Reasons Why Indian Students Should Consider the EB-5 Visa Instead of F-1 Visa

In recent years, India has been the top source country, contributing up to 1.3 million students to the global study abroad market, according to business standards. Transitioning from an F1 visa to an EB5 green card provides numerous benefits, including permanent residency, which allows you to live and work freely in the United States. It also allows for visa-free entry and exit from the country.

Exploring the stellar reasons why one should transition into EB-5 over an F-1 visa is quite significant for an Indian student wishing to study abroad. The EB-5 visa provides Indian students with a direct path to permanent residency and citizenship in the USA, eradicating the unpredictable nature of student visas while also providing financial benefits such as in-state tuition rates and educational grants.

Indian students must invest between $800,000 and $1.8 million in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). Such investments can be made through Regional Centres, such as the U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF), approved by USCIS, which manages EB-5 projects. This way the EB-5 program opens an opportunity to gain permanent residency (Green Card) for the student and their family.

Let’s take a look at some benefits of EB-5 visa over F-1 visa USA. 

• Direct Route to Permanent Residency - The EB-5 visa USA provides a straightforward path to U.S. permanent residency that eliminates the uncertainties linked with H-1B and F-1 visas. 

• Employment Flexibility - EB-5 visa holders can easily gain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which eventually enables them to work with any employer without any worries. This flexibility extends further to internships and many other professional experiences. 

• Unrestricted Travel - In this program, students’ families can visit them without worries about re-entry issues and is quite prominent for maintaining personal and professional connections globally. 

• Concurrent Application Processing - The EB-5 program facilitates concurrently filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), which allows Indian students to legally stay in USA and get other benefits like Optional Practical Training (OPT), Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole. 

Unlike EB-5, the F-1 visa is for non-immigrants, which allows international students to stay in USA and study at world-class universities certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). In order to get an F-1 student visa, you need to enrol full-time in a program, and your visa will get expire just after your program completion.

F-1 visa allows 5 years to study, following which you can apply to Optional Practical Training for 2 years only to work in USA. Many students find an F-1 student visa suitable to their needs, while some are deterred by its temporary nature. At this point, several international students turn their focus to an EB-5 visa USA, which is an investor-based USA green card that permits holders to stay, study, or work anywhere in USA with no restrictions.

The EB-5 visa is feasible for Indian students seeking to navigate the hurdles of an F-1 visa USA. By providing a myriad of benefits, this program enables students to have a stable and secure future. Despite the significant investment requirement, EB-5 is a highly compelling option for a long-term presence in USA.