EB5 Visa and A Visas: What’s the difference?

The fifth preference employment based visa (EB5) was created in 1990 as a way for foreign investors to gain United States permanent residency (and eventual citizenship if desired), through an investment in a new or pre-existing American business that sees the creation of at least 10 new full-time jobs for American workers. The A visas are described by the government’s website as being for “diplomats and other government officials” traveling to the United States on the behalf of their national government. In this article, as a Cambridge Lawyer, we will take a closer look at the A-1, A-2 and EB5 Immigrant Investor visas to see how their paths to a Green Card Visa compare and contrast.

 

A-1 and A-2 – As per the government’s website, to qualify for A Visa, an individual must:

 

….be traveling to the United States on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government.  The fact that there may be government interest or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in determining if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed must be government agent in character or ...