U.S. EB-5 Program

Middle East and North Africa ( MENA )
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is in chaos. Syria, Libya Iraq , and Yemen are in civil war, causing untold harm to human lives and infrastructure. Algeria , Bahrain , Egypt , Iraq , Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon, Libya , Morocco, Oman , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , State of Palestine , Syrian Arab Republic , Tunisia , United Arab Emirates and Yemen are considered within the MENA region.

EB-5 program
The EB-5 (Employment Based Fifth Preference) is the path to U.S. immigration through investment. For those who qualify, a USD$500,000 investment for five years provides US permanent residency for the applicant and her/ his family. During the application, the applicants are welcome to enter the US on any number of other non-immigration visas such as tourist.

EB-5 Statistics | EB-5 Updates |Annual Report 2017

With the elevated uncertainty in the MENA, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report for Immigrant Visas Issued and Adjustments of Status for fiscal Year is reporting an increasing interest in immigration to the US through the EB-5 program. The report reveals some outstanding shifts taking place in the EB-5 market.

Nine Interesting Facts

1. Syria dominates the EB-5 market in MENA . At 25 % of the total in MENA (24 visas in FY 2017), Syria is the largest source of EB-5 investors in the region , but visa issuances to Syrians are down due to the travel ban .

2. Egypt is officially the next EB-5 market in the MENA . With 17 visas in FY 2017 – Egypt is now the second market after Syria, accounting for 18% of all MENA EB-5 applications. Egypt has plenty of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) who have no shortage of reasons for wanting to get out. Political turmoil and a non-negligible level of terrorist threats plague the country.

3. United Arab Emirates (UAE) interest in EB-5 has exploded . With 12 visas in FY 2017 – UAE is now the third market accounting for 13% of all MENA EB-5 applications.

4. Tunisia interest is increasing . By FY 2017, Tunisia was issued 8 visas (8% of all MENA EB-5 applications).

5. Sudan (not within the MENA) is now the fifth market with a total of 7 visas in FY 2017 .

6. Jordan and Lebanon were issued the same number of visas in 2017 (With 6 visas for Jordan and 6 visas for Lebanon ) , both accounting for 12% of all MENA EB-5 applications.

7. Algeria was issued 4 visas in FY 2017 , accounting for 4 % of all MENA EB-5 applications.

8. Saudi Arabia and Qatar were issued 2 visas in FY 2017 ( with 1 visa for Qatar and 1 visa for Saudi Arabia ) , accounting for 2% of all MENA EB-5 applications.

9. Region Total For MENA is 96 visas , accounting for 1 % of all EB-5 applications in FY 2017.

EB-5 program and MENA :Why 96 out of 10090 visas in FY 2017 ?

The Caribbean’s, EU and Canada have popular investment programs because they have made efforts to have agents , brokers and offices in the MENA . Unfortunately, Law firms , developers and regional centers from the US were not able to market effectively to MENA audience. A lot of investors in MENA has a lack of knowledge and information as to how the EB-5 program works.

Do you want to cut straight to the facts

The benefit of the EB-5 program is that applicants (of no age requirements) can apply for a green card (permanent residence) and include their spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21), and settle anywhere in the United States. Capital is invested without the need for prior business experience nor any minimum education level or English language competency. EB-5 means a better future, stability and the promise of a good education for the children.

For more information on the investment options and how to obtain permanent residence (Green Card) in the USA through the EB-5 program, please click here. We have a lot of experience in preparing and successfully getting individual EB5 cases approved.

Feel free to fill out our Free Assessment, and find out if you qualify under any of the business immigration programs offered.