United States

U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

Obtain U.S. Permanent Residence Through a Job-Creating Investment

The EB-5 program provides qualifying investors a pathway to U.S. permanent residence by investing in a new commercial enterprise that creates U.S. jobs.

The investor, spouse and eligible unmarried children under 21 may obtain conditional permanent residence, subject to investment, job creation, lawful funds, visa availability and admissibility.

About the United States

The United States offers a major consumer market, established financial system and diverse technology and commercial opportunities.

EB-5 residents may generally live, work, study or retire anywhere in the United States and need not reside where the project is located.

Investment Requirements

Applicants must invest:

• Targeted Employment Area or Infrastructure Project
  • Minimum investment of USD $800,000
  • For qualifying rural, high-unemployment or infrastructure projects
• Standard Investment
  • Minimum investment of USD $1,050,000
  • Applies when the reduced threshold is unavailable

Capital must be lawfully sourced, fully documented and placed at risk for a potential return.

Job-Creation Requirement

The investment must create at least 10 permanent, full-time positions for qualified U.S. workers.

• Direct projects generally count enterprise jobs
• Regional centres may count qualifying direct and indirect jobs

Jobs must generally be created within the applicable period after conditional residence begins.

Direct Investment and Regional Centre Options

• Direct EB-5 Investment

The investor establishes or directly invests in a qualifying enterprise and documents its operations and direct job creation.

• Regional Centre Investment

The investor funds a USCIS-designated regional centre project that may pool capital and use approved indirect job-creation calculations.

Neither route guarantees immigration approval or financial returns.

Family Eligibility

The application may include:

• The investor’s spouse
• Unmarried children under 21

Derivative family members remain subject to medical, criminality, security and admissibility screening.

Application Process

The process generally includes:

• Select the investment and document lawful funds
• File Form I-526 or I-526E
• Complete consular processing or adjustment when available
• Receive two-year conditional residence
• File Form I-829 to remove conditions
  
  

Concurrent Filing

A lawfully present applicant may file Form I-485 with Form I-526 or I-526E when an immigrant visa is immediately available.

While adjustment is pending, the applicant may request employment authorization and advance parole, but concurrent filing does not guarantee approval or immediate work or travel permission.

Processing Times

There is no guaranteed processing period. Timing depends on:

• Petition type and visa availability
• Project and funds documentation
• Requests for additional evidence
• Consular or adjustment processing

Program Benefits

• Pathway to U.S. permanent residence
• Inclusion of a spouse and eligible children
• Freedom to reside nationwide
• Employment and education access
• No daily management requirement
• Potential return of capital, subject to project performance
• Potential future eligibility for U.S. citizenship

Path to U.S. Citizenship

After conditions are removed, the investor and qualifying family members remain lawful permanent residents.

Naturalization is generally available after five years of permanent residence, including about 30 months’ physical presence, plus continuous residence, English, civics and good-character requirements.