(Reviewed June 2025 by Eb5 investors editorial)
How to get Permanent Residence in America (Green Card) Through the EB-5 Program
Find out how to start your EB-5 visa application process in this easy step by step guide. There are four general steps that investors must complete to become U.S. permanent residents through the EB-5 visa program. Once these steps have been completed, EB-5 investors, their spouse, and their unmarried children under the age of 21 can apply to become U.S. permanent residents with a green card. They will also have the option to apply to become U.S. citizens five years after obtaining their permanent residency.
Step 1: Locating an EB-5 Project
The EB-5 visa applicant must first find a suitable business project to invest in. EB-5 business projects generally take the form of either new commercial enterprises or regional center projects. Overseas migration agents often help EB-5 investors locate the project that best suits their needs. Applicants must also ensure that they meet accredited investor income requirements in order to move forward with the EB-5 process.
Step 2: EB-5 Capital Investment and I-526 Petition
After choosing a project to invest in, the applicants must make the required EB-5 capital investment amount in the project that they have chosen. The current investment amounts for 2025 are $1.05 million, or $800,000 if the project is situated in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). These investments are often made into an escrow account. Then, an EB-5 visa attorney provides proof of this investment by filing an I-526 petition with USCIS. USCIS typically informs applicants whether or not their I-526 petition has been accepted after an average of 62 months. Most regional centers will refund your investment if your I-526 is denied.
Step 3: Two-Year Conditional Permanent Residency for EB-5
The third step of the EB-5 visa application process is for the applicant to become a two-year conditional resident of the United States so they can implement the project funded by their EB-5 investment. EB-5 investors are eligible to become U.S. residents once their I-526 petition has been approved by USCIS. Residency can be attained in one of two ways:
- If the EB-5 investor already has lawful status in the United States, then they must file form I-485 to adjust their status to conditional permanent resident
- If the investor does not already have lawful status in the United States, then they must file for an immigrant visa by submitting form DS-260 to the National Visa Center and they must process through the U.S. consulate or embassy in their home country.
- Both of these steps typically require the help of an immigration attorney and the immigrant visa is issued in about six to twelve months. During the two-year conditional residency period, the investor is required to fulfill physical presence requirements and cannot remain outside of the United States for more than one year without obtaining a re-entry permit.
Step 4: Unconditional Permanent Residency and the I-829 Petition
The final step in the EB-5 visa process is for applicants to become unconditional permanent residents by removing their two-year conditional status. The I-829 petition is submitted to USCIS 90 days prior to the second anniversary of the date that the EB-5 applicant first received their conditional residency. This application proves that the investor has met all requirements of the EB-5 visa program. USCIS most often issues a permanent green card an average of 46 months after the I-829 has been submitted. The investor, their spouse, and their unmarried children under the age of 21 can then permanently live and work in the United States and have the option to apply to become U.S. citizens after a five-year period from the date they received their initial conditional residency.
