In 1990, US congress created the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program to stimulate the economy by attracting foreign capital investments and boosting job creation. Read on to discover the maximum number of EB-5 visas issued each year.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program – Basic Eligibility Criteria
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency responsible for administering the EB-5 visa program. The two foundational requirements EB-5 applicants must meet are:
- The investment of the required amount of capital in a new US-based commercial enterprise, and
- The creation (or a plan to preserve) at least ten full-time positions for qualifying workers
Foreign investors can choose to use the investment amount to form a new business, purchase an existing company, or invest in a Regional Center. The investment’s funding source must be lawful and investors must establish that they legally own the capital invested.
Since March 15, 2022, the minimum amount of investment eligible for EB-5 classification is $1,050,000. If the EB-5 applicant decides to invest in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), he or she can qualify to invest the reduced amount of $800,000.
A TEA can be a rural area or an area affected by high unemployment rates at the time of investment.
If the applicant invests in a new commercial enterprise not located within a regional center, the endeavor must create at least ten full-time positions through direct employment.
Conversely, if the applicant invests in a new commercial enterprise located within a regional center, up to 90% of the job creation requirement may be met through indirect jobs. An indirect job is a position created by the investment but not necessarily held inside the EB-5 enterprise.
How Many EB-5 Visas Are Issued Each Year? – In Detail
Considering the higher standard to which EB-5 applicants are held by EB-5, the number of visas issued annually is not as high as other business-related visas.
Every year, USCIS issues a maximum of approximately 10,000 new EB-5 visas. At least 3,000 of the total number of visas are reserved for new petitions based on investments in projects endeavored by a Regional Center.
When not all applicants succeed in their applications and there are remaining visas for the standard EB-5 program, USCIS can determine whether to redistribute up to 10,000 visa slots to the Regional Center Program.
Currently, the only foreign nationals subject to a waiting list for EB-5 visas are investors born in mainland China. The average processing time required to get an EB-5 application processed and approved is generally two years.
The estimated waiting list for Chinese EB-5 applicants can go up to five years. Considering the popularity of this specific visa is growing in China, the current waiting period might increase significantly within the next few years.
Eligible foreign investors born in any country other than mainland China do not have to endure a waiting list until they can obtain an EB-5 visa.
Do You Want to Obtain an EB-5 Investor Visa? – Immediately Seek Expert Legal Guidance
With years of experience in US immigration and business law, Attorney Romy B. Jurado willingly wants to help you succeed. Contact us today by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] for an individual consultation.
