When Should You Move to the US?

After all of the planning that goes into immigration, it is understandable that a prospective immigrant would be anxious to move. This is magnified for someone seeking an EB-5 visa because of the money that is at stake.

It is tempting to want to come to the US as soon as possible, and one of the simplest ways to enter is on a tourist visa or a business visa. Both are problematic, as a person entering the US on one of these visas must not be intending to immigrate. Immigration is, of course, the ultimate goal of someone pursuing an EB-5 visa. Not only would this be regarded suspiciously, but there is no certainty that the initial EB-5 paperwork would be processed before your temporary visa expired. While it does not hurt to have the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) pre-approve your proposed EB-5 project, it will not necessarily speed up the processing of the I-526 form.

The best approach when waiting for your visa to be processed is to simply be patient. The USCIS has to review and adjudicate the initial I-526 petition, and that can take up to 6 months. If you are not in the US at the time the EB-5 is approved, you will have to apply for an Immigrant Visa at a US consulate, which can take another 6 months. Keep in mind that you, the principal applicant, must either enter before or with your dependants.

Contact Us

Though the immigration process is lengthy, the timing can be sensitive. The best way to see yourself through and stay informed is by working with an EB-5 visa lawyer. Call the experienced immigration attorneys at White & Associates at 818-730-3540 today.