United States of America

An Introduction to the United States

The United States of America is a federal republic comprising 50 states, a federal district, and several territories, spanning approximately 9.83 million square kilometres across North America. The third-largest country in the world by both area and population, the United States is distinguished by its extraordinary geographic diversity, from the metropolitan complexes of New York and Los Angeles to the natural splendour of its national parks, coastlines, and mountain ranges.

The American economy is the largest and most technologically advanced in the world, driven by innovation across technology, financial services, healthcare, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The United States is home to the majority of the world’s most valuable companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia, and its capital markets, anchored by the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, facilitate more capital formation than all other global exchanges combined.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the US economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. The programme was significantly reformed by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which strengthened investor protections, enhanced programme integrity, and established a set-aside visa category for investments in rural areas, high-unemployment areas, and infrastructure projects. Approximately 10,000 EB-5 visas are allocated annually.

For high-net-worth families, the United States offers a uniquely comprehensive environment. The world’s deepest financial markets provide sophisticated wealth management, estate planning, and investment opportunities. The US trust and estate planning framework, while subject to federal estate and gift taxation, offers extensive structuring options through entities such as irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, and charitable foundations.

The US real estate market is the largest and most liquid in the world, offering extraordinary diversity across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. Key markets for international investors include New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and increasingly, cities such as Austin, Nashville, and Charlotte. Foreign nationals face no restrictions on property ownership in the United States, and the market benefits from exceptional transparency and data availability.

Quality of life in the United States varies significantly by location but includes access to the world’s finest universities, cutting-edge healthcare facilities, diverse cultural offerings, and a standard of living that attracts more immigrants than any other nation. The country’s size and diversity mean that families can select environments ranging from cosmopolitan urban centres to suburban communities to rural retreats, each offering distinct advantages for lifestyle and investment.