Buying a US Citizenship

This year the issue of illegal immigration has been a major topic of conversation for many citizens and lawmakers in the United States. A number of states are in the process of crafting legislation to address the issue of immigration.

While lawmakers are looking at the illegal immigrant issue, there are many foreigners who are taking a different route into the United States. Currently a good portion of the real estate in the United States is held by foreign investors.

In 1990 Congress passed the EB-5 program which entitles foreigners a fast track to citizenship by investing in US Businesses. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor program sets aside 10,000 visa each year. Any foreigner who invests $1 million into a new business or a troubled business and create at least 10 jobs – the investor and his immediate family do not count – can qualify for a visa, a green card, and conditional permanent resident status. If after two years the business is still thriving the investor may petition for the label of conditional to be removed. And after five years the investor may apply for US citizenship.

If the foreign investor puts his money into “targeted employment areas” – areas of the country where unemployment is 150% above the national average, the investment required is only $500,000.

While the US military is spread thin trying to combat “terrorism” around the world, the Department of Homeland Security sees a “terrorist” under every rock, and the Department of Immigration and Border Control are trying to make it impossible for US citizens to travel outside the US; a terrorist could bide his time by investing in a US business, recruit new members, and wreak some major havoc on US soil.