…Abuja, Lagos host roadshows to introduce new investment window
Opportunity has opened for Nigerians who are desirous of living in the United States (US) as EB5 Visa Programme, touted as the most reliable way to obtain US residence visa, returns to Nigeria to introduce its new investment window.
Houston EB5, a regional centre with strong alliances across major EB5 markets, including, Nigeria, will be in Abuja and Lagos on November 1 and 4 respectively for roadshows during which it will educate new investors on the EB5 programme and how they can obtain their US green card within 4-12 months with the new priority processing policy.
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The programme is being promoted in Nigeria by the company’s local partner, 3Invest—a real estate marketing, advisory and consultancy firm which is known also for its strong advocacy on real estate investment and development in Nigeria and beyond.
“The team at Houston EB5 invests alongside its clients on every project, meaning they only succeed when you do. Since its inception, the Houston EB5 team has worked diligently to sponsor over 1,300 green cards for investors and their families,” Ruth Obih, 3Invest CEO, explained to BusinessDay at the weekend in Lagos.
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Obih said with 8,506 EB5 visas issued this 2023 alone, “the EB5 Visa programme comes back strong as the most reliable way to obtain US residence through investment.”
She noted that the over a decade of partnership with Houston EB5 and the positioning it has acquired as the leading EB5 company in Nigeria was a testament its advantage for Nigerian citizens seeking US residence through investment.
“The EB5 visa provides a pathway to obtaining a green card for foreign nationals who invest in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. The programme affords foreign nationals and their spouses and unmarried children under 21years the ability to obtain a US visa based solely upon a minimum investment in a profit-based enterprise that creates or retains a specified number of jobs,” Obih explained.
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On how to obtain the visa, she explained further that individuals must invest $800,000 in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) or $1,050,000, creating or preserving, at least, 10 jobs for US workers excluding the investors and their immediate families.
“According to IIUSA, since the 2000, the number of qualified investors and their family members has reached 115,430 across the globe. These investors have obtained legal permanent residency in the United States via the EB5 Programme,” Obih said.
She added that in 2023, about 8,506 EB5 visas have been issued under the “unreserved” category via consular processing while EB5 visa issuance in 2023 increased by over 750 percent from 2022, attributing this feat to visa operations at major US Consulate Offices.
Overall, she said, 13,987 visas were available to the EB5 category in 2023 with 9,511 visas available to the unreserved EB5 category.
She disclosed that the most recent Houston EB5 project known as the ‘The Frederick’ has received EB5 Priority Processing designation, and has also ensured some of the fastest possible processing times in the EB5 programme.
The new project, she said, is located in Fredericksburg, Texas, between Austin and San Antonio which are the top two fastest-growing cities in the state. The area hosts over 1.2 million tourists annually just as it is consistently named a top travel destination.
“The multi-use development will include a 200-room full-service luxury hotel and event centre, 42 condominiums, 240 multi-family rental units, and nearly 3,000 square meters of retail space,” Obih said.
