“ This investment had the potential to provide them with a path to permanent residency and , eventually , citizenship ,” says Mr . Patel .
EB-5 VISA APPLICATION FOR FIRST SON
While a significant investment is required , the EB-5 program can allow an investor to forge a faster path to citizenship and reap the opportunities that can come with the American dream . Mr . Patel was ready to pursue the program and started the process with his older son .
He carefully researched the program and came across the EB5 BRICS LLC website and got in contact with CEO Vivek Tandon and his partner Rohit Turkhud to work on starting the EB-5 process for their older son . Patel was able to invest in two Regional Center real estate development projects , one in Florida and the other in New York .
But , all was not smooth sailing . The investment process had its challenges .
“ We had to navigate through complex legal and financial paperwork in India as well as in USA ,” Mr . Patel says . “ The immigration attorney and financial advisor suggested by the Regional Center helped us in preparing the correct documents needed to submit with our I-526 petition . This hard work paid off resulting into approval of these petitions without any hiccups .”
They endured a “ lengthy and nerve-wracking waiting period ,” Mr . Patel says , from April 2017 when they filed the I-526 petition for their older son to when they received its approval in October 2018 . Since their older son was already in the U . S . at the time , they applied for the Adjustment of Status Form I-485 in October 2018 . He says his form for EAD Card ( I-765 ) and for Travel Parole document ( I-131 ) were approved in January 2019 after answering two Request for Evidence ( RFE ) letters they received from USCIS .
Then , they happened upon the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program .
“ We stumbled upon an article in the newspaper describing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program , which seemed like the perfect opportunity ,” says Mr . Patel . “ The EB-5 program offered a chance for us to obtain a U . S . green card for our children by investing money in a job-creating venture in the United States .”
The EB-5 program is one of the fastest routes to obtain permanent residency for an investor , spouse and eligible children . The advantages bring everything from freedom to live and work anywhere in the U . S . to education benefits .
In the case of Mr . and Mrs . Patel , they did not wish to relocate from India to the U . S . as they already had careers and were caring for elderly parents . But , for their sons , they wanted to provide them with the best possible opportunities and the EB-5 program sounded like the best option to live and work in the U . S .
“ These letters were issued to ask for the medical test report ( I- 693 ) that USCIS had misplaced in their records ,” says Mr . Patel . “ From this delay causing event , I learned that Form I-693 must be submitted along with the Form I-485 and not later as USCIS most likely misplaces them when filed separately .”
After a nearly 1,5 year wait , their son got his approval of the I-485 in July 2020 and his conditional permanent resident card .
“ So , the whole process from April 2017 till July 2020 of three years plus was of wait and with moments of anxiety and uncertainties ,” says Mr . Patel .
EB-5 APPLICATION FOR SECOND SON
But that was just the process for their older son . Their younger son also wanted to pursue the EB-5 path , which for him began
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