Buying a US green card with Bitcoin? US immigration officials say they are considering accepting it

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is actively weighing whether to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for the EB-5 visa process.

Background: One way to obtain a green card or permanent residency in the United States is through the EB-5 immigrant investment visa program. This measure began in the 1990s as a way to attract overseas investors to invest in projects in relatively poor areas of the United States.

However, the EB-5 program has run into trouble in recent months, with allegations that it is a tool for wealthy investors to effectively enter the United States and invest in luxury real estate, which has nothing to do with the program’s intended purpose. The program has even been specifically criticized by members of Congress.

Jared Kushner, senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and his son-in-law, sparked controversy earlier this month after he encouraged Chinese nationals to invest in their properties through the EB-5 program.

Relationship with Bitcoin: Recently, Lori MacKenzie, director of the U.S. Immigrant Investor Visa Program Office, suggested that under the EB-5 guidelines, investors might be able to use Bitcoin to pay visa fees.

MacKenzie, who spoke at an EB-5 conference in Washington on March 3, said the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) is considering questions about virtual currencies such as Bitcoin.

She continued:

"INZ cannot provide comprehensive assurances regarding any particular form of funds transfer, but we will continue to evaluate the evidence provided by petitioners to determine whether relevant legal and regulatory requirements have been met."

what does that mean?

First, the U.S. government is very interested in the topic of blockchain, but whether it will lead to a specific policy shift or statement remains to be seen. A representative from the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In fact, in the past, the U.S. government has raised the topic of whether income from Bitcoin-related activities can meet EB-5 requirements. The consensus seems to be that the government should not debate the issue, although, as several experts said last year, the source of the funds will be a top priority.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will take action to eliminate the EB-5 program.