How can an Iranian citizen get an EB-5 green card?

The EB-5 requirements are the same for every EB-5 investor, regardless of his or her country of nationality. The license to which you refer, the OFAC license, is required only in certain circumstances. You should consult with an experienced EB-5 immigration attorney who has represented Iranian investors successfully in the past regarding your source of funds and path of funds options. You may be surprised at how easy it is; in 2014, EB-5 investors from Iran were in eighth place worldwide for EB-5 green cards.

Yes you are correct - we have to get clearance from the feds to move your funds to the United States.

As an Iranian citizen you can apply for an EB-5 green card. While the funds cannot come directly from Iran to the United States, they can be transferred from a third country to the U.S.

You can apply for EB-5 status, but I believe you need a form from the Treasury Dept. to help verify the sources of funds.

In most cases the OFAC license is no longer being required. You would visa process in Dubai or Turkey.

The EB-5 visa program is open to Iranian citizens. No special license is required unless the funds used are embargoed, in which case OFAC clearance is required. You should contact an experienced EB-5 attorney to discuss your case to determine whether any restrictions apply in your case.

Iranian citizens can now apply for EB-5 without any license, as long as the funds transferred to the United States are their personal funds and do not come from a government-run bank in Iran. Most of our clients send the money to Dubai or other place and then have the funds wired to the United States. With proper planning, it can work fine. Be sure to get an experienced immigration lawyer to assist you!

You would need an OFAC determination and perhaps an OFAC license, but otherwise the process is the same. If you are in the United States you can meet with project principals and immigration attorneys in person, but we have many clients who do not enter the United States until they receive their conditional permanent residency.