--- title: "Why are Indian Investors Choosing EB-5 Visa over the H-1 B for US Residency?" description: "Attended EB5 seminar in India? Well, this webcast lays stress on the paradigm shift of Indian investors from H-1B to EB-5 Visa Program." author: "Mansoor Ahmad" published: 2019-12-06 updated: 2019-12-09 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/290007/why-are-indian-investors-choosing-eb-5-visa-over-the-h-1-b-for-us-residency category: "services" tags: ["immigration consultants"] reading_time: 4 minutes --- # Why are Indian Investors Choosing EB-5 Visa over the H-1 B for US Residency? Attended EB5 seminar in India? Well, this webcast lays stress on the paradigm shift of Indian investors from H-1B to EB-5 Visa Program. \ In 2018, [US Citizenship](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/101166/what-is-the-role-of-the-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-uscis) and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated their [immigration policies](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/108388/explain-the-recent-changes-in-global-immigration-policies), influencing the H1-B visa program considerably. With H-1B policy change becoming stricter, H-1B visa becomes increasingly unattainable and applications for EB-5 visas are spiking and are continuing to attract more people from India. Well, let us walk you through the various requirements and differences between EB-5 and H-1B visa. \ **What is EB-5 Visa Program?**\ \ EB-5 seminar in India is conducted to make people aware of this [United States](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/40680/how-did-wars-in-china-and-eastern-europe-lead-to-increased-immigration-to-the-united-states) visa program that fosters employment in the United States by allowing foreign investors to apply for a Green Card and invest in any kind of U.S. business. The investor can invest in one of the following ways: \ • Invest $1,000,000 directly and create 10 new direct jobs anywhere in the U.S.\ • Make an investment of $500,000 and create 10 new direct jobs in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). TEA is an area comes with an [unemployment rate](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/62174/as-per-the-periodic-labor-force-survey-which-state-has-the-highest-unemployment-rate) of at least 150% of the national average.\ • Or invest $500,000 and create 10 new direct jobs in a TEA with the help of a USCIS regional center.\ \ **What are EB-5 Regional Center Investment Requirements?\** \ A regional center, such as U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF), is designated by the USCIS to sponsor EB-5 visas for EB-5 investors. But conditions are the following:\ • Make a minimum investment of $500,000 USD in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA).\ • Comprehensive evidence showcasing the authenticity of the investment funds\ • A background check to ensure that the investor does not have a [criminal record](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/107300/can-i-get-life-insurance-if-i-have-a-criminal-record) or has not broken any of the US laws.\ \ Investing with the help of an EB-5 investor regional center comes with various advantages over a direct EB-5 investment. \ \ **What are the Benefits of EB-5 Visa?\** \ • No education, specialized skills or any employment history required.\ • Free to work anywhere, or for anyone in the United States.\ • Spouse and children under 21 years of age can get green cards without applying separately.\ • Full freedom to live, work and join a school anywhere in the United States, irrespective of the investment location.\ • It is [considered as](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2050/here-the-facts-due-to-which-india-is-considered-as-a-vishwa-guru) one of the quickest ways to US permanent residency.\ **H-1 B Visa Program**\ \ The H-1B visa program has been quite a [popular choice](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/113883/what-makes-python-a-popular-choice-for-beginners-and-advanced-programmers-alike) for professionals especially from India and IT or [tech](https://www.mindstick.com/services/technologies) companies in US rely heavily on the program to hire thousands of employees every year. \ \ **What are the H-1 B Visa requirements?\** \ • No education, specialized skills or employment history required.\ • Freedom to work anywhere, or for anyone in the United States.\ • Spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can get receive green cards without applying separately.\ • Flexibility to live, work and go to school anywhere in the United States, irrespective of the investment location. \ • One of the quickest ways to the US permanent residency. \ \ **What are the H-1B Conditions and Restrictions?\** \ • USCIS doesn’t recognize any 3-tyear bachelor degree programs.\ • Here, [family members](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/312455/best-way-to-choosing-a-doctor-for-your-family-members) need individual visas at an additional cost, and spouses are hardly employed on an H-4.\ • Employer is not guaranteed to sponsor employee for a Green Card after a period of 6 years.\ • US Employer decided where exactly should the investor live and work. \ \ Fortunately, the current H-1B visa holders can apply for an EB-5 visa [while working](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160885/can-i-apply-for-training-in-mindstick-training-while-working) in the United States with the help of an ‘Adjustment of Status’. Simply put, it is the procedure that allows eligible applicants to apply for an EB-5 without going back to their country of origin. So what’s your view point? Attending an EB-5 seminar in India can make things very clear and transparent when it comes to the EB-5 Visa Program. \ \ --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/290007/why-are-indian-investors-choosing-eb-5-visa-over-the-h-1-b-for-us-residency Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.