IIUSA is proud to introduce the Emerging Markets Spotlight as a new feature to the International Section of the Regional Center Business Journal. Combining detailed analysis of EB-5 demand trends with “on the ground” perspectives, IIUSA seeks to inform the industry about the opportunities and challenges of working in some of EB-5’s nascent markets. The Investor Market Committee (IMC) will produce a market report for each country/region profiled in this section which are available exclusively for IIUSA Members. We encourage your feedback by e-mailing us at investormarkets@iiusa.org.
India currently ranks as the 7th largest EB-5 investor market according to it’s I-526 approval volume. However, there is optimism that India’s market influence will continue its upward trajectory. Since 2008, India has seen an average of nearly 34 I-526 approvals per year, with FY 2014 reaching 57 approvals, the most approvals in a single year on record (see Chart 2). With a vibrant and increasingly stable economy led by a business friendly Prime Minister in Narendra Modi, India is a market primed for growth in the immigrant investor market.
- “It is critical for the EB-5 issuer take into consideration that Indian investors are usually very sophisticated and conduct an extraordinary amount of due diligence on any financial venture they are considering.”
-Rohit Kapuria, Associate Attorney, Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP
- “For the tens of thousands of Indian students studying in the U.S., post-graduation immigration options are increasingly few (H-1B and EB-2). H-1B is vastly oversubscribed (this year over 71% of H-1Bs were rejected in the annual lottery) and EB-2, even if an Indian can qualify, is backlogged for 9 years. The EB-5 visa is the common-sense solution for Indian families with student-children studying in the U.S. From a family immigration planning standpoint it’s the most efficient and cost-effective solution.”
-William P. Cook, Managing Member, Global Migration Law Group PLLC
- “India is a great source country for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) who are looking for an alternative residency or citizenship. Most recently the Government of India announced that it has raised the outward remittance level to $250,000 USD – this is definitely a plus to the Indian Investor. There is definitely a market for the US EB-5 Program in India, it’s about educating the investor so they can make an informed decision that suits their needs and objectives.”
-Ronit Sharma, Residency & Citizenship planning specialist, Henley & Partners, Ltd.
