Question 1

What is the minimum investment amount for EB-5?

Accepted Answer

The minimum EB-5 investment is $1,050,000 for standard projects or $787,500 for Targeted Employment Area (TEA) projects — rural areas or areas with high unemployment. TEA projects include rural, high unemployment area (HUA), and infrastructure set-asides.

Question 2

How long does EB-5 processing take in 2026?

Accepted Answer

EB-5 processing times typically range from 18 to 28 months for I-526E adjudication. Rural and HUA projects may qualify for priority processing. Total timeline to green card depends on visa availability in your chargeability area.

Question 3

What is the difference between EB-5 direct investment and regional center?

Accepted Answer

Direct EB-5 investment requires active management of the new commercial enterprise and counts only direct jobs. Regional center investment is passive and counts direct, indirect, and induced jobs using USCIS-approved economic methodologies. Regional centers were reauthorized by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.

Question 4

Which countries have EB-5 visa backlogs?

Accepted Answer

India and China have the most significant EB-5 backlogs, with cutoff dates years behind the current date. Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan are generally current. The State Department publishes updated cutoff dates monthly in the Visa Bulletin.

Question 5

What is EB-5 Rural set-aside and how does it help?

Accepted Answer

The EB-5 rural set-aside reserves 20% of annual EB-5 visa numbers for rural projects. Combined with infrastructure (2%) and HUA (10%) set-asides, these reserved categories advance faster in the visa bulletin. Unused set-aside visas can roll over to other categories.

Question 6

Can I track my EB-5 case status online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can check your I-526E or I-829 case status using your receipt number at USCIS.gov or via the EB5 Status case lookup tool. The tool pulls live status from the USCIS API and shows current processing time estimates.

Question 7

What is an I-526E petition?

Accepted Answer

Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor) is filed by foreign investors participating in USCIS-designated regional centers. It is the first step in the EB-5 process and establishes eligibility before immigrant visa or adjustment of status filing.

EB-5 Frequently Asked Questions