US EB-5 TEA 2026: Choosing Rural vs High-Unemployment Categories
Global Immigrate consultants · Published
Written by Global Immigrate consultants · Reviewed by Oscar Yip, Founder & Managing Director
Summary
EB-5 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) requires USD 800,000. Rural and high-unemployment categories may differ in visa set-asides and backlog. This article covers selection factors.
Short answer: EB-5 in a TEA requires a minimum USD 800,000. Rural and high-unemployment categories may have different visa set-asides, affecting backlog. Assess project risk and source of funds together with category choice.
Key points
TEA threshold USD 800,000
Rural and high-unemployment may differ in set-asides
Due diligence and source-of-funds evidence remain critical
How to choose
Faster visa availability matters: review current set-asides and bulletin.
Risk control: prefer projects with clear repayment and job-creation records.
