EB5 Investors Magazine | Page 76

sleeping . When it was approved , I felt a huge amount of relief . My anxiety vanished for several months after that but returned when it was time for me to officially emigrate to America . I was fearful that I would have difficulties in this new world and that I would be very lonely .”
“ The lengthy application processing time causes stress ,” states Li , whose application has been under review for more than a year . “ If I am denied , then I will live with that decision . But I wish to know the decision now rather than in a year . Not knowing is perhaps more difficult than being denied .”
“ A friend from school who also moved to the United States recommended that I enroll in an English class when I arrived ,” says Zhao . “ I did and it helped alleviate my worries . I made friends and became more confident in my verbal skills .”
Family Concerns
Unlike Zhao , Li has a family . Her husband and 7-year-old son are included in her I-526 petition as derivative beneficiaries . She knows that the sooner her application is approved , the easier the move will be for her son .
“ I ’ ve been speaking English to him so that he is better prepared for school in America ,” says Li . “ He understands it but struggles to reply in English , choosing to answer in Mandarin instead . I tell him that learning is best achieved by doing and that he should not be afraid of making mistakes .”
When asked if her son ’ s education was the number one factor in her choice to apply for a visa , Li provides resounding affirmation . “ Chinese schools believe they are educating the country ’ s youth , but they are not . Children learn how to take tests but that is all . They do not learn to think critically and instead simply memorize a textbook word for word . And while a few Chinese schools are on par with those in the U . S ., most fall short .”
Though Zhao doesn ’ t have a spouse or children at the moment , the prospects of starting a family in the U . S . was
a driving force behind his decision to begin a new life more than 6,000 miles away . “ I want to be settled into a stable and prosperous life before starting a family . The U . S . is ideal in this regard . I know that my future family will be safe here . My children will receive a good education . They will be free to learn and study , and I won ’ t have to worry about the pollution like those in Beijing .”
Hope
While Zhao and Li both described the EB-5 application process as stressful , they also used the same word to summarize their feelings about a future in the United States : hopeful .
In the end , that is the recurring theme among Chinese immigrants looking to come to America on an EB-5 visa . They all dream of a greater future for their families — one where they are safe , free and equal . It ’ s a theme that I ’ m familiar with too , as a child of immigrant parents who came to the U . S . four decades ago to create a better life for my brother and me . Hope has been the driving force behind millions of immigrants ’ decisions to come to America and it will be for many millions more .
While Zhao and Li still remain hopeful , I can say with confidence that I no longer hold hope for them . My hope for them was surpassed long ago by a certainty that these two ambitious professionals will find nothing but success and happiness for themselves and their families . The American Dream is alive in Zhao and Li — and the EB-5 program is their ticket to dream .
Matt Khalili is the founder of The Plan Writers , and has over a decade of entrepreneurial and strategic planning experience . Established in 2012 , The Plan
Writers is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed in America . Khalili has expertise in business plan writing and also serves as an expert witness for EB-5 litigation . He earned his MBA from the University of Southern California .
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