A free PDF guide — an investment from $800,000
A guide to the EB-5 green cardof the United States
The one US investment programme that leads to a permanent status for the whole family. We set out both thresholds, the requirement of 10 jobs, the queues by country and how the conditions come off the green card.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 12.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval and is not investment advice. The investment is at risk.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the programme before the calculation
Four things that decide the threshold, the timings and the outcome.
- The one path to a green card for money
The other US investment visas give a temporary status. The EB-5 leads to permanent residence for the whole family, and from there to citizenship.
- Two thresholds — the project’s location decides
$800,000 for projects in a targeted employment area: rural, or a district of high unemployment. Outside such areas it is $1,050,000.
- 10 jobs per investor
This is the key condition of the programme. Through a regional centre indirect jobs count too; on a direct investment only those created by your own company do.
- A conditional status first
The first green card is issued for 2 years. The permanent one follows once the investment and the jobs have been evidenced.
02 / The budget
What taking part costs your family
Choose the kind of project and the family: we will show the investment, the fees and the costs that go with them.
03 / Three options
Where the project sits, and what that changes
The location decides both the sum and the speed: the reserved quotas cut the waiting substantially.
The values were checked against the official material on 12.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | RuralA targeted area: rural, $800,000 | UnemploymentA targeted area: high unemployment, $800,000 | OutsideAny location, $1,050,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The investment threshold | $800,000 | $800,000 | $1,050,000 |
| A reserved quota | yes, the largest | yes | no |
| How fast it is consideredA BRIDGES estimate | given priority | sped up by the quota | in the general queue |
| Jobs | 10 per investor | 10 per investor | 10 per investor |
| The conditional status | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Getting the money backA BRIDGES estimate | on the project’s terms | on the project’s terms | on the project’s terms |
| Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate | You want the fastest path | You want an urban project with a quota | Your own business outside the targeted areas |
- The investment threshold
- $800,000
- $800,000
- A reserved quota
- yes, the largest
- yes
- How fast it is consideredA BRIDGES estimate
- given priority
- sped up by the quota
- Jobs
- 10 per investor
- 10 per investor
- The conditional status
- 2 years
- 2 years
- Getting the money backA BRIDGES estimate
- on the project’s terms
- on the project’s terms
- Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- You want the fastest path
- You want an urban project with a quota
In every option 10 jobs have to be created and the investment held until the conditions come off the green card.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstThe key facts of the programme: what decides the matter.
- A comparisonThe options and the terms of the programme in one table.
- How the work runsThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The analysisWhat is checked before the status is granted.
- The limitsWhat affects the timings, the costs and keeping the status.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How taking part runs
The case rests on two things: the project chosen and the source-of-funds file.
- Choosing the project
A regional centre or your own business. The threshold and the queue follow from where the project sits.
- The check on the source of funds
The file is built: the origin of every dollar is evidenced with documents going back years.
- The investment and the I-526E petition
The funds are placed in the project and the investor’s petition is filed with the full pack.
- Approval and the status
Once approved — consular processing, or a change of status inside the United States, for the whole family.
- The conditional green card
The family takes the status for 2 years and moves to the United States.
- Removing the conditions, I-829
The investment and the 10 jobs are evidenced — and the permanent green card is issued.
07 / The check
What USCIS examines
The origin of the capital, the project’s documents and whether the regional centre meets the requirements of the reform.
- The source and the path of the funds
The hardest part of the case: the origin of the capital and the whole chain of transfers are evidenced.
- The project and its documents
A business plan to the USCIS rules, an economic analysis of the jobs, the legal structure.
- The regional centre
It is checked that the centre holds a valid designation and complies with the requirements of the 2022 reform.
- The family
A spouse and children under 21 are included in the case: a child’s age at the date of filing matters.
The source-of-funds file is the most laborious part: the chain is evidenced with documents going back many years.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on the timings, the risk and the family’s tax position.
The money is at riskThere is no guarantee of return
Under the rules of the programme the investment has to be at risk. The return depends on the project, not on the state.
The queue by country of birthFor some countries — years of waiting
The visa quotas are allotted by country of birth; the reserved categories soften the queue but do not remove it.
The conditions have to be removedAfter 2 years
If the jobs are not created or the investment is returned early, the conditions will not be lifted.
Children grow upThe threshold is 21
A child’s age is fixed under the age-protection rules, but drawing out the filing can cost them their status.
US taxA resident is taxed on worldwide income
A green card means US tax residence. The planning is done before filing.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists who build source-of-funds files and vet projects.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 12 August 2026
- Last updated
- 12 August 2026
The official sources
- USCIS: the EB-5 Immigrant Investor ProgramU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 12.08.2026The investment thresholds, the job requirements and how the petitions are filed.
- The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022U.S. Congress · checked 12.08.2026The reform of the programme: the reserved quotas, the requirements on regional centres and the investment sums.
- The Visa BulletinU.S. Department of State · checked 12.08.2026The current queues by country of birth, the EB-5 categories included.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the EB-5 programme
How much has to be invested?
$800,000 in a project in a targeted employment area — rural, or a district of high unemployment; $1,050,000 outside such areas.
Will the money come back?
The programme requires the investment to be at risk. The return depends on the terms of the project and on how it fares; the state guarantees nothing.
How many jobs have to be created?
10 for each investor. Through a regional centre indirect jobs count too; on a direct investment only your own company’s staff do.
Who is included in the application?
The investor, a spouse and children under 21. They all receive green cards at the same time.
What is the conditional status?
The first green card, for 2 years. The conditions are removed by the I-829 petition once the investment and the jobs have been evidenced.
How long does it take?
12-24 months to the conditional status; the timing depends heavily on the country of birth and the category chosen.
Do I have to live in the United States?
Yes, a green card presupposes residence. Long absences without a re-entry permit put the status at risk.
When can I apply for citizenship?
After five years of permanent residence, provided the residence and presence requirements are met.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a quotation for your family
We will send the PDF explaining the thresholds and the queues, and a budget calculation for your family.
- Both thresholds and when each applies
- How the jobs are counted
- The queues by country of birth
- How the conditions come off the green card