EB‑5 EXPERTSHow EB‑5 works
The EB‑5 Immigrant Investor Program allows qualified investors and eligible family members to pursue U.S. Green Cards through a qualifying investment that creates jobs for American workers.
The essentials
Most VisaV clients invest US $800,000 in a qualifying rural, high-unemployment-area or infrastructure project. The standard investment outside these categories is generally US $1,050,000.
Each investment must support the creation of at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs. Investors must also provide comprehensive evidence that the investment funds and related administrative fee were obtained lawfully and transferred through a documented path.
The modern EB‑5 program
The EB‑5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 modernized the regional-center program with clearer investment rules, reserved visa categories, stronger oversight and valuable new options for qualifying investors.
For qualifying post-RIA investors, USCIS interprets the required investment period as at least two years, beginning when the full investment is made available to the new commercial enterprise. This can reduce the open-ended redeployment uncertainty that affected many legacy cases.
The RIA reserves 32% of annual EB‑5 visas: 20% for rural projects, 10% for high-unemployment-area projects and 2% for qualifying infrastructure projects. These categories can provide more favorable visa availability, depending on the investor’s country of chargeability.
When a visa is immediately available, eligible investors already in the United States may be able to file Form I‑526E and Form I‑485 together. They may also apply for employment authorization and advance parole while the case is pending.
The RIA directs USCIS to prioritize qualifying rural petitions. Reserved categories may also help some investors from oversubscribed countries avoid the longest queues, although timing and visa availability are never guaranteed.
The current minimum is generally US $800,000 for qualifying rural, high-unemployment-area and infrastructure investments, and US $1,050,000 for investments outside those categories.
The RIA introduced enhanced regional-center oversight, fund-administration or audit requirements, promoter and conflict disclosures, recordkeeping duties, and greater scrutiny of how investor funds are handled.
Subject to statutory requirements and deadlines, the RIA may allow qualifying good-faith investors to preserve eligibility when a regional center, new commercial enterprise or job-creating entity is terminated or debarred.
This overview is general educational information. RIA provisions, agency interpretations, visa availability and their application to a particular investor can change. Confirm current requirements with qualified U.S. immigration counsel before investing or filing.
The EB‑5 process
VisaV helps bring the project, documentation and legal work together, then coordinates with experienced U.S. immigration counsel for filing.
Compare immigration designation, job creation, capital structure, developer experience, construction status, repayment strategy and risk—not simply promotional returns.
Prepare tax, banking, business, property-sale, gift, inheritance or loan records that trace the investment and administrative fee from their lawful origin to the project.
After the regional center files the project application, the investor subscribes to the selected offering and U.S. immigration counsel files the investor petition with USCIS.
When the petition is approved and a visa is available, the family completes consular processing abroad or, when eligible, adjustment of status in the United States.
During the required filing window, the investor shows that the qualifying investment and job-creation requirements were satisfied. Approval leads to permanent Green Cards.
The VisaV focus
VisaV assists with regional-center EB‑5 investments. These offerings pool investor capital in larger job-creating projects and may count direct, indirect and induced jobs using accepted economic methodologies.
The investor does not need to operate the business, employ ten people personally or relocate to the United States immediately.
All EB‑5 investments must remain at risk and repayment cannot be guaranteed. Project terms may extend beyond the immigration sustainment requirement. Careful review of job creation, capital structure, collateral, completion risk and exit strategy is therefore essential.
See the 20 evaluation factors →Why families choose EB‑5
Timing matters
September 30, 2026
Deadline for the RIA’s grandfathering protection for qualifying filed petitions.
January 1, 2027
Scheduled inflation adjustment to statutory investment amounts.
September 30, 2027
Current authorization date for the Regional Center Program.
There is a great deal to read, but speaking with experienced professionals is often the best way to understand how EB‑5 applies to your family, timing and investment priorities.
This page provides general educational information, not individualized U.S. immigration, securities, tax or investment advice. Program rules, visa availability and project terms can change.