The EB5 visa is a unique visa program established by the United States in 1990 to provide a pathway for eligible immigrant investors to become lawful permanent residents, known as Green Card holders.
The main objective of the EB5 visa program is to strengthen the US economy by encouraging foreign investors to create jobs and make capital investments through residency.
An investor seeking a Green Card through investment must meet certain requirements. The most prominent criteria is that the investor must commit a significant amount of capital to a new or ongoing business venture in the US.
The EB-5 visa program offers a multitude of benefits to foreign investors, making it an attractive option for those seeking to immigrate to the United States.Â
Permanent Residency
The EB-5 visa program allows investors to obtain a Green Card for themselves, their spouse, and their unmarried children under 21 years of age.
Freedom to Live Anywhere in the U.S.
Unlike other visa programs, the EB-5 visa does not require the investor to live in the area of investment. This gives the investor the freedom to live, work, and retire anywhere within the U.S.
Access to U.S. Education
EB-5 visa holders and their families have the same access to the U.S. education system as U.S. residents. Moreover, there are some lower tuition fee programs for immigrants at public universities.
No Sponsor Required
Unlike many other immigration visas that demand sponsorship from an individual or entity, the EB-5 doesn't require a letter of support from your employer. You only need to meet the set eligibility criteria.
Return on Investment
At the end of the investment cycle, which usually lasts five to seven years, you have the potential for a return on your investment. You can contact us for detailed information about the investment return possibilities of our current projects.
Citizenship Eligibility
After holding a Green Card for five years, eligible EB-5 investors may apply for U.S. citizenship.
Am I Eligible?
EB5 Visa Eligibility Criteria
The EB-5 visa program has specific eligibility criteria that must be met by the investor.
Investment in a New Commercial Enterprise
USCIS's policy on EB-5 adjudication is summarized in Volume 6, Section G of the USCIS Policy Manual. EB-5 investors must invest in a business enterprise (NCE). An NCE includes various for-profit entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and joint ventures, but does not include non-commercial activities such as personal residence ownership.
Capital Investment
The investor must commit a minimum investment of $1.050.000. But this amount is reduced to $800,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA).
Job Creation
The investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for eligible US workers within two years of the investor's entry into the US. However, for the Regional Center Projects we offer, this is not a condition that must be met by the investor.
The job creation requirement is a critical component of the EB-5 program as it ensures that the investment contributes to the US economy. In direct investments, this responsibility is assumed by the investor itself.
However, in investments made in Regional Centers, all responsibilities of the investor, such as job creation or business management, are carried out by the Regional Center, providing a great convenience.
Before applying for an EB-5 visa, you need to meet some specific obligations and prepare documents that an investor must fulfill and provide to successfully apply for the visa.
Following are the documents and obligations for the EB-5 visa investor:
Personal Identification Documents
A valid passport for the investor and each family member included in the application, birth certificates for all family members, ID, marriage certificate and other documents containing personal information.
Evidence of Investment
The evidence of their investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise. This investment must be at risk for the purpose of generating a return, and the funds must be under the control of the regional center.
Source of Funds
The evidence demonstrating that the capital was legally earned or obtained. This could include salary slips, tax returns, sale of property documents, or business profits.
Business Plan
A comprehensive business plan showing that, due to the nature and projected size of the new commercial enterprise, the need for not fewer than 10 qualifying employees will result.
As EB5 Global Bridge, we support you throughout the entire process with our partner US-based immigration lawyers. In addition, with the Regional Center Projects we offer, the non-personal obligations of the EB5 program are provided by the contractor company.
EB5 Visa Processing Time
The processing time for an EB-5 visa can vary depending on several factors, including the volume of applications received by USCIS and the specifics of the investment project.
As of April 2025, you are expected to settle in the United States as a conditional Green Card holder within an average of 1.5 years.
EB-5 Visa Applications through Regional Centers
After selecting the investment project and preparing the necessary documents, the first step of the EB-5 application process is to apply with the I-526E Foreign Investor Immigration Petition. Approval is announced within 8 to 24 months.
After the I-526 petition is approved, the investor applies for conditional permanent residence or change of status if already in the US.
At the end of 2 years of living in the U.S. with a conditional Green Card, an application is filed to remove the conditions on the residence permit and the conditions on your Green Card are removed with the approval of Form I-829.
Am I Eligible?
The EB-5 visa program allows investments in a variety of investment types. The two primary types of investments that USCIS allows are direct and indirect.
Direct EB-5 Investments
Direct EB-5 investment is any type of investment that is not made through a regional center. Examples of direct investments include starting your own business, purchasing an existing business, or investing in an existing business.
Regional Center Program
The Regional Center Program allows investment funds from multiple EB-5 applicants to be pooled together, making larger projects possible and often reducing foreign investors’ immigration risk. Regional centers are economic units, public or private, in the United States, involved with promoting economic growth.
In the Immigrant Investor Program, USCIS designates regional centers. Investors in this program assume a passive role, and they are not tasked with the day-to-day operations of the business.
How to Apply for an EB5 Visa?
How to apply for the EB-5 visa and the process can be summarized as follows:
EB5 Global Bridge is a comprehensive EB5 program service that guides you through the EB-5 visa process with Regional Center investment projects and partner immigration lawyers.
FAQs
What is the minimum investment required for an EB-5 visa?
The minimum investment required for an EB-5 visa is $800,000 for projects in the Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1,050,000 for projects outside the TEA.
Can family members be included in the EB-5 visa application?
Family members, such as a spouse and unmarried children under 21, can be included in the EB-5 visa application as derivatives of the main investor.
How long does the EB-5 Visa application process take?
Once your EB5 visa appllicaton is started, it takes an average of 1.5 years to receive a conditional Green Card.
What is the difference between investing in a Regional Center and Direct Investment?
The difference between investing in a Regional Center and making a Direct Investment is that a Regional Center is a third-party entity that pools and manages EB-5 investments, whereas a Direct Investment is where the investor invests in and operates their own business.
Direct investors meet all the requirements themselves, while Regional Center investors do not undertake any post-investment management obligations.