There are numerous reasons why Chinese individuals decide to leave their native homeland for the United States, which range from problems with China to dreams of better options in the States. The number 1 reason why Chinese immigrants choose America, though, is for the schools.

According to the 2012 Annual Report of Chinese International Migration, published Monday, December 17, 2012, the United States is the #1 destination for families leaving China, followed by Canada and Australia, respectively. In 2011, nearly 90,000 Chinese individuals were granted permanent residency in the United States.

According to the report, “Affluent and educated elites are the main force in emigration.” The report also calls the trend the third large-scale overseas migration in China’s modern history. Over 45 million Chinese were reportedly living abroad in 2010, and in 2011, some 150,000 Chinese obtained permanent residence in foreign countries.

One in four Chinese nationals who are worth more than $16 million have emigrated, according to a Hurun Report. Also stated, another 47 percent are considering emigration.

Many of the reasons for leaving the country are homegrown, including political instability, infrastructure issues, pollution, corruption and education. The single largest reason though, is American education.

While the United States undoubtedly has its issues with public education, scoring behind students in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, its curriculum is desirable to Chinese parents who are tired of the current Chinese programs. While China has its own pockets of academic strength, public schools emphasize rote learning, test-taking and patriotic education courses that include Communist Party-approved versions of history.

And the competition among Chinese universities is steep. In 2012, more than 9 million high-schoolers competed for the less than 7 million open university slots available. The nation’s best schools have admission rates of less than 1%, making them harder to get into than Harvard.

It’s not just the parents who see the system as lacking. Some 70% of students in Beijing alone believe that going abroad for college will result in a better life for themselves, according to the survey.

U.S. Immigration Fund is aware of many of its clients’ wishes to provide a better education for their children. As the South Florida Regional Center helps individuals obtain citizenship through investment, those involved in the company also reach out to the family members of investors who are in school to ensure they are acclimating to the cultural change and enjoying their newfound lives in the United States. This past holiday season, many of the children of EB-5 Immigrant Investors who are students at South Florida universities such as Northwood University and Florida Atlantic University attended a dinner and celebration with the CEO of US Immigration Fund. The students not only enjoyed good food, but good company.