Buying visas with investments is big business. And Congress is taking notice.

What began as a rarely used path to U.S. citizenship for wealthy foreigners has become big business in American real estate, one that Congress is considering for reform.

The EB-5 immigrant investor program allows citizens of foreign countries to acquire U.S. visas by investing a minimum of $500,000 into American businesses so long as the money creates at least 10 jobs.

A few years ago the program was barely used. By one count, only 346 such visas were issued nationwide in 2005.

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