EB-5 Articles

EB-5 Highlights

The EB-5 visa was created for qualified foreign investors interested in The EB-5 visa was created for qualified foreign investors interested in obtaining a U.S. green card. The investor must invest a minimum of $1,050,000 — or $800,000 if investing in a targeted employment area — into a business or project that benefits the U.S. economy and creates 10 full-time jobs. The EB-5 visa is one of the fastest U.S. immigration paths to residency, with investors generally receiving a conditional green card within 12-26 months.

How long does it take to get a green card?

If you are looking to invest now in an EB-5 Rural Project. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) mandates that the I-526E Petitions of Rural Project investors be given Priority Processing . We are starting to see many I-526E Petitions for Conditional Green Card getting approved in an average of 4 to 12 months for Rural Project EB-5 investors. For investors in other projects, I-526 E processing time may take 12 to 24 months.

If you already have a lawful presence in the US with some other visas (like H1-B or F-1) you may be able to do Concurrent filing and get the advanced benefits of your Green Card, even while your I-526E is getting processed. You may be able to get your Employment Authorization Document to work freely in as little as 3 months.

If you are applying from abroad, your next step will be a Consulate interview, and that part of the process takes about 6 months.

This is in sharp contrast to I-526 Petitions filed before the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, that are taking 4 or more years to get processed.

What is a regional center?

An EB-5 regional center is an organization authorized by the USCIS to promote economic growth, job creation, and regional productivity in a specific geographic area. Regional centers can pool investments from multiple EB-5 investors into a single project or multiple projects. This method can significantly reduce risk for individual investors.

Am I eligible for the EB-5 visa?

To qualify for an EB 5 visa, you do not need an education or job experience in the industry of investment. You do not need to speak English either. We will need basic information to make sure that the funds for the investment were lawfully acquired. Because of USCIS regulations, investors must be able to prove through documentation that the funds were gained in a lawful way.

What's the difference between invest with a regional center and direct invest by myself?

Regional center sponsorship typically allows investors to choose from a more diverse range of projects, because regional centers can tap into their own local resources to find or create projects, and because they can pool funds from multiple investors.

Direct investment requires investors to find projects and conduct due diligence themselves. This investment approach does not preclude pooling funds for larger projects, but it may make the collaboration process more complicated.

Can investors expect EB5 capital return in 2 Years?

Unpacking the USCIS EB-5 Guidance 2023 on EB-5 Sustainment Period changes. At Houston EB5 we know that clear EB5 insights and unbiased information on EB5 news is crucial for one’s EB-5 due diligence. As a team of immigrants, we prioritize nothing more than transparency. This has helped hundreds of our EB-5 investors get their Green […]

Estimating Visa Availability Per EB-5 Category

Are we playing musical chairs again? Houston EB5 would like to share valuable EB-5 Visa availability information from the US Department of State (DOS). The data was recently provided to IIUSA, the premiere industry association of Regional Centers, by Dr. Michael Hanley, a Data Scientist from the DOS Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division. In […]

The Impact of Targeted Employment Areas on Your EB-5 Journey

Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) hold a significant role in the EB-5 process, offering investors several advantages, including a reduced minimum investment requirement of $800,000 compared to the standard $1,050,000. These advantages are rooted in the core principles of the EB-5 program, which is designed to stimulate economic growth and job creation. The program’s sponsors aimed […]

Navigating EB-5 Processing Times in 2023: What to Expect

When selecting a visa pathway, understanding the timeline for approval can be a pivotal factor. The landscape of EB-5 processing time in 2023 has shifted significantly in recent years, impacting both investors and immigration attorneys. We’ll explore the new processing times and how the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) has introduced priority processing for rural projects. […]