It’s hard to know what kind of business to invest in when you’re in a different country and looking to immigrate. And it’s downright intimidating if you want to become a U.S. citizen because the market is very complicated. 

But you don’t have to survey all 50 states and their different economies just to start a new business. One of the best ways to invest in the modern era is by choosing tech projects. Technology is changing American culture, American business, and even day-to-day interactions. 

Why wouldn’t an investor want to invest in the future? Especially since the future is already here!

In this article, we’re going to talk about why investing in U.S. tech makes sense, and how to get started. 

Understanding the EB-5 Investment Program

The basics of the EB-5 program are that you can invest in a qualifying commercial enterprise with a minimum of $1.8 million. In addition, you must manage the company and create jobs for at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. 

You can directly invest the money in a brand new business, or you can buy or partner with an existing business owner. However, you have to change the business substantially, grow ten new jobs, and increase the net worth of the business before the investment qualifies. 

Alternatively, you can invest in a regional center, though it’s worth keeping an eye on because of all the recent changes. 

For more on the requirements and the difference between direct and indirect investment, read this article on the EB-5 immigrant investor program. 

Why Tech Investment?

Generally speaking, investing in technology companies is low risk. For starters, you can expect lower overhead, since the implementation of new technology is cheap, oftentimes virtual, and is less than the cost of the traditional business model. 

Software technology is also changing the face of business. For instance, 40% of businesses now report greater productivity after implementing modern cloud computing solutions. 

Small businesses now have greater access to technology than ever before and are putting out game-changing products every day – at a virtually equal pace with big corporations. Thanks to the cooperation of big companies, and the imagination of software and hardware developers, the sky’s the limit. 

Just think how much social media, mobile finance apps, and cryptocurrency have changed the face of business. All of these big ideas came from small tech companies. 

Big business has now joined the fray of “fintech” to keep their clientele and find more convenient ways to do traditional business in untraditional ways. 

In essence, it’s not so much a question of whether you should invest in technology, it’s a question of which technology company is going to make you the most return-on-investment, and get your application approved. 

Recent Changes to the EB-5 Program

Since the 1990s, potential U.S. citizens had the option to invest directly in a business, or a regional center. Recently, however, there was a lapse in the EB-5 Investment Program due to the inaction of Congress.

For a time, direct investment was the only way to qualify for an EB-5 Investment Program. However, as of 2022, there has been a change.

Now, the regional centers have returned, but now the process requires extra steps. Namely, regional centers must get approval first before they can help new investors along in the process. The move upset some in the community who requested “more dialog between USCIS and the investors who count on regional centers to guide them. 

Researching the Tech Market

Choosing the right tech company involves learning more about technology and how it’s projected to change American life over the next few decades. In a recent article, we discussed how social issues drive innovation and inevitably predict the next big thing in business. 

It might also help to consider how current and future pandemics might influence the future of business and personal communications. 

You can always talk to an immigration agent if you have questions about investments and companies that may or may not qualify for the EB-5 Investment Program. 

But with complications rising in Regional Centers, now might be an ideal time to consider direct investment today in what could be tomorrow’s thriving company.