A U.S. green card (lawful permanent residency) provides the following benefits:

• Live and work permanently anywhere in the U. S.
• Freedom to travel in and out of the S. more easily.
• Pathway to S. citizenship after 5 years of residency.
• Access to S. education, including in-state tuition rates.
• Eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, and other benefits after qualifying.
• Family immigration rights (can sponsor certain relatives).
• No need for employer sponsorship or visa renewal.

A TEA is a geographic area that qualifies for the lower $800,000 minimum EB-5 investment, instead of the standard $1.05 million. It must be either:

1. A rural area, or
2. A high-unemployment area (150% of the national average).

TEAs are designated to attract investment into economically disadvantaged areas.

Form I-526E is the USCIS petition used by EB-5 investors investing through a Regional Center. It:

• Proves that the investor has made a qualifying investment.
• Documents the lawful source and path of funds.
• Includes details of the project and job creation plan.

• Adjustment of Status (AOS): A process that allows foreign nationals already in the S. (on a valid visa like H-1B, F-1, etc.) to apply for a green card without leaving the country, by filing Form I-485.
• Advance Parole: A travel document that allows those with a pending I-485 to leave and re- enter the U.S. without abandoning their green card application.

You can file for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) if:

• You are physically present in the S. under a valid visa (e.g., H-1B, F-1, L-1, etc.).
• You have a pending or concurrently filed I-526E petition.
• A visa is immediately available for your country and investment category.
• You have no serious immigration violations or criminal history.

Form I-829 is the final step in the EB-5 process. It:

• Removes the conditions on your 2-year green card, granting you permanent residency.
• Must be filed within 90 days before the conditional green card expires.
• Proves that:
  • The investment was sustained.
  • The business created or maintained at least 10 full-time jobs.

Approval of I-829 gives you a 10-year renewable green card and ends immigration-related requirements.

• Regional Center Model: Jobs can include direct, indirect, and induced employment, based on economic modeling (e.g., RIMS II or IMPLAN).
• Direct EB-5 Model: Only direct, full-time jobs on the business’s payroll are Each EB-5 investment must result in the creation of at least 10 qualifying U.S. jobs.

No. All EB-5 investments must be “at risk” as required by USCIS. This means:

• There is no guarantee of a financial return.
• There is no guarantee of receiving a green card. 

Investors should conduct thorough due diligence before committing funds.

Yes. EB-5 investors and their family members can live, work, and study anywhere in the U.S., regardless of where the investment project is located.

Some common risks include:

• Project failure or bankruptcy. 
• Denial of the I-526 or I-829 petition.
• Mismanagement or fraud by developers or operators.
• Policy or regulatory changes affecting eligibility or processing.

It’s essential to invest in credible, transparent projects and seek guidance from experienced professionals.

Yes, but with conditions:

• The loan must be secured by the investor’s personal assets.
• The investor must be personally liable for repayment.

• The funds must be legally sourced, and proper documentation must be provid

USCIS requires detailed evidence showing:

• The lawful source of funds (e.g., salary, business profits, sale of property, inheritance).
• The path of funds (e.g., bank transfers, tax records, employment letters).

This documentation is a critical part of the I-526/I-526E petition and must be accurate and thorough.

Upon receiving a green card, you become a U.S. tax resident, meaning:

• You must report and pay taxes on global income.
• You may be subject to gift, estate, and capital gains taxes.

Pre-immigration tax planning with a qualified advisor is highly recommended.

Key updates under the 2022 Act include:

• Reauthorization of the Regional Center Program.
• Stronger integrity measures (e.g., third-party audits, background checks, fund tracking).
• Visa set-asides for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects.
• Concurrent filing now allowed for certain investors already in the U. S.

Concurrent filing allows eligible EB-5 investors already in the U.S. (on valid visas like H-1B, L-1, F-1, etc.) to file both:

• Form I-526E (EB-5 petition), and 
• Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status)

At the same time — enabling:

• Work authorization (EAD),
• Travel permission (Advance Parole),
• The ability to remain in the S. while awaiting green card approval.

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can be included in the same EB-5 petition and will receive green cards as your dependents.

Generally, no. Once your I-526E is filed, changing projects can risk denial of your petition unless you refile with a new project. That said, the 2022 Reform Act allows limited flexibility under certain circumstances, especially if the original project fails.

Your investment must remain at risk through:

• The entire conditional residency period (2 years), and
• Until the I-829 petition is approved (typically 4–5 years total). Withdrawing funds earlier could result in green card revocation.

Typical timelines (subject to change):

• I-526E petition: 12–30 months
• Conditional green card: 2 years
• I-829 processing: 12–24 months

Total: 4–5 years depending on country of origin and processing speeds.

A New Commercial Enterprise is the entity into which EB-5 investors place their funds. It must:

• Be a for-profit business,
• Be formed after November 29, 1990,
• Engage in lawful business activity, and
• Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs per investor.

Each year, 32% of EB-5 visas are reserved for:

• Rural areas: 20%
• High-unemployment areas: 10%
• Infrastructure projects: 2%

Investors in these categories benefit from priority processing and reduced wait times.

The sustainment period is the duration for which your investment must remain “at risk” to qualify for permanent residency. It begins when you invest and ends after I-829 approval.