Indonesian Lantern Magazine− 25
U
mmu Hani, now Hani
residency in the United States
White, did it one way.
when they invest a minimum
“But there is another
capital of $500,000. The
way”, she says “and maybe even
underlying policy of this investor
an easier way than I did it”, she
Visa is to benefit the United
adds with a smile and a twinkle
States economy, by creating jobs
in her eye.
and economic development,
Born in Jakarta, Hani was hired in
and foreign national investors.
2001 as a cultural representative
“The EB-5 Visa program allows
by Disneyworld in the U.S. While
a foreign investor to create their
in the U.S., Hani fell in love and
own new business. In the al-
married an American citizen.
ternative, foreign investors may
After her Disneyworld assign-
invest $500,000 or more in
ment, she eventually relocated
USCIS-designated regional cen-
to Philadelphia, the 5th largest
ters.” Explained Bruce Nimensky
U.S. city by population, studied
from law office of Bruce Nimen-
at a university and became a real
sky, Livingston, New Jersey. A
estate agent. Happily married
regional center is created when
to an Indonesian native, she
a developer submits a business
recognized as having among the
Michigan, that rate is 33 percent.
currently is a program manager
proposal to the USCIS and the
best universities and schools of
It’s 17 percent in Indiana, 27 per-
at a non-profit organization that
USCIS finds that development
higher education anywhere in
cent in Illinois and 14 percent in
promotes social and economic
will benefit the regional econ-
the world. In addition to having
Ohio. Not only that, nationwide,
self-sufficiency for people in
omy. “The EB-5 Visa program
the world’s largest economy, the
40 percent of today’s Fortune
need, including immigrants. In
allocates 10,000 conditional
U.S. has an abundance of natural
500 companies were founded
her ‘spare time’, she also serves
Green Cards each year. Given the
resources and a well-developed
by immigrants, or the children of
as the Chair of the Indonesian
positive impact of this program,
infrastructure, and is famous for
immigrants like Steve Jobs.
Diaspora Network Philadelphia
it think it will become more
its protection and respect for in-
So if you think you are creative
Chapter. Philadelphia is home to
popular each year,” added Bruce.
dividual freedoms and property
and entrepreneurial, America
one of the largest concentrations
There are other incentives too
rights. No wonder, In Silicon Val-
and President Obama are wait-
of Indonesian-born immigrants
for people interested in invest-
ley, half of the tech companies
ing for you! (Indah Nuritasari)
anywhere in the U.S.
ing in the US. The U.S. is widely
were founded by immigrants. In
“The U.S. has a special Visa program for people willing to invest
in a business that can create 10
new jobs for U.S. workers.” Hani
explained. The reward from the
U.S. government for qualified
applicants is issuance of permanent residency status in the U.S.
for the applicant, the applicant’s
spouse, and also minor children.
What Hani refers to is the EB-5
Investor Visa. In 1990 the United
States Congress enacted the Immigration Act of 1990, which included an Investor Visa Program.
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