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 |
General information, not legal advice. Requirements and processing change; we confirm current rules for your case.