With major industry, excellent job prospects and sound investment opportunities, the states of Florida and Texas are currently the most popular destinations where South Africans applying for residency and then citizenship via the USA’s Immigrant Investor EB-5 Programme, choose to live, says Andrew Golding, chief executive, Pam Golding Property group. He says they have noticed an increased demand from especially millennials. “The EB-5 Programme – which offers the opportunity to invest in the USA and become a resident – remains the quickest and simplest route to gain lawful and legitimate access to the USA for applicants and their immediate family to live, study and work there,” says Golding.
“By investing $900,000 (±R13m) in a US government approved development in a designated targeted employment area, one is guaranteed Green Card status, while your capital is protected in an active investment in the US – with full return of funds after the end of the project, and you are eligible for a US passport after five years.” A further benefit is that once you’re a US passport holder, you enjoy visa free travel to approximately 160 countries. Chris Immelman, who heads up Pam Golding International, says high net-worth individuals, as well as families, are looking at immigration options. This includes retirees, millennials and families from Gauteng, followed by the Western Cape. “Interestingly, the effect of the pandemic in the USA has not impacted enquiries from applicants in any way – it appears the investors are more positively focused on the ability of the US economy to regain its traction and dominance,” says Immelman.
Pam Golding International has partnered with American Dream to help Pam Golding clients secure an alternate future with assistance from individuals with a proven track record, says Immelman. “American Dream has a 100% success rate, with extensive knowledge of the processes and requirements and facilitating each step of the way.” Says Stuart Ferguson, CEO of American Dream, “Immigration into the US is a complicated and highly regulated process but by investing in the EB-5 Investor Programme, you have a streamlined process to follow and once the application has been successful, you are able to live in America.
“We’re also seeing a faster adjudication process, with our current processing timeframe dropping from approximately 20 to 13 months, and with South Africans enjoying the advantage of visa availability and priority adjudication.” For families with school-going children, this programme allows learners access to leading top ranking schools, which is coupled with the high standard of tertiary education you will have on your doorstep. Furthermore, in the 2020 Best Countries report, the US public healthcare system ranked in the top 15 globally. Says Immelman, “The investment opportunity we currently offer, is the Gainsville student accommodation project, a new 12-storey building with approximately 205 units and 563 beds situated in Gainsville, Florida, only 0,5km from the University of Florida campus.”
