachelor degrees. Academic & Fee structure is same as that of main land campuses. The problem is what next after Bachelors and Masters.


I could clearly see tightening of immigration even in ME as well. We lived 15 years and even if we live another 15 years, we just have to go back one day. Citizenship gives peace of mind anywhere. This opportunity provides us being together as family in USA because everyone gets GC. I am seeing my senior's kids who moved to Canada and Aus for studies. Somehow they were not able to transition to PR/Citizenship over there and came back to parents in ME and in terrible state. May be family being there provides lot of comfort for the kids in young age.

direstraits88;675491

Did you explore the option of getting PR status in Canada. You may be able to continue to work in ME for few more years after getting the PR. I think the requirement is you need to spend only 2 years out of 5 years in Canada to maintain residency. Canada has many great schools like Univ of Toronto, Waterloo to name a couple. Tuition is very low for residents compared to US schools. Waterloo is a top engineering school and is listed in the top ten schools for recruitment by Silicon valley companies.

The other option may be send your kids to Carnegie Melon @Doha or NYU@ Dubai for UG and then send them to US for PG.

:)

Harvan;675523
I am seeing my senior's kids who moved to Canada and Aus for studies. Somehow they were not able to transition to PR/Citizenship over there and came back to parents in ME and in terrible state. May be family being there provides lot of comfort for the kids in young age.

Can you share your experience/information about their state when they return back to ME after their studies... Is it because they could not find suitable jobs after their western degrees or missing family etc.,
Thanks in advance..

Wait for 3 more weeks b4 going the investment route.....there are immigration reform bills being debated ��