Vietnam
Hong Kong
TaiwanCan gifted funds be used?
Yes. EB-5 funds can come from a lawfully obtained gift, such as money from your parents. But USCIS reviews not only the applicant — it also looks at the donor’s source of funds.
Three things to prove
| Element | What to show |
|---|---|
| The donor’s source of funds | Salary, business income, a property sale or investment gains |
| That it is a gift | A gift, not a loan |
| The transfer path | From the donor’s account to yours, and on to the project |
Common documents
- The donor’s tax returns, salary or company records
- Property sale contracts and proceeds
- A gift letter or declaration
- Complete bank transfer records
- Gift tax filings, where applicable
A suggested gift process
- Organise the donor’s source-of-funds documents first
- Sign the gift letter
- Transfer directly from the donor’s account to yours
- Then transfer from your account to the project’s designated account
Common issues
- Family business funds: where early capital went through several ownership changes, a complete chain of evidence is needed. One client spent three months building it and was approved in 22 months.
- Cash or multiple transfers: the more complex the path, the more clearly it must be documented.
Our advice
Source of funds is the most time-consuming part of EB-5, so start before choosing a project.