What is the minimum EB-5 investment amount?

The minimum capital commitment is $800,000 for investments in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) and $1,050,000 elsewhere, under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.

Can I file an EB-5 change of status from inside the U.S.?

Yes. Applicants in valid nonimmigrant status (such as H-1B, L-1, F-1, O-1, or E-2) may file Form I-485 Adjustment of Status concurrently with Form I-526E when a visa number is available, along with Forms I-765 for work authorization and I-131 for advance parole. An EAD is typically issued within three to six months.

How long does the EB-5 process take?

A typical EB-5 journey takes 5 to 7 years from initial petition to removal of conditional permanent residency through Form I-829.

Who qualifies for EB-5?

Foreign nationals who can make the qualifying capital commitment from a lawful source, meet USCIS admissibility requirements, and — if located in the United States — qualify as accredited investors under SEC Regulation D.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Guide | Founders Initiative Funds

Q: What is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?

EB-5 is a U.S. immigration program administered by USCIS that allows qualified foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residency by investing in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.

Who We Serve

Built for high-achievers ready to build in America.

The EB-5 program is particularly well-suited for accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs whose capital, expertise, and ambition can translate directly into U.S. job creation. We work with clients from four primary profiles.

Physicians

Medical professionals on H-1B, J-1, or O-1 visas seeking an expedited path to permanent residency without employer sponsorship or waiver hurdles.

Technology Leaders

Highly compensated engineers, product leaders, and executives on H-1B or L-1 visas looking to decouple residency from a single employer.

Founders & Operators

Business builders whose vision and execution can be channeled into U.S. enterprises that generate real, countable jobs under the EB-5 framework.

Global Entrepreneurs

International investors and family offices pursuing U.S. permanent residency alongside meaningful participation in the American economy.

Our Edge

We match founders with developers.

Our specialty is pairing visa-seeking founders and high-earning professionals with a vetted network of U.S. project developers and operators. The result: shovel-ready, job-generating ventures that satisfy EB-5 requirements while putting founder capital and talent to their highest and best use.

Founder

Capital, vision, and drive.

Physicians, technologists, and entrepreneurs bringing qualifying capital and domain expertise to the table.

Developer

Shovel-ready U.S. projects.

Vetted operators with TEA-qualifying projects, clear job-creation math, and experienced execution teams.

Curated matchmaking — Every founder is paired with developers whose projects align with their timeline, capital, and immigration strategy.
Operator diligence — We screen developers for track record, capital stack integrity, and realistic job-creation projections before introductions are made.
Founder leverage — Experienced founders can channel industry expertise into board-level or advisory roles, multiplying the impact of their capital.
Compliance-first — All engagements are structured through USCIS-compliant documentation and appropriate securities frameworks.

10+

Full-time U.S. jobs created per investor — the minimum USCIS threshold under EB-5.

TEA

Targeted Employment Area projects qualify for the $800K reduced capital threshold.

1:1

Purpose-built pairing between founder capital and the right developer partner.

About the Program

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

Established by Congress in 1990 and administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the EB-5 program allows qualified foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residency by making a capital investment in a new commercial enterprise that creates jobs for U.S. workers.

Who it’s for — Foreign nationals who can make the qualifying capital commitment and pass USCIS source-of-funds review.
Two pathways — Direct EB-5 (invest in your own commercial enterprise) or Regional Center (invest through a USCIS-designated sponsor).
Capital thresholds — $800,000 for investments in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs); $1,050,000 elsewhere.
Job creation — Each investor must create or preserve at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.

How The Process Works

From capital commitment to permanent residency.

A typical EB-5 journey takes 5 to 7 years and passes through four major USCIS milestones.

Strategy

Evaluate profile, source-of-funds, and Direct vs. Regional Center pathway.

Petition

File Form I-526E with USCIS to begin the immigrant investor petition.

Approval

Receive conditional green card upon petition approval.

Removal

File Form I-829 to remove conditions and receive permanent residency.

Key Program Terms

Structure at a glance.

Reference figures from the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.

Minimum Capital (TEA)	$800,000
Minimum Capital (Non-TEA)	$1,050,000
Jobs Required per Investor	10 FTE
Primary Pathways	Direct / Regional Center
Petition Forms	I-526E → I-829
Typical Program Horizon	5–7 Years

Who May Qualify

General eligibility criteria.

Lawful source of funds — Capital must be traceable to lawful sources and fully documented for USCIS review.
At-risk investment — Funds must be placed at risk in a qualifying new commercial enterprise.
Job creation — The enterprise must create at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs tied to the investor.
TEA designation — Projects in Targeted Employment Areas qualify for the reduced $800,000 threshold.
Accredited investor (U.S. applicants) — Applicants located in the United States must qualify as accredited investors under SEC Regulation D — generally, individual or joint net worth above $1,000,000 (excluding primary residence), or individual income above $200,000 (or $300,000 joint) in each of the two most recent years.
Admissibility — Investor and dependents must meet standard U.S. immigration admissibility requirements.

For Existing U.S. Visa Holders

Change of status & work authorization in 3–6 months.

Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, applicants already in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant visa may file an Adjustment of Status and request work authorization concurrently with their I-526E petition — often receiving an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) within approximately three to six months.

Concurrent filing — File Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) together with Form I-526E when a visa number is available.
Work permit (EAD) — Submit Form I-765 with the I-485 to request open-market work authorization, typically issued in 3–6 months.
Advance parole — Submit Form I-131 alongside for permission to travel internationally while the case is pending.
Maintain status — Stay in valid status (e.g., H-1B, L-1, F-1, O-1, E-2) until the I-485 receipt provides interim protection.
Dependents included — Spouse and unmarried children under 21 may file derivative I-485, I-765, and I-131 applications.

Typical Timeline

I-526E + I-485 filing	Month 0
USCIS receipt notices	Weeks 2–6
Biometrics appointment	Months 1–3
EAD work permit issued	Months 3–6
Advance parole issued	Months 3–6
Conditional green card	Varies by case

Timelines are approximate and depend on USCIS processing, visa-bulletin availability, country of chargeability, and individual case facts. Consult qualified U.S. immigration counsel to confirm eligibility and filing strategy.

Get In Touch

Questions about the program?

Reach out for general EB-5 program information. We respond to qualified inquiries within two business days.

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Important notice. This website is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by means of formal offering documents to qualified persons in jurisdictions where lawful. The EB-5 program is subject to U.S. federal regulation and USCIS rules, which change from time to time. Consult qualified immigration counsel and a licensed securities professional before making any investment or immigration decision.