A new high-rise project in downtown Seattle is welcoming Indian investors who want to qualify for EB-5 visas through the Immigrant Investor Program.
The Seattle Innovation Center is a mixed-use 36-story high rise near Seattle’s central business district, several blocks from the new 3.5-million-square-foot Amazon campus. The developer, Martin Selig, is owner of 42 Seattle-area properties valued at $1.5 billion and is on the Forbes magazine list of billionaires. The project has USCIS exemplar approval and is now under construction for 2020 occupancy.
“This project in America’s hottest real estate district offers a prime EB-5 U.S. residency opportunity through a stable, proven investment in an excellent marketplace,” said Pete Chase, CEO of Columbia International Finance, the USCIS-approved regional center funding the project.
The entire Seattle Innovation Center space is already leased to WeWork for 30 years for a mix of office and residential space. WeWork is a global powerhouse with a $20 billion market valuation and growing. The project’s post-construction appraisal allows for full repayment of investor capital, and project and developer have full, third-party oversight by Columbia International Finance, with project updates provided regularly to investors.
Chase said his team has spoken to many in the Indian community who are concerned by the status of the H-1B visa program, and looking for alternatives.
“With many recent and confusing changes in the H-1B program, the EB-5 visa is proving to be a better choice that is not dependent on employment or place of residence, and can include the entire family,” Chase said.
What is the process for a person or family to obtain EB-5 visas with an investment in the Seattle Innovation Center?
The EB-5 visa currently requires a $500,000 investment in a qualified U.S. construction project through an approved regional center, Chase said.
“But please be aware, this could be raised to $925,000 to $1,025,000 by the U.S. Government at any time, making it timely to consider joining the program now,” he added.
In addition, the applicant will be consulting and paying fees to immigration counsel, as well as to the regional center. Columbia International Finance charges a $15,000 administration fee, much less than the typical $50,000-$60,000 administrative fee charged by most other EB-5 projects, Chase said.
"I wasn't aware that EB-5 could be a viable path to a Green Card even for H-1B professionals before I met Columbia International Finance,” said one Indian-born professional now obtaining his U.S. visa through the Seattle Innovation Center. “Their collaborations with top builders in Seattle, and other major cities, provide the safest avenue for anyone interested in EB-5 investment and they are committed to offer the best experience to EB-5 investors."
Before signing up as an EB-5 Immigrant Investor, other questions might include:
What is the current approval timeline for EB-5 Visas?
When do I get my money back? What is my return on investment?
What sources can I use for funding?
What is the latest information regarding the EB-5 and H-1B Visa programs?
Columbia International Finance invites these questions, and any others. Contact Scott Chesney, director of project management, at (509) 279-3662 or visit www.cifwa.com
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