sleeping. When it was approved, I felt a huge amount of relief. My anxiety vanished for several months after that but returned when it was time for me to officially emigrate to America. I was fearful that I would have difficulties in this new world and that I would be very lonely.”
“ The lengthy application processing time causes stress,” states Li, whose application has been under review for more than a year.“ If I am denied, then I will live with that decision. But I wish to know the decision now rather than in a year. Not knowing is perhaps more difficult than being denied.”
“ A friend from school who also moved to the United States recommended that I enroll in an English class when I arrived,” says Zhao.“ I did and it helped alleviate my worries. I made friends and became more confident in my verbal skills.”
Family Concerns
Unlike Zhao, Li has a family. Her husband and 7-year-old son are included in her I-526 petition as derivative beneficiaries. She knows that the sooner her application is approved, the easier the move will be for her son.
“ I’ ve been speaking English to him so that he is better prepared for school in America,” says Li.“ He understands it but struggles to reply in English, choosing to answer in Mandarin instead. I tell him that learning is best achieved by doing and that he should not be afraid of making mistakes.”
When asked if her son’ s education was the number one factor in her choice to apply for a visa, Li provides resounding affirmation.“ Chinese schools believe they are educating the country’ s youth, but they are not. Children learn how to take tests but that is all. They do not learn to think critically and instead simply memorize a textbook word for word. And while a few Chinese schools are on par with those in the U. S., most fall short.”
Though Zhao doesn’ t have a spouse or children at the moment, the prospects of starting a family in the U. S. was
a driving force behind his decision to begin a new life more than 6,000 miles away.“ I want to be settled into a stable and prosperous life before starting a family. The U. S. is ideal in this regard. I know that my future family will be safe here. My children will receive a good education. They will be free to learn and study, and I won’ t have to worry about the pollution like those in Beijing.”
Hope
While Zhao and Li both described the EB-5 application process as stressful, they also used the same word to summarize their feelings about a future in the United States: hopeful.
In the end, that is the recurring theme among Chinese immigrants looking to come to America on an EB-5 visa. They all dream of a greater future for their families— one where they are safe, free and equal. It’ s a theme that I’ m familiar with too, as a child of immigrant parents who came to the U. S. four decades ago to create a better life for my brother and me. Hope has been the driving force behind millions of immigrants’ decisions to come to America and it will be for many millions more.
While Zhao and Li still remain hopeful, I can say with confidence that I no longer hold hope for them. My hope for them was surpassed long ago by a certainty that these two ambitious professionals will find nothing but success and happiness for themselves and their families. The American Dream is alive in Zhao and Li— and the EB-5 program is their ticket to dream.
Matt Khalili is the founder of The Plan Writers, and has over a decade of entrepreneurial and strategic planning experience. Established in 2012, The Plan
Writers is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed in America. Khalili has expertise in business plan writing and also serves as an expert witness for EB-5 litigation. He earned his MBA from the University of Southern California.
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