Questions and Answers > EB-5 Investments

How much money total is required for an EB-5 visa?

I have about $700,000 in savings to invest and I make $150,000 a year. I thought I would have enough for the EB-5 program because the USCIS website said only $500,000 is needed in a TEA. Now I am not so sure because of all the extra costs. What add-on fees are there for an EB-5 visa? How much money total is really required to receive an EB-5 green card in a TEA?

Answers

• Julia Roussinova

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 25, 2015

  The investment amount through a regional center with a project in a TEA or rural area is currently $500,000. Regional centers do charge syndication or subscription fees which range from $25,000 to $50,000 on average. Other costs include legal fees for your immigration attorney, a USCIS filing fee, translation of foreign documents as applicable in your case, and fees charged by other processionals such as investment brokers, a CPA, etc., as may be applicable in your case.

• John J Downey

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  It will in some way depend on which project you choose. Many regional center projects charge an administrative fee of anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000. The filing fees are $1,500 and you may wish to be represented by your own attorney, another expense.

• Ed Beshara

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  Based upon current EB-5 regulations, policies and practices, the amount for an investment in a TEA may include the following: $500,000 for the investment, an estimated $45,000 to $55,000 for the administrative fee, and to obtain the conditional permanent residency - the attorney's fees of $20,000 plus costs.

• Lynne Feldman

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  About $575,000, but it varies from Service Center to Service Center and from attorney to attorney.

• Jinhee Wilde

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  Accredited investor eligibility for the EB-5 program is either having $200,000 or more per year income for the past three years or having net assets of $1 million. The actual cost of investment for a TEA-located project is $500,000, and if you invest with a regional center project they have a minimum $50,000 for their syndication/administrative fees. There are legal fees associated with preparing and filing the I-526 and then two years later the I-829 and, of course, the USCIS filing fee of $1500 for the I-526 and $3750 for I-829 currently, as well as a $345 per person filing fee for immigrant visa applications to the Department of State.

• Shahzad Q Qadri

  RC Creator

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  Depending on the project - $700,000 should be more than enough to cover the associated costs.

• Salvatore Picataggio

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  Besides the actual investment, most regional centers have an additional administrative fee to cover their costs of maintaining their EB-5 offering. You should also retain immigration counsel to prepare and file the petition for USCIS. There are filing fees as well. Retaining an investment adviser may also be helpful. It is not impossible for an extra $50,000 to $100,000 in fees and costs to be added to the investment. These extra fees and costs do not need to be authenticated as strictly as the main investment amount.

• Robert V Cornish Jr

  Securities Attorney

  Answered on August 24, 2015

  You should budget at least $50,000 for U.S. counsel, which should include INDEPENDENT immigration counsel AND securities counsel of your choosing and not that of an investment sponsor. You will likely also will have an administrative fee of $30,000 - $50,000 to the regional center operation running the investment. This of course does not include fees to any immigration attorney in your home country. You should also consider retaining an accountant to assist you in tax planning related to immigration.