EB-5 Investment Amounts: Current vs Historical Comparison
The EB-5 minimum investment has changed several times since the program began in 1990. This page tracks every threshold change, from the original amounts through the Reform and Integrity Act, along with projected CPI adjustments.
Key Takeaways
- 1The current EB-5 minimum investment is $800,000 for targeted employment areas (TEAs) and $1,050,000 for standard (non-TEA) projects, set by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.
- 2From 1990 through 2019, the TEA minimum remained at $500,000 and the standard minimum at $1,000,000, unchanged for nearly three decades.
- 3USCIS is required to adjust investment thresholds every five years based on the Consumer Price Index. The first CPI adjustment is projected for January 1, 2027.
- 4Investors who file I-526E before January 1, 2027, can lock in the current $800,000 TEA minimum, even if the petition is adjudicated after the increase takes effect.
Current Investment Minimums (2022 to Present)
| Category | Minimum Investment | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| TEA (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) | $800,000 | RIA § 102 |
| Standard (Non-TEA) | $1,050,000 | RIA § 102 |
These amounts were established by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-103, Division BB) and took effect on March 15, 2022.
Historical Timeline of EB-5 Investment Thresholds
1990 to 2019: Original Thresholds
The Immigration Act of 1990 set the EB-5 minimum at $1,000,000 for standard projects and $500,000 for targeted employment areas. These amounts remained unchanged for nearly 30 years, as Congress never enacted a statutory adjustment mechanism during this period.
November 2019 to June 2021: Regulatory Increase
USCIS published a final rule (EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization) that raised the minimum to $1,800,000 for standard projects and $900,000 for TEA projects. These amounts took effect on November 21, 2019. A federal court subsequently vacated the rule in June 2021, temporarily restoring the pre-2019 amounts for a brief period.
July 2021 to March 2022: Regional Center Program Lapse
The EB-5 Regional Center Program expired on June 30, 2021. During the lapse, no new regional center petitions could be filed. Direct EB-5 investment remained available at the original $1,000,000 / $500,000 thresholds, but most investors paused filings while awaiting reauthorization.
March 2022 Onward: Reform and Integrity Act
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), signed into law on March 15, 2022, reauthorized the Regional Center Program and set new investment thresholds: $1,050,000 for standard projects and $800,000 for TEA projects. The RIA also introduced a mandatory CPI adjustment every five years.
January 2027 (Projected): First CPI Adjustment
Based on Consumer Price Index trends, the TEA minimum is projected to increase to approximately ~$900,000 and the standard minimum to approximately ~$1,100,000. USCIS will publish the exact figures before the adjustment date. Petitions filed before January 1, 2027, will be evaluated at the current thresholds.
Investment Amounts by Era
| Period | TEA Minimum | Standard Minimum | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 to Nov 2019 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | INA § 203(b)(5) |
| Nov 2019 to Jun 2021 | $900,000 | $1,800,000 | 84 FR 35750 |
| Jul 2021 to Mar 2022 | Regional Center Program lapsed; direct EB-5 only at $500K / $1M | Program expiration | |
| Mar 2022 to Present | $800,000 | $1,050,000 | RIA § 102 |
| Jan 2027 (Projected) | ~$900,000 | ~$1,100,000 | CPI-U Projection |
2027 projections are estimates based on CPI-U trends. Final amounts will be published by USCIS before the adjustment date.
TEA vs Standard Investment: Why the Difference?
Since 1990, Congress has maintained a two-tier investment structure. The lower TEA threshold is designed to channel immigrant investor capital toward areas with the greatest economic need: rural communities with populations under 20,000, urban census tracts with unemployment at 150% or more of the national average, and qualifying infrastructure projects.
The standard (non-TEA) amount applies to projects located outside designated targeted employment areas. In practice, the vast majority of EB-5 investors choose TEA projects because the lower minimum reduces the total capital at risk while still providing the same immigration benefit.
Under the RIA, TEA designations for rural areas are determined by the project location, while high unemployment area (HUA) designations must be approved by USCIS directly, removing the prior practice of states gerrymandering census tracts to qualify urban projects.
Rural vs Urban vs Infrastructure: TEA Category Breakdown
| TEA Category | Investment Minimum | Key Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | $800,000 | Reserved visa set-asides (20%), priority processing, no visa backlog for most nationalities |
| High Unemployment | $800,000 | Reserved visa set-asides (10%), urban locations available, USCIS designates the area |
| Infrastructure | $800,000 | Reserved visa set-asides (2%), government entity projects, public infrastructure focus |
| Non-TEA (Standard) | $1,050,000 | No reserved set-asides; unreserved visa category; wider project selection in metro areas |
All TEA categories share the same $800,000 minimum. The differences lie in visa set-aside allocations, processing priority, and project location requirements. For a deeper comparison, see the Rural vs Urban vs Infrastructure comparison.