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This is a very good article for foreign investors.  For specific details and updates, always contact an accountant or attorney certified in immigration procedures.

"For international customers who would like to buy real estate and retire in the United States, there is no visa option that specifically addresses their needs.  But for clients with the financial wherewithal, there is one viable option.  It is called the Regional Center EB-5 Program, informally known as the investment visa. 

The program is intended to attract foreign sources of capital into the United States for development projects than can provide employment for American workers.  It allows foreign nationals, whether they are working or not, to own property anywhere in the United States and to travel in and out of the country as they please, as well as obtain green cards for themselves, their spouse, and unmarried children under the age of 21.

The catch:  to obtain these residency privileges, foreign nationals must invest a specified amount of money - usually $500,000 to $1 million - in a commerical enterprise that is located in a geographical area classified as a "regional center" by the U. S. government.  It is important to know that investors don't have to live in the regional center as long as their investment is structured as a limited partnership and the project is overseen by a general partner who is in the area.  An immigration attorney will be ble to provide a list of established regional centers and contact names.

As with any investment, clients will have to do their due diligence to gauge the safety of their investment and the expected rate of return.  They should also have an accountant, lawyer, or financial adviser review the details and provide guidance in connection with the regional center that is chosen.

Before being allowed to invest money in a regional center, clients will also have to go through a vetting process.  The government has stringent requirements for documenting the lawful source of the funds; if the funds are gifted, there is a process for validating the source of those funds as well.

Investors can expect the process - from the time of investment to the issuance of the green cards - to take between 12 and 26 months.  This option is definitely not for everyone, but for those who want total flexibility to live and work in the United States and who have the resources to invest, the investment visa can make this possible."