Selected Route

USA EB-5 - Green Card Through Real Estate Investment

A direct path to US permanent residency through qualified real estate investment. $800k TEA threshold, regional center access, and structured guidance for international investors.

Market in One Minute

The EB-5 programme offers US permanent residency (Green Card) through a qualifying investment of USD 800,000 or more in a new commercial enterprise within a Targeted Employment Area (or USD 1,050,000 for non-TEA). The programme was reformed in 2022 under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, which strengthened investor protections and introduced reserved visa categories for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects. The Regional Center route - used by most project-based investors - is currently authorised through 30 September 2027; the direct EB-5 category remains in permanent statute. Processing times vary significantly by category and nationality. Real estate-linked projects are common but this is an immigration investment, not a traditional property purchase. High threshold, specialist-dependent, but valuable for families prioritising long-term US residency and access.

Why This Route Matters

US permanent residency through qualifying EB-5 investment for internationally mobile families and investors prioritising long-term American access

Key Market Data

Cycle Status:

transitional

Confidence:

mixed

Minimum Investment (TEA/Infrastructure)

USD 800,000

USCIS EB-5 Programme

Minimum Investment (Non-TEA)

USD 1,050,000

USCIS EB-5 Programme

Job Creation Requirement

10 full-time US jobs per investor

USCIS EB-5 Programme

Annual Visa Allocation

Approximately 10,000 visas per fiscal year (includes spouses and children). Reserved: 20% rural, 10% high unemployment, 2% infrastructure

US Department of State

Programme Status

Regional Center route authorised through 30 September 2027 under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act; direct EB-5 remains in permanent statute

EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act 2022

Timing Context

Investment Areas

Who This Route Fits

Family Green Card Seeker

Internationally mobile family prioritising long-term US access for education, lifestyle, or business reasons. Values permanent residency over temporary visas. Prepared for higher threshold and longer timeline.

Business Founder with US Ambitions

Entrepreneur or founder seeking US permanent residency to support business expansion, talent recruitment, or market access. EB-5 provides Green Card without employer dependency.

Portfolio Diversifier with Immigration Goal

HNWI allocating capital to US-based projects with the added benefit of permanent residency. Views EB-5 as part of broader wealth structuring and international optionality strategy.

Who This Route May Not Suit

Investors seeking quick returns or short timelines. Those looking for direct property ownership and rental income. Buyers uncomfortable with multi-year processing uncertainty. Investors unable to commit USD 800,000+ for extended lock-up periods. Those seeking a simple property purchase rather than an immigration investment.

Risk and Timing Assessment

Project Selection Risk

elevated

Not all EB-5 projects succeed. Some have failed to create required jobs or return investor capital. Project due diligence is critical and requires specialist expertise.

How we help:

Engage experienced EB-5 immigration attorney and independent financial advisor. Evaluate Regional Centre track record, project financials, and job creation methodology. Never rely solely on project marketing materials.

Processing Time Uncertainty

elevated

USCIS processing times vary significantly and can extend to 2+ years for I-526E approval. Visa retrogression affects Indian and Chinese nationals with additional multi-year waits.

How we help:

Rural TEA projects benefit from visa set-asides with faster processing. Plan for extended timelines. Consider concurrent filing options if already in the US on another visa status.

Capital Lock-Up Period

medium

Investment capital is typically locked for 5-7+ years. Early return of capital is generally not possible without jeopardising immigration benefit. This is not a liquid investment.

How we help:

Only commit capital you can afford to have illiquid for an extended period. Understand the project repayment timeline before investing. Factor lock-up into overall portfolio planning.

Regulatory and Programme Changes

medium

While the direct EB-5 category is in permanent statute, the Regional Center programme is currently authorised through 30 September 2027. USCIS policies, processing priorities, fee structures, and integrity requirements continue to evolve. Reauthorisation risk exists for Regional Center investors.

How we help:

Work with attorneys who monitor regulatory developments. File applications promptly - the RIA includes provisions that may allow certain post-RIA investors to retain processing eligibility if the Regional Center programme lapses, subject to specific conditions such as reassociation with another approved regional center. However, these protections are not automatic and depend on individual circumstances. Maintain compliance with all programme requirements throughout the process.

Visa Retrogression for High-Demand Countries

elevated

Indian and Chinese nationals face significant visa backlogs in the unreserved EB-5 category due to per-country caps. As of April 2026, unreserved EB-5 visas are backlogged for India and China, while reserved categories (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) remain current. Rural TEA set-asides provide meaningful relief but do not eliminate all waiting periods.

How we help:

Rural TEA set-aside visas may offer faster processing for affected nationalities. Explore concurrent filing options. Factor nationality-specific timelines into planning.

Current Uncertainty

EB-5 programme has undergone significant reform. Processing times remain long and variable. Project selection carries meaningful risk. Regional Centre compliance requirements have increased. Visa retrogression affects some nationalities (particularly India and China) with multi-year backlogs.

How EB-5 Compares to Other Routes

UAE offers faster processing, lower threshold (AED 2M / ~USD 545K for property), and zero income tax. But UAE provides a renewable visa, not permanent residency or citizenship pathway. EB-5 provides a US Green Card with path to citizenship.

This market wins on:

US Green Card (permanent), path to citizenship, access to US education and healthcare systems, global credibility

Other market wins on:

Lower threshold, faster processing, zero income tax, direct property ownership, simpler process

Greece offers EU residency through direct property ownership at lower thresholds (EUR 250K+). EB-5 is an investment into a project (not direct property ownership) at a much higher threshold. Different outcomes: EU Schengen access vs US permanent residency.

