Chinese investors 'buying' US green cards for $1m

[Jazzy]

As the US debates how to reform its immigration system - and deal with roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country - wealthy foreigners already have a legal route to a new life in America.

A visa programme called EB-5 offers overseas investors the opportunity to get permanent residence - a green card - in return for $1m (£614,000). In areas with high unemployment, the visas are available for a $500,000 investment.

The visas have been available since the 1990s, when Europeans were the main beneficiaries. But today Chinese citizens represent a majority of the applicants.

While critics complain about foreigners "buying" their way into the US, the scheme's supporters told the BBC that the developers fund projects that create jobs in America.

Do you really think they are helping to create jobs in America or are they using this as a way to enter the US for their own profit?

 

[Naiwen]

As the US debates how to reform its immigration system - and deal with roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country - wealthy foreigners already have a legal route to a new life in America.

A visa programme called EB-5 offers overseas investors the opportunity to get permanent residence - a green card - in return for $1m (£614,000). In areas with high unemployment, the visas are available for a $500,000 investment.

The visas have been available since the 1990s, when Europeans were the main beneficiaries. But today Chinese citizens represent a majority of the applicants.

While critics complain about foreigners "buying" their way into the US, the scheme's supporters told the BBC that the developers fund projects that create jobs in America.

Do you really think they are helping to create jobs in America or are they using this as a way to enter the US for their own profit?

Own interests of course.

 

[Nebulous]

Do you really think they are helping to create jobs in America or are they using this as a way to enter the US for their own profit?

What do you think?

 

[Jazzy]

Do you really think they are helping to create jobs in America or are they using this as a way to enter the US for their own profit?

What do you think?

I've never seen an American working in a Chinese restaurant have you?

 

[Nebulous]

Do you really think they are helping to create jobs in America or are they using this as a way to enter the US for their own profit?

What do you think?

I've never seen an American working in a Chinese restaurant have you?

If you count Panda Express

 

[Jazzy]

I don't know what Panda Express is but it doesn't sound like a true Chinese restaurant to me. All the ones in my area employee only Chinese workers.

 

[Nebulous]

I don't know what Panda Express is but it doesn't sound like a true Chinese restaurant to me. All the ones in my area employee only Chinese workers.

Panda Express is a national chain fast food restaurant that sells Chinese food. All the little mom and pop Chinese places around here only employ Chinese people but their ethnicity isn't really an issue. Those are all people with incomes to help stimulate the economy I suppose.