In one sentence
EB-5 trades capital for certainty: education, English and age don’t matter, but you must prove a lawful source of funds and choose a vetted project.
Who it suits
- Families with USD 800,000+ available and a clearly provable source of funds
- Those who want green cards for the whole family, including children under 21
- Parents who want their children to attend US universities as domestic students
- People who don’t want to depend on an employer or academic achievements
- Mainland China-born families: the rural TEA category has 20% of visas set aside, shortening the wait
Who it may not suit
- People whose source of funds is hard to prove, such as large cash sums or incomplete records
- Investors who can’t accept that capital may be lost or returned late
Main 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
Timeline
| Step | Timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| EB-5 guarantees the return of capital | USCIS requires the investment to be at risk; no project can guarantee repayment. |
| Bigger projects are safer | Size isn’t a repayment record — review the capital structure and exit terms. |
| Taiwan-born applicants face long waits | Taiwan-born applicants generally face no backlog and move to the green card stage faster. |
Checklist before you apply
- Organise years of income, business and asset records
- Confirm the transfer path and avoid unnecessary intermediate accounts
- Compare two or three vetted projects and ask for repayment records
- Calculate your children’s ages and assess CSPA
- Check the backlog for your place of birth; mainland China-born applicants can prioritise the rural TEA category
- Note the 30 September 2026 grandfather clause and the 2027 inflation adjustment
Our advice
Start with the source of funds, then choose the project — judged first on repayment record and capital structure, not marketing or size.
Every family’s background and timeline is different — book a free consultation and a consultant will assess your situation.
Learn more: US EB-5 Investor Immigration