EB-5 the most popular yet controversial visa programme, which helps in obtaining green cards for international investment in the USA’s real estate sector is due to expire soon whereas millions of US dollars for prospective business development are at a bet.

The "Immigrant Investor" programme which was initially launched to stimulate the job growth came into scrutiny due to various scams and misuse of resources. Several developers in the United States and the overseas financiers have lost; still, the programme fuelled thousands of developmental assignments which are to date benefitting the neighbourhoods across the country.

The Congress initially passed EB-5 in 1990 as a component of new migration measures. An outside financial specialist could acquire a US visa by investing one million dollars in an undertaking which created job opportunities for at least 10 US nationals. The system was later reformed to permit an investor to invest 500000 dollars in a provincial or a region with high-unemployment rate.

The terminating programme has as of now been extended once and could be extended once more, without any modifications, depending upon the results of the Congressional budget negotiations.

The programme was not very well-known at the initial stage of launch, so Congress made the "regional center" part of the programme. The developers could apply to be a part of a "centre," so that the international financial specialists could then pool in the funds for much bigger activities. The regional centers were aimed to recognize the "targeted employment areas," where occupations were required the most.

The last part is the thing that has experienced harsh criticism as many feel that the “regional center” ventures can be manipulated, permitting the developers to fabricate fancy new programs at the well off zones, utilizing the EB-5 funds. The New York's Hudson Yards developed by the Related Cos., and the San Francisco's Hunters Point Shipyard developed by a Miami-based Lennar, are just two cases to quote are referred to, by the critics.

Some of the new undertakings, for instance, in New York are in the areas which look as though they're super rich, affluent zones that couldn't in any way have high unemployment, and it is the case that such zones are defined within a bigger area of high unemployment and so they qualify. Different spots that are in provincial regions or in regions that don't have the assets and the cache that a New York project would are not going to be able to see as many investors coming to those areas.

EB-5, which limits the number of foreign visas at 10,000 every year, was scarcely a blip on the radar until the financial emergency happened and business lending became scarce. The project hit its visa limit in 2013 surprisingly; contrast that with only 700 visas issued in 2007, as indicated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The USCIS estimated that the system generated more than $10 billion and made more than 77,000 employment opportunities.

By far most of the overseas investors who have used the EB-5 are Chinese nationals, more than 85 % during 2014. They to a great extent go through the regional centres to raise funds for larger development ventures. Not just are the visas issued to the financial specialists, additionally to two family members. They are also incorporated in the 10,000 cap.

U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., supported the decision to end the regional centre programme. In a public statement to Roll Call, Feinstein wrote, "I trust the system is profoundly unreasonable, sends the wrong message about the nation's values, and is inclined to cheating and abuse.."

7 years after the crisis in the U.S. financial markets, the banks today are still highly risk averse when in regards to making investments in the real estate sector. While the capital market sector is beginning to ease somewhat, the cash inflow is difficult to be seen for the major assignments.

The banks are even giving very diplomatic answers. The first answer they give for a project is ‘No’, secondly ‘may-be’ and if someone has strong conviction then the answer is ‘Ok.', but we will give only some percent of the amount required.

The EB-5 program needs more direction to focus on the targeted employment zones.