Investment-Based Green Cards: Comparing EB-5 and National Interest Waiver Options
EB-5 and National Interest Waiver Two popular pathways that often come up in these discussions are the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and the National Interest Waiver (NIW). While both can lead to permanent residency by investment, they have distinct differences that are crucial to understand before making your decision. Let's start by looking at the EB-5 program. This traditional investment-based green card option requires a significant financial commitment. As of 2024, you'll need to invest at least $900,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.8 million in other areas. The key focus of the EB-5 program is job creation. Your investment must result in the creation or preservation of at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. This makes the EB-5 an attractive option for those with substantial capital who are interested in making a direct impact on the U.S. economy through business investment. On the other hand, the National Interest Waiver green card takes a different approa...