1. Does the regional centre have a repayment record?
Age or size is no proof of reliability. Ask for past projects that have been fully repaid, with verifiable records.
2. Where does EB-5 capital sit in the capital structure?
Is EB-5 capital senior debt, mezzanine debt or equity? Is it secured? The higher it ranks, the lower the risk generally is.
3. Is the rest of the funding in place?
Are the project’s bank loan and developer capital confirmed? Relying on unconfirmed funding risks construction stopping.
4. Is there a healthy job-creation buffer?
Jobs should be calculated by an independent economist on conservative assumptions, clearly above the requirement of investors × 10.
5. How strong is the developer?
Review the developer’s financial statements, past projects and construction progress — not just marketing material.
6. What are the exit terms?
How long is the loan term? What is the source of repayment? What refund applies if the I-526E is refused?
A reminder
EB-5 investments must be at risk, and no project can guarantee the return of capital. Project details should be confirmed from the formal investment documents.
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
EB-5 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment | TEA projects USD 800,000; other projects USD 1,050,000 |
| Key benefit | Green cards for the whole family — live, work and study anywhere in the US |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included |
| Background | No education, English, age or management-experience requirements |
Next step
Every family’s background, funds and timeline are different. Global Immigrate’s professional consultants can assess, free of charge, whether this programme suits you and compare other options. You can also request the full programme brochure on the programme page.
Learn more: US EB-5 Investor Immigration