WHAT IS EB-5

EB-5 is an immigrant investor visa.

It is based on capital investment and job creation, not on the applicant’s professional achievements, education, or career background.

USCIS evaluates whether the investment meets statutory financial thresholds and whether it results in the required job creation under the program rules.

To be accepted for review, an EB-5 case must meet the following core conditions:

Minimum Investment Amount

Indirect investment (through a USCIS-approved Regional Center):

$800,000

Funds are invested into a USCIS-approved project, such as real estate, infrastructure, or operating business ventures.

Job creation is demonstrated through the project’s economic model. The investor does not manage the business directly.

Direct investment (own business):

$1,050,000

Investment into a personally owned company, startup, or acquisition of an existing U.S. business.

The applicant is responsible for the actual creation of at least 10 full-time qualifying jobs for U.S. workers.

Key Compliance Factors

• The investment must be made into a qualifying commercial enterprise.
• The source of funds must be lawful and fully documented. 
• Job creation must be provable and traceable to the investment.
   

For EB-5, the decisive factor is not intent or background, but financial structure, source-of-funds documentation, and job creation logic supported by evidence.