Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

  • Second Citizenship

US EB-5 Visa Investing Under Trump

  • February 25, 2017
  • BY staffwriter
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The U.S. EB-5 investor visa program is the most popular visa and citizenship scheme in the world. The EB-5 program gets you a top tier passport at a fraction of the cost of competitors like Australia and Canada, and the returns on most of these investments have been solid. And, of course, it gets you the right to live and work in the United States.

But the U.S. EB-5 Visa program has been under fire of late. There have been a few scams reported this year and most of the money has been flowing into high-end real estate developments in New York and Miami. Democrats had hoped the EB-5 would bring cash and jobs into low income areas, but investors have decided to go with lower risk higher returning options (yeah, a real surprise).

Democrats have been trying to cancel the program for years, but Congress extended it through April 28, 2017 to give time for President Trump to weigh in. And we all expect him to be a friend to the EB-5 program.

Candidate Trump has spoken out against illegal immigration and countries not sending their best. The EB-5 program brings in high net worth individuals and has been used by real estate developers (like Trump) to get projects funded on  the cheap.

The EB-5 visa program was used by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to fund a rental apartment complex in Jersey City, New Jersey (called Trump Plaza). This project brought in about $50 million, mostly from Chinese investors.

The minimum investment for the EB-5 visa is currently $500,000 in a poor area and $1 million throughout the United States. The amount hasn’t changed since 1992 and I expect it to increase to $800,000 and $1.2 million in 2017.  

Bottom line is that the EB-5 program gives developers access to cash at very low interest rates in exchange for residency and citizenship for the investor. This, in turn, increases jobs and grows the local economy.

Most EB-5 investors give their cash to a real estate developer and hope for the best. What if you want to start your own business in the United States?

The EB-5 visa is available to anyone that wants to start a business here that will employ a minimum of 10 people. You’re not limited to real estate development projects. Any business with employees will qualify.

For example, buy two or 3 Pizza Hut franchises, open a gas station, or start an online business, and you qualify for the EB-5 visa. If you’re an entrepreneur, this version of the EB-5 is an excellent opportunity.

What many forget is that this means you must pay U.S. tax on your business profits and on your worldwide income! Not just the money you make in the United States, but on all income earned on any investment anywhere in the world. If you sell your business in China, you will pay U.S. tax on the gain. If you sell your vacation home in Colombia, you will pay U.S. tax on your profits.

Worldwide income tax applies to both green card holders (which you get immediately with the EB-5) and U.S. citizens. The U.S. Federal tax rate is about 30% and many states charge 10% more more.

So, you’re giving up 40% of your income for the privilege of living in the United States. Does the EB-5 visa still sound “cheap” compared to Canada and Australia?

There’s one way to get US citizenship through the EB-5 investor program without paying these taxes. If you setup an internet business in the U.S> territory of Puerto Rico, you can cut your business tax rate to 4% and pay zero on capital gains.

Because Puerto Rico is a US territory, US Federal immigration laws apply but US tax laws do not. The tax laws of Puerto Rico supersede the US tax code. Because of this hybrid legal system, you can immigrate to the United States through Puerto Rico using the EB-5 visa and qualify to live tax free under Puerto Rico’s tax laws.

If you apply for a U.S. green card and citizenship through Puerto Rico’s EB-5 program, you’ll pay 4% on corporate profits earned on the island (under Act 20) and zero on capital gains and foreign sourced income.

For this tax plan to work, you need to be a “resident” of Puerto Rico. A resident is someone who spends 183 days a year on the island. You can be anywhere in the United States for the remainder of the year.

By qualifying for Act 20, you will exchange the U.S. 40% tax rate for a business tax rate of 4%. This tax holiday is guaranteed for 20 years and the requirements are simple:

  1. The minimum number of employees required for Act 20 business is 5. However, to qualify for EB-5, you need 10. So, we setup an Act 20 company with 10 employees.
  2. The company must be providing a service from Puerto Rico to persons or companies outside of Puerto Rico. Internet marketing, call centers, import / export, sales teams, and any online business are good candidates for Act 20. Retail businesses, franchises and restaurants do not qualify for Act 20. They do qualify for the EB-5 visa, but not for the tax deal.

For more detailed information on Puerto Rico’s Act 20, see: How to Maximize the Benefits of Puerto Rico Act 20

The immigration benefits of the EB-5 program available from Puerto Rico are identical to the EB-5 programs available from New York, Florida or anywhere else in the U.S. Once complete, you’ll be a U.S. citizen with all of the rights and privileges of someone born in America. You’ll have a US passport and the right to live and work anywhere in the country.

The same is true of children born in Puerto Rico. Anyone born in Puerto Rico is a U.S. citizen, just as they are if born in a U.S. state. The only difference between Puerto Rico and the U.S. in this case are its tax laws.

I hope you’ve found this article on the EB-5 visa program helpful. For more information on immigrating to the United States through Puerto Rico, you can reach me directly at info@premieroffshore.com or by calling (619) 550-2743. All consultations are free and confidential.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Teak: Frequently Asked Questions Part 2

  • November 6, 2016
  • BY Adam McGeehan
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Retiring in Colombia

  • April 19, 2017
  • BY David Steckenreiter
View Post
You May Also Like
Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad.
View Post
  • Plan B
Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 4, 2025
Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation.
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 7, 2025
The good life in Belize.
View Post
  • Belize
The Plan B Strategy—Securing Lifestyle and Liberty in Belize
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • April 5, 2025
Your Gateway to Freedom
View Post
  • Finance
Your Gateway to Freedom
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • March 11, 2025
Lady justice
View Post
  • Finance
Embracing a Plan B Is Just the Start
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • January 29, 2025
International Living
View Post
  • Digital Nomadism
Why Securing Second Residency Is Crucial to Your Escape Plan
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • January 1, 2025
Global Experts Share Valuable Advice on Moving Abroad
View Post
  • Finance
Global Experts Share Valuable Advice on Moving Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • November 27, 2024
12 Best Residency and Citizenship by Investment Options Under US$200K
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
12 Best Residency and Citizenship by Investment Options Under US$200K
  • BY Dan Macharia
  • April 18, 2024
Trending Posts
  • The True Cost of Leaving America 1
    • Interviews
    The True Cost of Leaving America
    • June 25, 2025
  • best place to retire 2
    • Plan B
    Retiring Abroad: Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?
    • June 18, 2025
  • 3
    • Africa
    The New Africa Travel List for 2025
    • June 20, 2025
  • Living in Zurich Switzerland 4
    • Field Notes
    Zurich’s Formula for Happiness
    • June 22, 2025
  • Nordic chapter of adventure 5
    • Rest of Europe
    The Nordic Blueprint for Happiness
    • June 30, 2025
Subscribe
Know Before You Go
  • The True Cost of Leaving America 1
    • Interviews
    The True Cost of Leaving America
    • June 25, 2025
  • 2
    • Africa
    The New Africa Travel List for 2025
    • June 20, 2025
  • Rolling emerald fields and soft skies in County Kerry. 3
    • Ireland
    Top 10 Things to Know If You’re Moving to Ireland
    • June 13, 2025
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 4
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation. 5
    • Second Citizenship
    Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
    • May 7, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription

Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/