Harjit Singh, Managing Director
1. When did you set up EB 5 Visa services and what was your purpose to start this venture?
Answer: I wanted to help people live their American Dream. My father was a taxi driver and he immigrated to America to ensure better future for me and my siblings. America gave us everything and via EB-5 USA Services, I want to give people a chance to live a great life here. No one should live in the fear of being ousted from this great country. Presently, immigrants hold a very uncertain future in the USA because of long waiting lines for Green Card. There’s little security that is offered on H1-B visa and other temporary visas. I decided to venture into this business to help ambitious people in fulfilling their American dream.
2. When you talk about investment of $500,000 in a target employment area or $1 million outside a targeted employment area, what do you mean by it?
Answer: A target employment area is a rural area or a geographical area which has experienced unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average rate and the minimum qualifying investment for such regions is $500,000 as per USCIS. When we talk about areas outside TEA, general minimum qualifying investment is $1 million in the United states. But you would be surprised that certain areas in New York City are qualified in TEA
3. As you know $ 500,000 or $ 1 million dollars is a big amount. Where toshow this money and to whom. How much one investor can carry cash? Can he show this amount in two installments? Answer: The amount that is being invested should be obtained through lawful means which is given and processed by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). For investing at the regional centers you need to pay the entire amount for filing I-526 but if you are investing in an individual project, the law gives you 2 years to complete your investment but some amount has to be paid initially for filing.
You cannot pay in CASH (LOL) but you have to prove how did you attain this money. You can sell your properties, stock, bonds, etc.. AND most parents are gifting EB-5 to their kids. The logic is simple – Better employment and quality of life. I met someone in Bangalore who is working for a MNC and is making 10-12 lakh a year but if he was in America he would be earning close to $150,000 USD.
4. What are the industries in which he or she has to invest this amount? Please be specific.
Answer: To elaborate, There are over 1000+ EB-5 regional center programs to choose from, and it is very difficult for you to make a choice since various projects come along with various returns. Every investor finds a project according to his or her preference in order to invest for gaining maximum returns, safety of their funds and most importantly US Greencard. It is the investor’s decision on what he feels comfortable with. To name a few, Investors can look into investing in real estate, healthcare, manufacturing projects that are widespread in the USA right now.
5. How your company assist in establishing a business unit in an alien country; different in social and cultural settings?
Answer: We employ a team of industry professionals in the EB-5 industry to ensure that each of our representative projects strictly follows a due diligence process for selection in terms of investment, with a particular focus on ensuring Project Completion, Job Creation, and Investment Security. It’s all mutual, through our services, we are not only helping only our clients but also others to earn a living irrespective of their culture or society. Mr. Batra from Business World joined our advisor board after he saw strict policies on how we select projects where investor’s immigration process and investment will have minimal risk from investment and Greencard purposes. Nobody can move the entire risk from any transactions.
6. When you say 10 jobs to be created for US workers through your investment. Supposing, an Indian investor want to start an agricultural business in the US and he wanted to hire skilled manpower from India, can he sponsor his employee from India or the entrepreneur has to hire only the American people?
Answer: As for now there’s no such provision by the US government. Right now under the EB-5 investment program you can only hire lawful U.S citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America. And he can still hire Indian workers but you need to hire at law firm to guide you on that front. But 10 jobs requirements, who to hire and for a period of time that employment needs to be in place should align with EB-5 law.
7. What are the incentives in terms of tax, power, and infrastructure available for the entrepreneurs?
Answer: When an entrepreneur arrives in the US, he has access to the banking system. He/She can live anywhere, work anywhere and open a business anywhere in the country. Secondly, he has access to capital depending on business model and investors interest. For example, I met a young fellow in Hyderabad who was not really impressed with the
infrastructure around Cryptocurrency, so, he is moving to the US via EB-5 in few years to see how he can setup US/India operations.
Tax situations are different from one client to the other. But US corporate tax is 21% and India is higher at 30%+.
Infrastructure: No doubt, America has better infrastructure in terms of business and ease of doing business. For example, if you want to acquire a real estate properties, banks lend higher than 70% depending on the asset and performance. A lot of our EB-5 clients in India are now looking for real estate assets because they are aware of such a great lending platform by banks in the US.
