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EB5 Status

Numerical Cap

Also known as: Visa cap, annual limit, statutory limit

Policy · EB-5 Glossary

Definition

The congressionally mandated limit on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued in a given category per fiscal year. The EB-5 program is allocated approximately 10,000 visas annually (7.1% of the total 140,000 employment-based allocation), including derivative family members.

Context

The numerical cap, combined with per-country limits, is the fundamental constraint that creates EB-5 backlogs. When demand exceeds supply, the State Department imposes cutoff dates.

Official Data|INA § 203(b)(5)

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