川普移民改革法案对EB-5的影响

2017年8月1日，一项即将大幅缩减合法移民数量的新移民法案正式出炉，它被称作"RAISE Act"，意指"美国移民"改革促进就业法案。虽然这项法案得到了总统川普的支持，但它却并没有收获所有共和党的青睐，因此，它的去向如何还有待时间的检验。有趣的是，这项法案如果被实施，它给EB-5投资移民和其它职业移民所带来的影响将不容小觑。

这项新的法案将引入计分制度，对获得移民资格的申请人的最低分数要求为30分。对EB-5投资移民比较感兴趣的申请人，将仍然能够通过他们的投资来获得分数，但不同的是，他们的投资的影响力将会大大减低。根据新的计分制度，投资人投入135万美金到美国某新开发的商业企业，将记6分；而如果投入180万美金，则将记12分。这除了意味着大幅增加的投资额度外，投资者在新的法案下还需要“积极地管理他们投资的商业企业，并将其作为他们的主要职业”。也就是说，之前依靠区域中心的投资方式可能在一定程度上将被淘汰，而投资者现在需要直接参与到投资经营活动中。值得注意的是，EB-5一直以来吸引着大量海外资金，其重要原因之一就是它对投资者的管理参与度要求低。在区域中心项目中，投资者并不需要具备任何积极的管理角色。因此，基于新法案将投资者人的身份严格限制为企业家，其要求的积极管理角色会大大约束EB-5项目的可操作性。

我们再次重申，这项法案的未来去向并不被看好，但如果其被实施，那么美国移民总量将可能减少，非法移民数量则反而可能增加，从而使美国经济再次遭受打击。如果您对此法案有任何疑问，或者有任何其它移民相关问题，欢迎随时联系我们为您解答。

RAISE Act Effects on EB-5 Visa

On August 1, 2017, an immigration bill was introduced which would significantly cut legal immigration. The bill is called the RAISE Act and it stands for Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Employment Act. Although the bill has President Trump’s support, it does not have the support of all the Republicans and so is not likely to move forward. Interestingly, the Bill would have pretty impactful consequences on the investor visa, EB-5, as well as other employment based visas.

The new system would involve a point system that would require applicants to have 30 points or higher in order to immigrate to the U.S. Investors such as the ones that were previously interested in the EB-5 program would still receive points for their investments, but the significance of those investments would now be greatly reduced. Investors would get 6 points if they invest $1.35 million in a US new commercial enterprise, and 12 points if they invest $1.8 million in a US new commercial enterprise. The difference here, besides the significant increase in investment amount, is that investors would now need to “actively manage the commercial enterprise as their primary occupation.” This means that all previously relied upon “Regional Centers” would now become more or less obsolete, as the investors would now need to be directly involved in the investment opportunity. One of the key factors contributing to the EB-5 program’s growth as a significant source of development capital is the minimal management requirement. Investors were not required to have an active management role within any of the regional centers with whom they invested in. As such, an active management requirement would significantly restrict the EB-5 program’s usefulness by limiting the program strictly to entrepreneurs as opposed to primary investors.

Again, the bill is not likely to move forward, but if it were to be successful, total immigration would likely be reduced, but illegal immigration would probably rise, likely making the economy suffer once more. If you have any questions about this newly proposed immigration bill and how it might affect you, or any other immigration related questions, please feel free to call Buda Law Group any time.