EB-5 Focus on
Latin America
by Milton Chacon
A growing concern over potential delays with the
processing of Chinese EB-5 visas is pushing regional
centers to consider other countries as a steady source
of wealthy immigrants eager to relocate to the United
States under this program. With over 600,000
millionaires, Latin American countries can
become a large source of such investors,
particularly at a time when many of these
countries have experienced extended periods of
economic growth and relative political
stability, giving way to the expansion
of a wealthier upper middle
class that might not have
previously satisfied the
financial requirements of
the EB-5 program.
Latin America consists of 22 separate nations comprising
approximately 600 million people. However, despite their common distant past as Spanish and Portuguese colonies and numerous treaties attempting to unify the region, many significant
differences remain between these nations. Not the least of which
relates to economic cycles caused by unstable political regimes
that have, at times, derailed economic progress and created social
instability. Specifically, the leftist, anti-imperialist and populist
rhetoric of some regimes has periodically impeded progress,
leading to social unrest, volatility and less predictable economic
decisions. However, despite occasional anti-American propaganda, the United States remains the most appealing destination in the
developed world for Latin American emigrants due to its proximity
to the region, large and established Spanish-speaking communities
and robust legal system.
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EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE
Linguistic map
of Latin America
Spanish
Portuguese
French
Other