EB-5 Visa
USA, green card through investment
You invest from $800,000 in a US business and create 10 jobs — and receive a green card for yourself and your family. The timeline is 2-3 years. Expensive and slow, but it is a genuine permanent status in the USA.
- What it is
- Permanent status (a green card) in the US for investing in a business and creating jobs
- Where it applies
- USA
- Cost
- From $800,000 in a targeted area; higher outside it
- Duration
- Usually 2-3 years or more, with a conditional status in between
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose a reliable project and evidence the source of funds
In plain words
EB-5 is a US programme under which a green card is granted for investment. The arrangement is direct: you invest a large sum in a business in the US and create jobs for Americans, and in return you receive permanent status for yourself, your spouse and your children. It is one of the few lawful ways to obtain a green card through money rather than through an employer or relatives.
The conditions are strict on the numbers. The minimum investment is $800,000 if the project is in a targeted employment area (a rural area or one with high unemployment), and higher otherwise. Plus there is a requirement to create at least 10 full-time jobs. The money genuinely works in the economy and is at risk — it is an investment, not a government contribution.
In terms of time, EB-5 is a long road, usually 2-3 years or more to a permanent green card, with an intermediate conditional status. Expensive and not quick, but the result is genuine US permanent residence with the prospect of citizenship. For those who put speed and a smaller budget first, the E-2 visa is often considered as an alternative.
Why people choose EB-5
EB-5 conditions
- From $800,000 in a targeted area
- Higher outside the area
- The money is genuinely at risk
- Investment in a US business
- 10+ jobs
- Direct or through a regional center
- Principal investor
- Spouse
- Children under 21
- Source of funds (SoF)
- Lawful capital
- USCIS approval
How EB-5 works
- 01Choosing the project and structure
- 02Proof of source of funds
- 03Investment and filing the petition
- 04Conditional green card
- 05Permanent green card
What you need to know
- EB-5 leads directly to a permanent status, but it is a long road (2-3 years+)
- The $800,000 minimum applies only in a targeted area; outside it the threshold is higher
- Creating at least 10 jobs is a mandatory condition
- The money is genuinely at risk: it is an investment, not a government contribution
- For speed and a smaller budget it is often compared with the E-2 visa
What EB-5 costs: investment thresholds
- Targeted employment area (TEA)from $800,000A rural area or one with high unemployment. Creating 10+ jobs is mandatory.
- Standard projectfrom $1,050,000Projects outside a targeted area. The same 10+ jobs.
On top of the investment itself come the project’s administrative fees, legal support and USCIS government fees. The money is invested in a real business and is at risk. We calculate the exact budget and timeline for the specific project and family composition.
Timelines
- Overall timeline
- Usually 2-3 years or more to a permanent green card
- Intermediate status
- A conditional green card for 2 years
- Who approves
- USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services)
- What it depends on
- The project, country of birth (queues), the funds check
Common mistakes
- Choosing a project on promised returns alone without checking its reliability
- Underestimating timelines and country-of-birth queues
- Not evidencing the lawful source of the invested funds
- Treating EB-5 as a “contribution” — it is an investment with real risk
- Not comparing it with E-2 when speed and a smaller budget matter more
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We take a sober look at EB-5 for your situation: the full budget, timelines, project risks and family composition. If it is not optimal in terms of money and time, we show you the route through a Grenadian passport and the E-2 visa — it gets going faster and costs less, although it gives a status of a different nature.
Frequently asked questions
01 /How much do you need to invest in EB-5?
From $800,000 if the project is in a targeted area (a rural area or one with high unemployment). Outside such areas the threshold is higher. Plus a mandatory condition — creating at least 10 jobs.
02 /How does EB-5 differ from the E-2 visa?
EB-5 gives a green card (a permanent status) directly, but it is more expensive and takes years. E-2 is a renewable investor visa that gets going faster and costs less, but it requires a passport from a country with an E-2 treaty — among the Caribbean countries, that is Grenada.
03 /Who can be included in the application?
The principal investor, the spouse and children under 21. Children over 21 or married are included separately and under different rules.
04 /Will the invested money come back?
EB-5 is an investment with real risk, not a government contribution. Repayment depends on the project’s success, so the project’s reliability matters more than the promised return.
05 /Does a green card lead to US citizenship?
Yes, over time. After several years as a permanent resident and subject to meeting the requirements, you can apply for naturalisation as a US citizen.
06 /Does country of birth affect the timeline?
Yes. Queues (visa retrogression) apply to some countries, which lengthens the route. We take this into account when planning.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Considering a US green card through EB-5?
We will take a sober look at the budget, timelines and project risks — and show where EB-5 is the best option and where the route through Grenada and the E-2 visa is more advantageous.