U.S. Permanent Residency Through Investment | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
EB5 Visa USA: The EB-5 Investment Visa (Green Card by Investment)
The EB5 visa (also known as the EB-5 investment visa or EB5 visa USA) is an employment-based immigrant pathway that can lead to a U.S. green card through a qualifying investment in a U.S. business that creates jobs for U.S. workers. It is commonly used by investors and globally mobile entrepreneurs who want a structured route to permanent residence in the United States.
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EB-5 Visa at a Glance
Visa type: Employment-based immigrant category (EB-5)
Who it’s for: Investors making a qualifying investment in a U.S. new commercial enterprise
Key benefit: Potential pathway to U.S. permanent residency for the investor and eligible dependants
Core petitions: Form I-526E (commonly for Regional Center projects) or Form I-526 (direct investment, where applicable), then Form I-485 or consular processing
Job creation: Must generally create 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers
Capital rules: Investment thresholds and targeted area rules apply (and can change by law/policy)
Outcome: Usually leads to conditional permanent residence, followed by a petition to remove conditions
- UK-market focused support
- Fixed-fee options
- Clear document checklists
- Secure handling
- Pay after approval (terms apply)
INDEX:
- What Is the EB5 Visa and What Is It Used for in the United States?
- EB5 Visa Program: How the Immigrant Investor Program Works
- EB5 Visa Requirements: Eligibility, Investment Rules, and Job Creation
- EB5 Visa Process: Step-by-Step (From Investment to Green Card)
- EB5 US Visa: Applying From the UK
- EB5 Visa Cost: What to Budget For
- EB5 Visa Processing Time: Key Drivers and Typical Stages
- EB5 Visa Countries: Nationality Considerations and Visa Availability
- Regional Center vs Direct EB-5 Investment
- Why Choose Corporate Visa Solutions for Your EB-5 Strategy
What Is the EB5 Visa and What Is It Used for in the United States?
The EB5 visa is a U.S. immigrant visa category designed for foreign investors who make a qualifying investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise that results in job creation for U.S. workers. Successful applicants can obtain U.S. permanent residency, typically first as conditional permanent residents, and later as permanent green card holders after meeting the program’s requirements.
EB5 Visa Program: How the Immigrant Investor Program Works
The EB5 visa program (Immigrant Investor Program) links immigration eligibility to economic contribution. In simple terms, the investor:
invests the required amount into a qualifying U.S. enterprise, and
proves the investment will create (or has created) the required number of jobs.
Many applicants participate through Regional Center projects, which are structured investments associated with USCIS-designated entities and may allow indirect job creation methodologies (project-dependent). Others may pursue direct investment routes when appropriate.
EB5 Visa Requirements: Eligibility, Investment Rules, and Job Creation Documentation
EB5 visa requirements generally focus on:
1) Qualifying investment
Investment must be placed “at risk” for the purpose of generating a return
The enterprise must be a qualifying U.S. new commercial enterprise
The required investment amount depends on program rules (and may differ based on whether the project is in a targeted area)
2) Lawful source of funds
A major part of EB-5 preparation is documenting that the investment capital comes from lawful sources (e.g., earnings, sale of assets, gifts, inheritance, business profits), with a clear evidentiary trail.
3) Job creation
The investment must generally create 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers
Timing and evidentiary standards vary depending on structure (Regional Center vs direct)
Because EB-5 is evidence-heavy, the quality and consistency of documentation is often the difference-maker.
EB5 Visa Process: Step-by-Step (From Investment to Green Card)
A typical EB5 visa process looks like this:
Strategic planning: choose an investment structure (Regional Center vs direct) and confirm eligibility
Due diligence: review project documents, job-creation model, timelines, and risk factors
Source-of-funds documentation: compile financial and legal evidence supporting lawful funds
File the immigrant petition (commonly I-526E for Regional Center cases)
Wait for visa availability (if backlogs apply)
Green card stage:
Adjustment of status (I-485) if eligible in the U.S., or
Consular processing if applying from abroad
Conditional residence granted (typically)
Remove conditions by filing the relevant petition at the appropriate time window and evidencing job creation and compliance
EB5 US Visa: Applying From the UK
For UK-based applicants, the EB-5 pathway is commonly managed through consular processing after the immigrant petition stage and once visa availability permits. Where the investor is already in the U.S. and eligible, adjustment of status may be an option (case-specific). EB-5 cases also require careful planning around family members, timing, and the practical movement of funds.
EB5 Visa Cost: What to Budget For
The EB5 visa cost can include several layers:
Investment capital (the largest component)
USCIS filing fees for the immigrant petition and later stages
Department of State fees if using consular processing
Medical exam and document procurement (translations, civil records)
Professional fees for legal/immigration support
Project-level fees (often seen in Regional Center offerings) and administration costs
Because EB-5 involves both immigration and investment dimensions, budgeting should consider legal and financial documentation workstreams in parallel.
EB5 Visa Processing Time: Key Drivers and Typical Stages
EB5 visa processing time varies widely and is shaped by:
USCIS petition processing times for the immigrant petition
Visa availability / backlogs (which can differ by country of chargeability)
Consular processing or I-485 processing timelines
Complexity of source-of-funds documentation and any USCIS requests for evidence
Project structure and job creation timeline (relevant to removal of conditions)
EB-5 planning should treat processing time as a multi-stage timeline rather than a single “wait time.”
EB5 Visa Countries: Nationality Considerations and Visa Availability
Searches for EB5 visa countries usually reflect an important reality: visa availability can be impacted by annual limits and demand, which may create backlogs for certain countries of chargeability. The practical implication is that two investors with the same project and paperwork quality may still have different timelines based on visa availability dynamics.
Regional Center vs Direct EB-5 Investment
Regional Center EB-5: Often structured investments tied to larger projects; job creation may include indirect methodologies depending on the framework.
Direct EB-5: Typically tied to an operating business where job creation is more directly attributed to the enterprise; may fit certain entrepreneurs or owner-operators.
Choosing the right route is strategic and depends on risk appetite, timeline needs, and how involved the investor wants to be operationally.
Why Choose Corporate Visa Solutions for Your EB-5 Strategy
EB-5 cases are document-intensive and timeline-sensitive.
At Corporate Visa Solutions, we:
Screen eligibility and align the right EB-5 structure (Regional Center vs direct)
Coordinate lawful source-of-funds documentation strategy
Manage petition preparation and filing flow
Map timelines using visa availability and processing realities
Support globally mobile investors and their dependants with end-to-end checklists
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The EB5 visa is a U.S. immigrant category that can lead to permanent residence through a qualifying investment in a U.S. enterprise that creates jobs for U.S. workers.
EB5 visa requirements typically include a qualifying at-risk investment, documentation proving lawful source of funds, and evidence of creating the required number of full-time U.S. jobs.
The EB5 visa program links immigration eligibility to investment and job creation. Investors file an immigrant petition after making (or committing) the qualifying investment and later complete the green card stage once visa availability permits.
The EB5 visa process usually includes choosing an investment structure, documenting source of funds, filing the immigrant petition, completing adjustment of status or consular processing, receiving conditional residence, and later removing conditions by proving compliance.
Costs include the investment capital plus government filing fees and practical costs like documentation, medical exams, and professional support. Some investment structures also include project administration fees.
Processing time varies by USCIS stage, visa availability, and case complexity—especially source-of-funds evidence—and the final green card stage route.