A Chinese couple secured Grenada citizenship and a pathway to U.S. residency after a failed EB-5 application
Client Profile
The client had been living in the U.S. on multiple visas for almost 10 years but as their visas were expiring, they would have to leave the U.S. They did not want to return to China and their goal was to obtain a citizenship of an E-2 Treaty country to apply for an E-2 visa to reside in the U.S. while having a place to live close to the U.S. in the meantime.
The primary objective was to be able to live in the U.S. with their daughter who was applying for permanent residence and was unable to sponsor her parents.
Obstacles & Complications
Time Pressure & Prior U.S. Visa Denial
The primary complication was that they were required to leave the U.S. within one month, and needed a solution to not only be able to apply for an E-2 Visa but also have a jurisdiction close to the U.S. where they could live while the application was in progress.
The application also had to address a previous U.S. visa denial to show that this was due to no fault of the applicant. The applicants additionally needed to be able to leave China for long periods without declaring a further citizenship.
Had They Tried Other Advisors?
The applicants previously applied for an EB-5 visa with a law firm that did not have the requisite expertise and their application was denied due to a non-compliant qualifying investment. This made the clients particularly cautious about who they chose to work with later. The clients undertook extensive research and sought references to select a reliable partner, which turned out to be HLG.
Our Approach
A unique approach was taken in that we initially arranged for residence visas in Grenada so that the applicants could reside in Grenada whilst the application process was ongoing. The Grenada Donation option was selected to simplify and streamline the process as much as possible.
What Made Our Approach Different
After the clients' previous failed application with a different law firm they needed a reputable law firm with specialist expertise and offices in Grenada. Our solution not only gave them Grenada Citizenship but provided a place for them to live in the meantime. A further benefit was the ability to obtain an F-1 visa to the U.S. with the Grenada Passports to enable the applicants to be able to return to the U.S. and be able to apply for the E-2 visa whilst lawfully residing in the U.S.
How We Overcame the Complications
HLG was able to overcome many issues by delivering a full service solution to provide a safe jurisdiction to reside, alternative citizenship from an E-2 treaty country, temporary visas to reside in the U.S. and securing a pathway to the E-2 visa. This was achieved by obtaining Thai Elite Visas to allow the applicants to leave China for long periods without declaring a further citizenship.
Results
| Start date | January 2020 |
| Approval date | October 2020 |
| Processing time | 6 months |
| Investment | USD 200,000 — Donation |
| Family included | Applicant & Spouse |
| Citizenship obtained | Yes |
| Passports received | Yes |
| Benefits gained | E-2 Treaty with the U.S. (application in progress); visa-free travel to UK, Europe, and the Far East; ability to holiday in Spain and Austria with their daughter and grandchildren |
| Real-world impact | This was a life-changing process for the applicants who, following their EB-5 denial, believed their dream of being able to live in the U.S. would never be possible. |
| Current status | Living in the U.S., which was the ultimate goal. |
| Still working with Harvey? | Yes — visa applications, passport renewals, Thai Elite applications and trusted advisor for all immigration matters. |
| Referred others? | Yes |
Client Testimonial
Thank you very much for your timely assistance and understanding. I feel like we're very well taken care of with you.Confidential Clients — Chinese Couple
Contact us
With over 30 years of immigration experience, each of Harvey Law Group’s lawyers carefully studies each client’s needs, resources and determines the immigration solution that best aligns with our client’s vision and values.