What does the law say?
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), signed in March 2022, set the investment at USD 800,000 (TEA) and USD 1,050,000 (other areas), and provides for adjustment in line with the consumer price index every five years from 1 January 2027.
What it means for investors
The adjusted amounts will be announced officially, but they are expected to rise. Families planning to apply in the next year or two can lock in the current amounts by investing and filing early, avoiding extra funding pressure.
Key dates
- 30 September 2026: the regional centre programme’s grandfather-clause date — petitions filed before then generally continue to be processed even if the programme is not extended.
- 1 January 2027: investment amounts begin to be adjusted for inflation.
- 30 September 2027: the regional centre programme’s current authorisation ends.
Our advice
Don’t choose a project just to beat a deadline. A project’s repayment record, capital structure and job-creation calculations matter more than filing a few months earlier.
EB-5 application process and timing
- Assessment and project selection (4–8 weeks): We choose the TEA category and a vetted project based on your place of birth, your children’s ages and your family’s goals.
- Source of funds and investment (3–6 months): Prepare the source-of-funds evidence, make the investment and sign the investment documents.
- File I-526E (12–24 months): File the investor petition; eligible applicants in the US can file I-485 at the same time. Once approved, the family receives two-year conditional green cards.
- I-829 removal of conditions (After two years of conditional residence): Show the investment was sustained and the jobs created, and receive ten-year permanent green cards.
Main EB-5 requirements
- A qualifying investment: USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) project, or USD 1,050,000 in other projects
- Proof of the lawful source of the investment funds and the full transfer path
- The project must create at least 10 full-time jobs per investor
- The investment must remain at risk throughout the conditional green card period
- Admissibility: no serious criminal record and a satisfactory medical examination
- Participation in the business: investing through a regional centre as a limited partner is sufficient
Key benefits of EB-5
- Green cards for the whole family in one application
- Live and work in any US state
- Children attend public schools and universities as residents
- No need to own or run a business
- Apply for citizenship once residence requirements are met
How to start
We suggest booking a free consultation first: a consultant will understand your family situation, funds and preferred timing, then recommend the most suitable programme and application timeline.
Learn more: US EB-5 Investor Immigration