Power – Dollar is the ultimate power!
8. Can an investor apply for a bank loan to expand the business immediately after arriving in USA?
Answer: Yes! A lot of factors have to be considered but yes you can obtain loans in US as soon as you come. We will help you get in touch with the right organizations who can lend or facilitate for you.
9. Since President Donald Trump took the reign of the government, people of the world are confused to avail the EB5 Visa because of his conservative stance on immigrants?
Answer: Right now there’s no negative stance of Trump’s administration on EB-5 investor program. HIs son-in-law uses this program to finance his ventures (Kuchner Companies) EB-5 creates jobs, impacts infrastructure and boosts economic growth which are Trump’s government major policies. Although, there might be amendments in the program regarding minimum capital investment or TEA designation process. At the moment, the minimum EB-5 investment requirement is the same as it was in 1990. There are very few things in the world which are available today at 1990 prices. Trump’s agenda is to help American workers, American companies and if immigrants wants to come to America they are welcome to come legally.
10. What would be your advice to restore the confidence of the investors across the globe?
Answer: Whenever you are investing there’s always a risk involved. But this is the era where individuals are coming up with innovative ideas that are drastically making ways into common people lives, making millions out of their idea and investing in such ideas is worth the risk. Eb-5 visa is one golden opportunity to create and invest in your dreams and that what makes a true entrepreneur.
11. EB5 USA services have already opened up offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Cochin. How EB5 USA visa services are promoted in India?
Answer: India has witnessed a tremendous economic growth from the past few years and a lot of HNIs from India are leaving India for America. We have teams in major cities of the country promoting our business, working diligently for our clients. We use the power of social media, internet, seminars, e-mailers and direct meetings to promote the business. I, myself, have been touring India for the purpose. The response is overwhelming.
12. Would you like to expand your services in B category cities of India;if yes what is the fee to have franchise of EB-5 US services. What is the eligibility criteria?
Answer: We are the most trusted brand in EB-5 Visa space in India. Universal EB5 USA Services and its partners have a 100% I-924 and I-526 approval rate. We’re present in 10 cities and are expanding rapidly. If someone wants to join hands with us, they can write directly to me at [email protected] The person who wants to collaborate should have HNIs as clients and have network with people who want to immigrate to America. We work with people who are ethical, ambitious and purpose-driven. Our client’s interest comes before ours!
13. Race violence in the US is daily occurrence against the ethnic minorities. Immigrants are subjected to various kinds of violence at the hands of the local people; especially the unemployed. What are the safety measures available for the investors in US?
Answer: America is the most immigrant friendly country in the world and has the largest GDP ($20 trillion +). Almost all top companies in the world like Apple, Google etc. were founded by immigrants in USA. America encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and ideas. USA is a 200+ years old democracy with people from diverse cultures and societies living together. When it comes to protecting the rights and interests of investors, the U.S stands in the forefront with strict rules and regulations.
US is a country of laws and that’s why people wants to move to America. In terms of violence against immigrants is concerned that is a false statement. No one can harass you because of your status in the country, religion, ethnicity, etc.. Because there are very few such cases it gets a lot of publicity around the country. If somebody is promoting such rhetoric, there are millions of people can stand against bullies and highlight such events. Have you seen the Starbucks incident when Africans were kicked out of Starbucks? Starbucks apologized in public and then shut their stores to educate their employees on how to treat people. People in the US are united and fight for what’s right. Please tell me where else you can get such attention for such incidents. US Media is independent and they go against their president when/if he is wrong. I am sure people are paying attention to such incidents as well. When I landed in America in 1996 it was very rare to see South East Asians (Indians, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, and/or Pakistani). Now, if you are in Manhattan, you will see thousands of people. There are special organizations to help promote entrepreneurship US unemployment rate is less than 4% and that is lowest in the world. AND that’s the reason everyone wants to move to America because of OPPORTUNITIES!
14. How long does it take to get a US Green card?
Answer: It takes 18-24 months to get you i 526 is approved and move to America.
