Short answer: US visa numbers are counted by place of birth, and Hong Kong is counted separately from mainland China. Hong Kong-born EB-5 investors are generally not affected by the mainland backlog and follow the Hong Kong line of each month’s Visa Bulletin.
Why birthplace matters
Employment-based green cards have per-country limits based on birthplace, not nationality. Heavy demand from mainland China and India has created an EB-5 backlog in the unreserved category; Hong Kong is counted on its own under US law and has far lower demand.
| Birthplace | Counted under | Usual position |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Generally no wait |
| Taiwan | Taiwan | Generally no wait |
| Mainland China | Mainland China | Unreserved backlog; set-asides counted separately |
Does another passport matter?
Generally not. Even with a BN(O), Canadian or other passport, numbers follow your birthplace. A mainland-born Hong Kong resident is generally counted under mainland China.
A spouse’s birthplace can help
If the main applicant was born in the mainland and the spouse in Hong Kong, the family can generally be counted under the spouse’s birthplace (cross-chargeability).
Check before applying
- Birth certificates for the applicant and spouse.
- The Hong Kong line of the current Visa Bulletin.
- Children’s ages, with CSPA planning if needed.
See US EB-5 Investor Immigration. Information as of October 2026; the bulletin can change monthly.