The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program grants permanent residence to foreign nationals who make a qualifying capital investment in a US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers. Investments can be made directly or through a USCIS-designated Regional Center. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 overhauled the program, raising investment thresholds, strengthening integrity measures, and creating a new rural set-aside with reserved visas. EB-5 is the most capital-intensive immigration pathway but offers a direct route to a green card without employer sponsorship or labor certification.
Investors can qualify by investing USD $1,050,000 in a standard EB-5 project
A reduced investment of USD $800,000 is available for Targeted Employment Area (TEA) projects
Applicants may invest through approved Regional Center projects
Direct investors who actively manage their business may also qualify
The investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers
Investors may reinvest capital into new qualifying EB-5 projects when eligible
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application
Rural EB-5 project investors may receive faster processing and reserved visa benefits
Prepare comprehensive lawful-source-of-funds documentation: bank statements, tax returns, business valuations, sale records, and legal opinions to trace every dollar invested.
Choose between a direct investment in your own enterprise, a USCIS-designated Regional Center project, or a rural set-aside project to maximize visa availability.
Wire investment funds to the project's escrow or account; funds must be at risk and invested before or concurrent with I-526E filing.
Submit Immigrant Petition by Alien Investors with complete source-of-funds documentation and project business plan; no premium processing available.
Once I-526E is approved, the case moves to the National Visa Center; monitor the Visa Bulletin for your priority date (China and India face backlogs).
Abroad: attend DS-260 consular interview. In the US with a valid status: file I-485 for Adjustment of Status once the priority date is current.
Receive a 2-year conditional permanent resident card; within the 90-day window before expiry file I-829 to remove conditions and obtain the permanent 10-year card.
Valid passport (all pages)
Form I-526E + $11,160 filing fee payment
Comprehensive source-of-funds documentation (5–10 years of records)
Bank statements showing lawful accumulation of investment funds
Tax returns (personal and business) for at least 5 years
Business sale records, inheritance documents, or loan agreements as applicable
Regional Center project offering documents (PPM, subscription agreement)
Project business plan meeting USCIS Matter of Ho standards (direct investments)
Evidence of capital transfer (wire confirmations, escrow agreement)
Job creation methodology report (economist letter for Regional Center projects)
Organizational documents of the new commercial enterprise
Note : Additional documents may be requested based on profile assessment
The EB-5 process usually takes 24–48 months for I-526E approval, plus 6–18 months for Consular Processing or I-485. Applicants from India and China may face longer priority date backlogs, while the full process generally takes around 3–6 years.
| Applicant Type | Fees |
|---|---|
Form I-526E Filing Fee |
$11,160 |
Form I-485 (per adult applicant) |
$1,440 (includes biometrics) |
Form I-829 (Remove Conditions) $9,525 (per investor; family included) |
|
Medical Exam (Form I-693) |
~$200 – $500 |
Minimum Investment (TEA) $800,000 |
$800,000 |
Minimum Investment (Standard) |
$1,050,000 |
Note : Fees are subject to change as per government updates.
The EB-5 Program allows foreign investors to obtain US permanent residency by investing in a qualifying US business that creates jobs for US workers.
