EB-5 Support | USCIS (2024)

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Do you have a question about the one of the following forms under the EB-5 Program, also known as the Immigrant Investor Program?

General Inquiries and Communications

We recommend you visit our EB-5 Filing Tips page before you email a question.

You can write to uscis.immigrantinvestorprogram@uscis.dhs.gov to:

  • Check the status of an EB-5 application or petition that is outside published processing times (for cases within the published processing times, visitCase Status Online);
  • Change the contact or attorney information on an EB-5 application or petition;
  • Notify USCIS within 30 days of changes, changes to a designated regional center’s address, or contact information);
  • Report problems with EB-5 biometrics processing;
  • Report that an EB-5 petition receipt notice or Application Support Center notice has not been received or contains incorrect information; or
  • Report any EB-5 notice or decision that appears to contain a gross error.

Escalation

After the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) acknowledges your inquiry, please allow the office at least 14 calendar days to respond to your concern. If you have not received a response or are unsatisfied with the response, please:

  • Forward your email and the response to the USCIS.ImmigrantInvestorProgram@uscis.dhs.gov;
  • Add the word “ESCALATE” (in all caps) to the subject line and use the body of the email to summarize why you believe the matter needs further attention; and
  • Allow 21 calendar days for IPO to review and respond to your email.

Writing to the IPO mailbox will not suspend any deadline for you to respond to a Request for Evidence, decision, or notice, or to file an appeal or a motion to reopen or reconsider a decision. We will not respond to inquiries unrelated to the EB-5 program.

You may also check the status of Form I-526 or Form I-829 application by using Case Status Online.

For general inquiries, contact:

USCIS Contact Center
800-375-5283
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability:
TTY 800-767-1833

EB-5 Communication Protocols

On March 15, 2022, President Biden signed into law the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Among other things, Sec. 107 of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 codified many of the same restrictions from the Ethics and Integrity: Protocols for Processing of EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Petitions and EB-5 Regional Center Applications, Including Stakeholder Communications (PDF, 347.4 KB), which were issued by the secretary of homeland security in 2015. The act mandates that DHS employees act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any entity, organization, or individual in connection with any aspect of the EB-5 program, and -- as was done under the 2015 Ethics and Integrity Protocols-- certain DHS and USCIS employees must take theEB-5 Ethics and Integrity Protocols Training (PPTX, 1.11 MB).

The act also mandates certain channels and offices for industry stakeholders, petitioners, applicants, and seekers of benefits under the EB-5 program to use for communicating with DHS about specific EB-5 cases and about non-case-specific EB-5 concerns. (Except for communication made by applicants and petitioners pursuant to regular adjudicatory procedures.) These channels and offices are:

Do Not Send Personally Identifiable Information

We cannot guarantee secure delivery of your email. Therefore, we suggest that you do not include sensitive personally identifiable information (such as your Social Security number) in your email to us. For more information, see the USCIS Policy Manual on Privacy and Confidentiality section.

EB-5 Support | USCIS (2024)

FAQs

Is an investment of $500,000 sufficient for an EB-5 immigrant visa? ›

To be eligible for an EB-5 visa, an individual must meet three basic requirements: (1) invest at least $1 million in a New Commercial Enterprise in the U.S. (or invest at least $500,000 if the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area); (2) prove that the capital invested comes from a legal source (e.g., was not ...

What is the success rate of EB-5 green card? ›

Generally speaking, the approval rate for an I-526 petition is from about 75% to over 80%. Because it is assumed that an EB-5 Investor who receives approval for the I-526 petition, will apply for conditional permanent resident status, the approval rate for the I-829 petition is around 90% and above.

What happens if EB-5 project fails? ›

The failure of an EB-5 project can have unfavorable consequences for everyone involved. Investors risk losing their investments and being unable to obtain residency permits. So, before investing in an EB-5 project, investors must conduct thorough due diligence and seek professional advice to reduce their risk exposure.

