EB-5 Vietnam Visa Backlog
Vietnam has no EB-5 visa backlog. All categories are Current. Timeline is determined by processing speed.
Data current as of · Source: USCIS/State Dept
Key Takeaways
- 1All EB-5 categories are Current for Vietnam. No visa backlog.
- 2Total timeline determined by processing time: rural 11 to 17 months, HUA 24 to 36 months
- 3Set-aside categories: All categories Current. No backlog in any category.
- 4~5% of total EB-5 demand
Unreserved Status
Current
Est. Wait
No wait
I-485 Pending
0
What "Current" means
"Current" means there is no backlog. Vietnamese investors with an approved petition (or concurrent filing) can proceed immediately to visa issuance or adjustment of status without waiting for a visa number.
Why Vietnam was previously retrogressed
Vietnam had its own cutoff date in the visa bulletin through July 2021 due to high demand. A combination of reduced filings during COVID and increased visa allocation brought the category back to Current.
Total timeline for Vietnamese investors
Without a visa backlog, the total timeline is determined primarily by processing time. Rural category petitions are processing in 11 to 17 months. HUA and unreserved categories take longer.
Risk factors
If Vietnamese filing volumes increase significantly, retrogression could return. However, current filing levels are well below the threshold that would trigger a new cutoff date.
Vietnam EB-5 Overview
Vietnam is a significant EB-5 source country that previously experienced brief retrogression. Since August 2021, all EB-5 categories have been Current for Vietnamese investors. The absence of a backlog makes Vietnam one of the most favorable countries for EB-5 investment from a timeline perspective. Vietnamese investors benefit from the full range of category options without the urgency that retrogressed countries face.
Filing Trends
Vietnam has historically been the third largest EB-5 source country. Filing volumes have been steady at approximately 200 to 400 petitions per year. Vietnam previously had its own visa bulletin cutoff date through July 2021, but has been Current since August 2021.
Strategy Considerations
Vietnamese investors currently face no visa backlog in any category. All EB-5 categories (unreserved and set-aside) are available without wait. The primary timeline consideration is processing time rather than visa availability.
Processing Time by Category
| Category | Processing Time | Visa Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Rural (20% set-aside) | 11 to 17 months | Current |
| HUA (10% set-aside) | 24 to 36 months | Current |
| Unreserved | 36 to 52 months | Current |
Set-Aside Category Status
All categories Current. No backlog in any category.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Vietnam EB-5 wait time?
Can Vietnam investors avoid the EB-5 backlog?
What is the current Vietnam EB-5 final action date?
How this data was calculated
Backlog data combines USCIS FOIA releases (approved-awaiting counts) with Department of State visa bulletin final action dates. Wait time estimates are derived from the gap between the final action date and today, assuming current visa allocation rates continue.
Data Update History
Initial publication with FY2025 Q3 data
Apr 7, 2026·Initial publication
Verified against April 2026 visa bulletin
Mar 30, 2026·Data refresh