EB-5 gives investors — and their spouses and unmarried children under 21 — a direct path to permanent residence: invest in a U.S. business that creates at least ten full-time jobs, and the green card follows. The real work is proving the money is lawful and genuinely at risk; that paper trail is where these cases are won or lost.
Who This Is For
- Investors and their families
- Founders funding their own U.S. venture
- People who want a green card not tied to an employer
What to Know
- The investment is $800,000 in a targeted employment area (rural or high-unemployment) or $1,050,000 elsewhere, in a business that creates 10 or more U.S. jobs.
- There are two routes to the same green card: invest directly in your own enterprise, where all ten jobs must be direct payroll jobs; or invest through a USCIS-designated regional center, where indirect and induced jobs can count toward the ten as well.
- Every dollar must be traced to a lawful source — and that documentation work starts before any money moves.
- Investors already in the U.S. can often file the petition and the adjustment of status together, and work while the case is pending.
Forms Usually Involved
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| I-526E | Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor |
| I-526 | Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor |
| I-829 | Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence |
| I-485 | Adjustment of Status |
Quick Questions
Has EB-5 ended?
No. September 30, 2026 was not the end of EB-5.
What did September 30, 2026 change?
It was the grandfathering deadline for Regional Center investors. Investors who filed on or before that date kept grandfathering protection. Investors filing after it do not.
Can I still file EB-5?
Yes. USCIS is still accepting eligible EB-5 applications, with or without grandfathering protection, depending on the case.
What are the investment amounts now, and what changes in January 2027?
Currently $800,000 for a qualifying targeted employment area project, and for infrastructure projects as a separate category, and $1,050,000 as the standard amount. Amounts are scheduled for an inflation adjustment from January 1, 2027 — the new figures have not been published as official amounts yet, so don't rely on projected numbers.
What happens on September 30, 2027?
That is when the current Regional Center Program authorization expires, unless Congress extends it. It is not an automatic end to the whole EB-5 category.
General information, not legal advice. Requirements and processing change; we confirm current rules for your case.