This market wins on:

US permanent residency, path to US citizenship, access to US market and institutions

Other market wins on:

Much lower threshold, direct property ownership, EU-wide access, shorter processing, rental income

UK route requires an endorsed business plan rather than passive capital investment. Lower capital requirement but active business involvement needed. Different country, different lifestyle proposition.

This market wins on:

Passive investment (no active business required), US market access, clearer permanent residency pathway

Other market wins on:

Lower capital requirement, active involvement gives business control, UK/European lifestyle

Decision Axes

Immigration outcome (Green Card vs visa/permit), investment threshold, processing timeline, capital return risk, family inclusion, lifestyle and location flexibility

This market is probably not right if...

You want direct property ownership with rental income. You need residency within 12 months. You are uncomfortable with capital being locked in a project for 5+ years. You want a low-cost residency option.

EB-5 Investor Visa Programme

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme

USD 800,000 (TEA) / USD 1,050,000 (Non-TEA)

Capital investment in a qualifying new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time US jobs. Investment must be lawfully sourced and at risk. Comprehensive source-of-funds documentation required. Clean background and admissibility checks. Regional Center or direct investment pathway. USCIS approval of Regional Center and project filings (Form I-956F) does not constitute endorsement of the investment or compliance with securities laws.

EB-5 is a complex immigration and investment programme administered by USCIS. LION & LAND does not provide immigration legal advice, securities advice, or project-specific investment recommendations. USCIS approval of Regional Center or project filings does not constitute endorsement of the investment. Qualified US immigration attorneys and SEC-compliant financial advisors are essential for all EB-5 decisions.

EB-5 is a complex immigration programme with significant financial and legal implications. LION & LAND does not provide immigration legal advice, securities advice, or project-specific investment recommendations. Qualified US immigration attorneys and financial advisors must be engaged for all EB-5 decisions. Processing times, regulations, and programme rules are subject to change.

Our Approach to EB-5

LION & LAND provides strategic context and decision support for clients considering EB-5 as part of a broader cross-border residency and property strategy. We help clients understand how EB-5 fits relative to other routes and connect them with qualified specialists.

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EB-5 Decision Support

LION & LAND helps clients understand how EB-5 fits within a broader cross-border residency and property strategy. We provide context on how EB-5 compares to alternative routes and connect clients with qualified specialists.

EB-5 is complex and high-stakes. Having strategic context before engaging specialists helps clients ask better questions and make more informed decisions.

LION & LAND does not sponsor, recommend, or evaluate specific EB-5 projects. Not a licensed immigration firm or securities broker.

advisory

Cross-Border Comparison Framework

LION & LAND helps clients compare EB-5 against alternative residency routes across our covered markets, ensuring the decision accounts for threshold, timeline, risk, lifestyle, and long-term strategic fit.

Many clients considering EB-5 should also evaluate UAE, EU, or UK routes. Comparative analysis prevents overcommitting to one option without understanding alternatives.

Not a substitute for qualified legal advice on any specific immigration programme.

LION & LAND is not a licensed US immigration firm, securities broker, or EB-5 project sponsor. All EB-5 decisions require independent legal and financial counsel. We do not recommend specific projects or guarantee outcomes.

Route Fit Assessment

EB-5 scores strong on strategic optionality (US Green Card is the highest-value immigration outcome for many investors) but faces challenges on execution clarity (complex, specialist-dependent) and income efficiency (capital is locked, no direct rental income). Market timing is transitional post-reform.

Income Efficiency

Weak

EB-5 is not an income-generating investment. Capital is locked in a project with no rental yield. Returns, if any, depend on project structure and are secondary to the immigration benefit.

Strategic Optionality

Strong

US Green Card is among the highest-value immigration outcomes globally. Path to citizenship. Access to US education, healthcare, business infrastructure. Family inclusion (spouse and unmarried children under 21).

Execution Clarity

Weak

Complex, specialist-dependent process. Long processing times. Project selection requires deep due diligence. Multiple government agencies involved. Regulatory environment still evolving post-reform.

Market Timing Signal

Market-Dependent

Post-reform environment offers stronger protections. Rural TEA set-asides provide faster processing. But individual project quality varies enormously and general timing signals are less relevant than project-specific analysis.

Concentration & Liquidity

Weak

Capital is locked for 5-7+ years with no liquidity. Early exit generally not possible without losing immigration benefit. This is the least liquid of all residency investment routes.

Assessment reflects cross-border buyer perspective comparing EB-5 against alternative residency routes globally. Not a recommendation to invest in any specific EB-5 project.

How We Support Your EB-5 Evaluation

Strategic Context Discussion

We help you understand how EB-5 fits your broader cross-border residency strategy. Compare against alternative routes. Assess whether the threshold, timeline, and risk profile match your goals.

Specialist Referral

We connect you with qualified US immigration attorneys experienced in EB-5. Independent legal counsel is essential for programme eligibility assessment, project evaluation, and application strategy.

Project Evaluation (Attorney-Led)

Your immigration attorney guides project selection and due diligence. This includes Regional Centre track record, job creation methodology, financial structure, and repayment terms. LION & LAND does not evaluate or recommend specific projects.

Investment and Filing

Capital commitment and I-526E petition filing through your attorney. Source of funds documentation preparation. USCIS processing and adjudication. Timeline varies by project type and nationality.

Conditional and Permanent Residency

Upon I-526E approval and visa availability, proceed to conditional Green Card through either adjustment of status (if in the US) or consular processing (if abroad). Two-year conditional permanent residency period begins upon admission. Before the conditional period expires, file Form I-829 petition to remove conditions by demonstrating that investment was sustained and job creation requirements were met. Upon I-829 approval, conditions are removed and permanent residency is confirmed.

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