Can EB-5 visa be rejected? ›

The EB-5 immigrant investor program is a popular pathway to obtaining a green card in the United States. However, its application process can be complex and lengthy, and rejection is always possible.

What is the lowest investment for EB-5? ›

A: For investments outside of a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), the minimum investment amount increased from $1 million to $1.8 million. For investments in a TEA, the minimum investment amount increased from $500,000 to $900,000. These amounts represent an adjustment based on inflation, as authorized by the law.

Is EB-5 visa risky? ›

However, like any investment, there are risks associated with EB-5 projects. These risks include losing the invested EB-5 capital if the project developer misuses the funds or not getting the green card if the project fails to create the requisite number of jobs.

Is EB-5 worth it? ›

EB‑5 visas offer many advantages, such as bringing family members, obtaining permanent residence and citizenship, and moving to the USA. Among the disadvantages are risky investments, a long period of obtainment and participation in the company's management.

How long does it take for EB-5 approval? ›

What are the current processing times for EB-5 visa applications? Currently, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes EB-5 visa applications (Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor) within an estimated timeframe of 20.5 to 27 months.

Do you get your EB-5 money back? ›

EB-5 Investment Repayment

While loan terms can vary from project to project, EB-5 investors can usually hope to receive repayment back within a five-to-seven-year period. The investment must remain “at risk” throughout the loan period, and therefore cannot be guaranteed to be returned.

Does EB-5 guarantee green card? ›

Yes, the investor, their spouse, and unmarried children under 21 can obtain green cards through the EB-5 investment.

Is EB-5 guaranteed? ›

The answer is no, because the EB-5 program requires that the investor make an “at risk” investment, in which the investor cannot receive any guarantees of repayment or any redemption rights, and there must be a risk of loss and a chance for gain.

Which is better EB2 or EB-5? ›

An E-2 visa can get you in the U.S. quickly

If there is a need to be in the U.S. quickly, the E-2 visa may be more suitable and can usually be approved within a couple of months. There is no quota and therefore no backlog. EB-5 takes longer but leads to permanent residency.

What is the denial rate for EB-5? ›

United States EB-5 Program: I-526 Processing by Quarter

The denial rate is down from 58.3% in 2022 to 39.5% in 2023, which is still uncharacteristically high for the EB-5 program. The USCIS' processing capacity for I-526 petitions has more than doubled over the last year.

Can I borrow money for an EB-5 visa? ›

When you're considering an EB-5 investment, you have several options for securing your funds. You can get a loan from a bank, a principal borrower, a lending institution, a financial institution, or even from friends or family. Essentially, the loan can come from any legal source.

How much does EB-5 green card cost? ›

Cost. The total cost for an EB-5 investor visa is between $4020 and $4,900, depending on where the applicant is filing from. To begin with, the applicant will need to pay a fee of $11,160 to file Form I-526 (officially called “Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur”).

How much money is required for EB-5? ›

Summary of EB-5 Visa Requirements

Proof of investment with a minimum capital amount of $1,050,000, or $800,000, if the investment is an infrastructure project or located in a rural or high-unemployment targeted employment area (TEA). Proof of lawful source of funds. Funds must be invested in an NCE.

Can I get a green card if I invest $500,000? ›

Overview of Fifth Preference (EB-5): Investment-Based Green Cards. This avenue of obtaining a green card is provided to wealthy individuals who will invest between $500,000 and $1 million in a United States business.

How much do you need to invest in a targeted employment area for EB-5? ›

What is a Targeted Employment Area? As a potential EB5 investor, you are eligible to invest either $1,050,000 or $800,000 to qualify for an EB-5 visa. The vast majority of investors invest the lower $800,000 amount.

What are the requirements for a successful EB-5 investment? ›

  • Invest in a New Commercial Enterprise. ...
  • Invest a Minimum of $1,050,000 (or $800,000 if Investment is in TEA) ...
  • Create 10 Full-Time Jobs for US Workers. ...
  • Lawful Source of Funds. ...
  • Investment Funds Must be "At-Risk" ...
  • Engage in the Management of the New Commercial Enterprise.

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