Two years after Chennaibased Krish Iyer’s (name changed on request) twin sons went to the US for their higher education, they were ambivalent about moving back to India. Iyer, who is a serial entrepreneur, wanted them to enter the job market on an equal footing with everyone else and not be dependent on the vagaries of the ever-changing visa policies.

The EB5 investor programme puts investors who meet certain criteria on a fast track path to obtaining permanent residency in the country. While the EB5 programme provides for residency for the entire family, Iyer and his wife were not interested in uprooting themselves and the applications were made independently for both the sons.

In Delhi, Sandeep Singh’s daughter had to return to India after studying psychology in the US as the job market was not very conducive at the time. While his son, who went on to study computer engineering did manage to secure an in 2014, Singh saw the early signs of the clampdown on legal immigration.

“My wife and I have worked in the corporate sector, followed by a successful stint as an entrepreneur; so we had the resources to consider the EB5 option. This was the only one where there was some certainty,” he said.

Singh is now considering applying for his daughter as well because of his experience the first time around. These are not isolated incidents. In the last few months, EB5 visa consultancies have reported a sharp spike in interest from wealthy Indian parents wanting to make investments in the US through this route for their children.