EB-5 Visa Requirements:
A Complete Guide for Global InvestorsÂ
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program is the United States government’s pathway to a US Green Card by Investment. To qualify, foreign investors must meet a clear set of EB-5 requirements covering capital, source of funds, job creation, and project compliance. This guide explains each requirement and how LCR Capital Partners works alongside you to meet the standards set by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).Â
Quick Answers
The Five Core EB-5 RequirementsÂ
- Invest a minimum of $800,000 in a USCIS-approved business in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), or $1,050,000 in a non-TEA (but still USCIS-approved) project.
- Document a lawful source of funds.
- Keep capital fully at risk throughout the sustainment period.
- Create at least 10 full-time US jobs per investor.
- Pass background and admissibility checks for the investor and qualifying family members.Â
EB-5 Cost
The EB-5 program requires a minimum capital investment in a new commercial enterprise that creates American jobs. Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the thresholds are:
- $800,000 if the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) — a rural area or a high-unemployment area designated by USCIS.
- $1,050,000 for investments outside a TEA.Â
In addition to the qualifying investment, investors typically pay an EB-5 administration fee — generally around $70,000 — to cover project structuring, compliance, and reporting.Â
All LCR projects qualify as TEA investments (either rural eb5 projects or hua eb5 projects), allowing eligible investors and their families to access the EB-5 program at the $800,000 minimum and benefit from priority visa processing for rural and high-unemployment set-asides.Â
EB-5 Source of Funds RequirementÂ
Every EB-5 applicant must clearly demonstrate that the invested capital, and their EB-5 administration fee, comes from a lawful source. This is one of the most heavily scrutinized parts of the I-526E petition, and accurate documentation is essential to avoid delays or denials.Â
Acceptable EB-5 Sources of FundsÂ
Earnings, salary, and accumulated savings
Dividends or distributions from a lawfully owned businessÂ
Proceeds from the sale of real estate or other assets
Gifts from family members, with corresponding documentation of the donor’s source of funds
Inheritance, supported by legal recordsÂ
Loans properly collateralized by the applicant’s personal assetsÂ
LCR works closely with experienced EB-5 immigration attorneys and tax advisors to help you build a clean, well-documented source of funds narrative (translated and certified where needed) that meets USCIS evidentiary standards.
"At-Risk" Capital RequirementÂ
Per US law, EB-5 capital must remain fully at risk throughout the investor’s immigration journey, until the end of the sustainment period. In practical terms, this means:Â
Your capital must be fully deployed into the qualifying project.Â
You cannot be offered any guaranteed return of, or on, capital.Â
You cannot hold redemption rights on the invested capital.Â
This requirement protects the integrity of the program and ensures that EB-5 capital genuinely supports US economic development. LCR structures every project in strict compliance with the at-risk rule, and we explain the implications transparently before you commit.Â
EB-5 Job Creation RequirementÂ
Each EB-5 investor must support the creation of at least 10 full-time American jobs. This is the heart of the program: foreign investment is welcomed because it builds US businesses and employs US workers.Â
How Jobs Are CountedÂ
DIRECT JOBS
W-2 positions created by the new commercial enterprise (typical of direct EB-5 investments)
INDIRECT AND INDUCED JOBS
Economic-impact jobs counted through approved econometric models, available to investors in EB-5 Regional Center projects.
LCR sponsors EB-5 projects through USCIS-designated Regional Centers, which allows investors to count both direct and indirect jobs. We engineer each project to generate a meaningful job creation buffer well above the 10-job minimum, providing an additional layer of protection for your I-829 approval (the permanent green card phase).
Investor Eligibility and Background RequirementsÂ
EB-5 visa eligibility extends beyond financial criteria. The investor (and any qualifying family members included in the application) must also meet US admissibility standards. This includes:Â
Eligible family members include the investor’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 at the time of filing. Each receives the same timeline for the conditional Green Card as the principal applicant, allowing the entire immediate family to relocate, study, and work in the United States together.Â
LCR's Responsibility: Project Compliance and Investor ProtectionÂ
Meeting the EB-5 requirements is a shared responsibility. Whereas the investor must qualify according to capital, source of funds, and admissibility, the project sponsor is responsible for delivering a compliant, USCIS-ready offering. At LCR Capital Partners, we hold ourselves to the highest fiduciary standard.Â
At the I-526 Stage
— Project DocumentationÂ
LCR provides every investor with a complete EB-5 documentation package (the I-526 template), including the Private Placement Memorandum (PPM), business plan, and econometric report. All are structured to meet USCIS standards for new commercial enterprises and Regional Center compliance.Â
At the I-829 Stage
— Proof of Job CreationÂ
LCR delivers the evidence USCIS requires to lift the conditions on your Green Card: documented proof that the project has created at least 10 full-time US jobs for each EB-5 investor it admits and that your capital was maintained at risk throughout the sustainment period.
LCR's StandardÂ
LCR will not accept an EB-5 investor who does not meet all the requirements above. Our commitment to compliance protects your application, your capital, and the future you are building in the United States.Â
FAQs
What is the minimum investment for the EB-5 visa?
The minimum EB-5 investment is $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (rural or high-unemployment) and $1,050,000 outside a TEA. Investors also pay an administration fee, typically around $70,000.Â
How many jobs must an EB-5 project create?
Each EB-5 investor must support the creation of at least 10 full-time US jobs. Through Regional Center projects, investors can count direct, indirect, and induced jobs using USCIS-approved economic models.
What documents prove the source of funds for EB-5?
Common evidence includes tax returns, bank statements, business financials, asset sale records, gift letters with the donor’s source-of-funds documentation, inheritance records, and loan agreements with collateral evidence. All documents must trace the path of funds clearly to a lawful origin.
Who can be included in an EB-5 application?
The principal investor, their spouse, and unmarried children under the age of 21 at the time of filing can all be included and receive Green Cards together.Â
Can the EB-5 investment be guaranteed?
No. US law requires EB-5 capital to remain fully at risk through the sustainment period. Investors cannot be offered guaranteed returns or redemption rights on their capital.
How long does the EB-5 process take?
Timelines vary based on country of origin and project type. Investments in rural TEAs benefit from priority processing, which can meaningfully shorten the path from I-526E filing to receipt of the conditional Green Card.Â
Take the Next Step Toward Your US Green Card by InvestmentÂ
Since 2012, LCR Capital Partners has guided more than 1,000 families to the United States through the EB-5 program.
Contact us today to schedule a private consultation and learn how our USCIS-approved projects can help you meet every EB-5 requirement — and protect your family’s legacy through US residency by investment.Â
