Skip to content
EB5 Status

EB-5 Visa Backlog by Country

Current wait times, priority dates, and visa availability for every major EB-5 source country. Updated with each visa bulletin (April 2026).

Data period: FY2025 Q3 (through June 30, 2025) · Last verified: 2026-03-30

Key Takeaways

  • 1Only 2 countries (China, India) currently have EB-5 unreserved backlogs.
  • 2Set-aside categories (rural, HUA, infrastructure) are Current for ALL countries, including China and India.
  • 34 countries/groups have no backlog in any category. Total timeline is determined by processing time alone.
  • 4Chargeability is based on country of birth, not citizenship. Cross-chargeability through a spouse may be available.

Countries with Backlogs

These countries have cutoff dates in the unreserved EB-5 category. Set-aside categories remain available without wait.

China

China has historically been the largest source country for EB-5 investment. The unreserved backlog is the longest of any country, stretching back to a September 2016 final action d...

~9.5 years

FAD: September 1, 2016

Approved awaiting: 30,313I-485 pending: 9,019Demand: ~60% of total EB-5 demandSet-aside: Available

India

India is now the second-largest and fastest-growing source country for EB-5 investment. Unlike China's backlog, which built up over a decade, India's retrogression is recent (first...

~4 years

FAD: May 1, 2022

Approved awaiting: 755I-485 pending: 4,947Demand: ~25% of total EB-5 demand (fastest growing)Set-aside: Available

Countries Without Backlogs

These countries are Current in all EB-5 categories. Wait time is determined by processing speed, not visa availability.

Vietnam

Current

~5% of total EB-5 demand

South Korea

Current

~3% of total EB-5 demand

Taiwan

Current

~2% of total EB-5 demand

Rest of World

Current

~10% of total EB-5 demand (combined)

Summary: All Countries at a Glance

CountryUnreserved StatusEst. WaitSet-AsideDemand Share
ChinaSeptember 1, 2016approximately 9.5 yearsCurrent~60% of total EB-5 demand
IndiaMay 1, 2022approximately 4 yearsCurrent~25% of total EB-5 demand (fastest growing)
VietnamCurrentNo waitCurrent~5% of total EB-5 demand
South KoreaCurrentNo waitCurrent~3% of total EB-5 demand
TaiwanCurrentNo waitCurrent~2% of total EB-5 demand
Rest of WorldCurrentNo waitCurrent~10% of total EB-5 demand (combined)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries have an EB-5 visa backlog?
As of April 2026, only China and India have EB-5 visa backlogs in the unreserved category. All other countries, including Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, and the rest of the world, are Current (no backlog). However, set-aside categories (rural, HUA, infrastructure) are Current for all countries, including China and India.
How long is the China EB-5 wait time?
The China EB-5 unreserved backlog is approximately 9.5 years based on the current final action date of September 1, 2016. Chinese investors can avoid this wait by filing under a set-aside category (rural, HUA, or infrastructure), which are all currently available without a backlog.
How long is the India EB-5 wait time?
The India EB-5 unreserved backlog is approximately 4 years based on the current final action date of May 1, 2022. This backlog is newer and growing faster than China's due to rapidly increasing Indian filing volumes. Set-aside categories are Current for India.
What determines which country you are charged to?
EB-5 visa chargeability is based on country of birth, not citizenship or residence. If you were born in China but are now a Canadian citizen, you are still charged to China. However, cross-chargeability may be available if your spouse was born in a different country.

Related Resources