Investor Visas in North Charleston

Serving Myrtle Beach and Beyond

If you wish to work in the U.S. by starting or investing in a local business, you might be eligible for an E-1 or E-2 investor visa or an L-1 business expansion visa. This is also called the employment fifth preference, or the EB-5 immigrant visa, and they allow those who obtain them to have permanent residence upon entry to the U.S.

However, it is important to keep in mind that EB-5 green cards are only conditional and initially expire after two years. In order to avoid cancellation, the business you invested in must accomplish specific goals within two years. The good news is that as long as you have the money to invest and can show that you are in the process of doing so through a for-profit business, you do not need to have the experience necessary to accomplish the business’s specific goals.

Investor visas are certainly desirable options for those who have the capital necessary to obtain one, but the process is no walk in the park. It will help to have a knowledgeable lawyer on your side like Ameneh Maghzi if obtaining an investor visa is your goal.

From a business perspective, there are specific economic requirements that need to be met for this visa to be approved. Those applying for a green card in the U.S. based on an investment must invest a significant amount of money in a national business and must play an active role in that business.

Some of the benefits of having an investor visa include:

• Obtaining lawful status in the U.S - This is the main benefit for the majority of those who seek an investor visa. It allows the investor, their spouses, and qualifying children a legal way to work, live, and study in the U.S.
• Quicker path to permanent residence and citizenship - The EB-5 can be a great way to obtain permanent residence in the U.S. and can make that process easier. It can even be faster than alternative types of visas and green cards. After two years, you can remove the initial conditions of the visa, and you can be eligible for citizenship in as little as five years after receiving permanent resident status.
• Financial return on investment - The main purpose of the investment will be to help the investor enter the U.S., but making a wise investment in a solid business can lead to substantial returns on those finances down the line, so there is a good opportunity to create a mutually beneficial situation.
• No visa sponsorship requirement - Other types of green cards require sponsors, but an EB-5 visa investor serves as their own sponsor and does not need to be sponsored by a citizen or another group.
• Ability to live and work anywhere in the U.S. (oftentimes) - Those who have investor visas are often able to live and work wherever they see fit for their needs in the U.S. This is not the case for other types of visas that often have stricter requirements.
• Greater education and employment opportunities for families and children - The children of those with investor visas are able to enroll in school and have access to the same level of education and higher education that U.S. citizens have. It gives them access to public and private high schools, college, and graduate schools, including medical school and law school. Furthermore, this gives children of those with investor visas access to the same professional opportunities as other children in the U.S.

How Investor Visas Serve the Greater Interest of the U.S. Economy

An investor visa provides many benefits not only to those who obtain them, but also to the citizens of the U.S. That is why Ameneh Maghzi is honored to help hopeful U.S. residents obtain their visa and seek out the opportunities that the U.S. has to offer.

We will petition on your behalf and communicate the ways your investment will have a ripple effect on the economy. For every investor visa that the U.S. obtains, the country is able to reap the following benefits:

• Economic stimulation - The very nature of the investor visa ties in with economic stimulation. In fact, economic growth is the reason that the EB-5 was created in the first place. When foreign investors contribute funds to the economy, through their actual investment and as they carry out their day-to-day lives in the U.S., they help the country function properly and keep our essential systems running as they should.
• Job creation - The investor visa does not simply create jobs by chance. In fact, it is a requirement of the visa. The EB-5 visa requires that each investment help create or retain at least ten new jobs in the U.S. This gives Americans more opportunities to become employed, support their families, and contribute to the growth of the country.

How to Obtain an Investor Visa

Ameneh Maghzi of Maghzi Law Firm is an immigrant herself, which puts her in a position to help immigrants navigate what can otherwise be a complex process. She is well-versed in immigration procedures and will help make sure you and your family only take steps in the right direction.

If you and your family have the resources to obtain an investor visa, it can be a great route to permanent residency and eventually, citizenship.

At your consultation, Ameneh Maghzi will walk you through your various immigration options based on your needs and resources. We will guide you in the direction that will make your immigration process as smooth as possible. If we determine that an investor visa is right for you and your family, we will go through the rest of the process with the following steps: