EB-5 Visa USA: Invest for a U.S. Green Card for You and Your Family
For investors with significant capital who want permanent U.S. residence and want to know, before choosing a project, whether the EB-5 fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- The EB-5 is a green card for investors. The standard amount is $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, for petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022.
- USCIS says these amounts adjust automatically on 1 January 2027 and every five years after that. Check the current figure before you plan.
- Your investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs. Direct investors count only direct jobs. Regional center investors can count indirect jobs.
- Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 get green cards with you. All start on two-year conditional residence.
- AIA does not give investment advice or sell projects. We check your fit and connect you with independent U.S. attorneys.
Why do EB-5 plans go wrong?
Most EB-5 problems come from choosing a project before checking your funds, the program rules and your own goals. USCIS looks at whether your money is lawfully yours, whether the business is a real for-profit enterprise, and whether it creates at least 10 full-time jobs. A wrong choice can tie up a large sum, and USCIS filing fees are generally not refunded (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. A project sounds safe because a promoter said so. You move money before anyone has traced where it came from. Or you plan around an amount that has since changed.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel cautious, because the sums are large. You feel pressured, because promoters move fast. And you feel alone, because few people will tell you when EB-5 is the wrong tool.
None of that means you made a mistake. It means you need someone who checks the visa side before you commit.
Who is behind your EB-5 plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you check your fit and plan your route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing. We do not give investment advice, and we do not sell projects.
Empathy: We know how heavy it feels to move a large sum for your family’s future.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many people choosing between the United States and Canada.
Philosophy: We believe you should check your funds and your route before you look at a project. We believe a good advisor tells you when the EB-5 is the wrong tool. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
What is the EB-5 visa?
The EB-5 is a U.S. green card for people who invest in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. The standard amount is $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, for petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022 (USCIS). Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get green cards with you.
You start with two-year conditional residence. Near the end of that period, you file Form I-829 to remove the conditions, within the 90 days before the second anniversary.
It is a green card route, not a visa that expires. If the conditions are removed, you hold permanent residence.
Who qualifies for the EB-5?
You qualify if you invest the required amount of capital that you legally own, in a for-profit business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. Capital means cash and other assets you own and control, and it excludes assets obtained by unlawful means. Full-time means at least 35 working hours a week (USCIS).
Here are the requirements, in plain words:
- Amount: $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project. USCIS says the amounts adjust automatically on 1 January 2027 and every five years after that.
- Your capital: you legally own it, and it did not come from unlawful activity.
- A real business: a for-profit business formed for the ongoing conduct of lawful business.
- Jobs: at least 10 qualifying full-time positions.
What is the difference between direct and regional center investing?
A direct investment creates the jobs inside your own business, while a regional center investment can count indirect jobs, up to 90 percent of the requirement. Direct investors file Form I-526, and regional center investors file Form I-526E (USCIS). The Regional Center Program is authorized through 30 September 2027, and USCIS has not said what happens after that date.
| Direct (standalone) | Regional center | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | I-526 | I-526E |
| Jobs | Only jobs your business creates directly | Direct and indirect jobs, with up to 90% indirect |
| Your role | You run or oversee the business | You invest through a pool |
| Watch for | Your business must employ the workers | The program is authorized through 30 September 2027. The 30 September 2026 grandfathering date for I-526E filings has passed |
Congress also reserved 20 percent of EB-5 visas for rural areas, 10 percent for high unemployment areas and 2 percent for infrastructure projects.
Who this is not for. The EB-5 is a large commitment, so it fits only a small group of investors. If you want to invest less and run a business, look at the E-2. If your record is strong, look at the EB-2 NIW or the EB-1A, which need no investment.
Not sure which side of the line you are on? The short form tells you, in a few minutes.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you check your fit, test your route, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you who files. We do not give investment advice, we do not sell projects, and we do not give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Route check | A clear view of whether EB-5, E-2 or a no-investment route fits | You do not commit capital to the wrong route |
| Funds check | A list of proof to gather about your capital | You avoid delays later |
| Direct or regional center view | A plain comparison for your situation | You choose with your eyes open |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and files | You can trust the legal side |
Think of us as the person who reads the map with you. The attorney drives the car.
How the EB-5 process works
You take three steps: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you check your fit and organize your funds, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your citizenship, your capital and what you want from the U.S.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit the EB-5, we call you to go over your route and what to gather.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, and file Form I-526 or I-526E for you once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most investors ask three things before they start: how much to invest, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
How much do I need to invest for the EB-5?
You need $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, for petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022. USCIS says the amounts adjust automatically on 1 January 2027 and every five years after that (USCIS Policy Manual). Check the current amount before you plan.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get green cards through your case (USCIS). Everyone starts on two-year conditional residence, and each family member must file to remove the conditions. Children who turn 21 may lose eligibility, so timing matters.
What does the EB-5 cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the investment itself, the government, and your attorney. Government fees are set by USCIS, and each attorney sets their own fees. The investment is the largest part, and it is invested in the business, not paid to us.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Checking your route first is the cheaper path.
How long does the process take?
It depends on your country, your project type, how ready your documents are and how busy USCIS is. Some countries also have a Visa Bulletin wait for green cards. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The short form and route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when the EB-5 is the wrong tool. If another route fits better, we say so before you spend money.
A better-fitting route beats a hopeful investment.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep guessing, and rules or amounts can change under you. If you check your route first, you move forward with the right plan and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year with large funds sitting idle, and a plan built on an amount that may have moved. A filing that does not fit costs you months and fees you will not get back.
If you act now: you know whether the EB-5 fits, you know what to gather, and you know who files your case. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
