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EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa

Green Card Through Investment: Direct Path to U.S. Permanent Residency for Your Family

$800K-$1.05M

Investment Amount

10 Jobs

Must Create

Green Card

Permanent Residency

2-4 Years

Processing Time

What is an EB-5 Visa?

Direct pathway to U.S. permanent residency through job-creating investment

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program provides a direct pathway to U.S. permanent residency (green card) for foreign nationals who invest substantial capital in job-creating businesses in the United States. Established by Congress in 1990, the EB-5 program is designed to stimulate the U.S. economy through capital investment and job creation by foreign investors.

Key Benefits of EB-5 Visa
  • Direct Green Card Path: Permanent residency for entire family
  • No Employer Sponsor: Self-petitioning immigration option
  • Family Included: Spouse and children under 21 included
  • Live & Work Anywhere: No location or employer restrictions
  • Path to Citizenship: Apply after 5 years as permanent resident
  • No Requirements: No language, education, or business experience needed

EB5 Visa Eligibility Requirements

Required Investment Amount

$800,000 in Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1,050,000 in standard areas

Job Creation Requirement

Must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers

Lawful Source of Funds

Must demonstrate that investment capital was obtained through lawful means

Active Investment

Capital must be at risk and invested in a new commercial enterprise

EB5 Application Process

1

Choose Investment Option

Select between Regional Center or Direct Investment pathway

2

Invest Capital

Transfer $800K (TEA) or $1.05M to the investment project or regional center

3

File Form I-526E

Submit immigrant petition to USCIS with evidence of investment and job creation plan

4

Wait for I-526E Approval

USCIS reviews petition (typically 18-36 months) to verify compliance

5

Apply for Conditional Green Card

File Form I-485 (if in U.S.) or go through consular processing abroad

6

Remove Conditions (Form I-829)

After 2 years, file to remove conditions and obtain permanent green card

Required Documents

For Investment and Source of Funds:

  • Evidence of lawful source of funds (bank statements, tax returns, business records)
  • Investment transfer documentation (wire transfers, escrow agreements)
  • Business plan showing job creation projections
  • Financial statements and economic analysis
  • Evidence of capital contribution and at-risk investment
  • Regional Center documentation (if applicable)
  • Proof of TEA designation (if claiming lower investment amount)

For the Investor and Family:

  • Valid passports for investor, spouse, and children
  • Birth certificates and marriage certificate
  • Police certificates from all countries of residence
  • Medical examination results
  • Form I-526E petition with supporting evidence
  • Photographs meeting U.S. visa requirements
  • Form I-485 (if adjusting status in U.S.) or DS-260 (consular processing)
  • Financial support documents (Form I-864 not required)

Frequently Asked Questions

Regional Center EB5 allows passive investment through USCIS-approved regional centers and counts indirect jobs toward the 10-job requirement. Direct Investment requires active management and only counts direct employees. Regional Center is more popular (90%+ of cases) as it offers more flexibility and easier job creation compliance.

A TEA is an area with high unemployment (150% of national average) or a rural area. Investments in TEAs qualify for the reduced investment amount of $800,000 instead of $1,050,000. Most Regional Center projects are structured in TEAs to offer the lower investment threshold.

Total timeline is typically 2-4 years from investment to permanent green card. I-526E processing takes 18-36 months, conditional green card issuance takes 6-12 months, and I-829 (condition removal) takes another 12-24 months. Processing times vary based on country of origin and USCIS workload.

Yes, EB5 investments are meant to be temporary. After the required 2-year conditional period and I-829 approval, investors typically receive their capital back (with or without returns, depending on the project structure). However, the investment must remain at risk during the conditional period to comply with EB5 requirements.

EB5 requires capital to be "at risk," meaning there's no guarantee of return. If a project fails before job creation requirements are met, it could jeopardize your green card petition. This is why thorough due diligence and selecting established Regional Centers with proven track records is critical. Legal and financial advisors should review all projects before investment.

Yes! Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included in your EB5 petition at no additional investment. They all receive conditional green cards and eventually permanent green cards. This makes EB5 an excellent option for families seeking to immigrate together.

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