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The standard minimum investment amount for an EB-5 visa is $1 million, but it can be reduced to$500,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA), which is either rural or has high unemployment.

A Targeted Employment Area (TEA) is either a rural area or an area that has experienced unemployment at a rate of at least 150% of the national average. Investments in TEAs qualify for a reduced EB-5 investment threshold.

The EB-5 visa provides a method for eligible Immigrant Investors to become lawful permanent residents — that is, green card holders — of the United States by investing a significant amount of money in projects that will create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.

EB-5 applicants can choose to invest directly in a new commercial enterprise or through a Regional Center. Direct investment requires an active role in the management, whereas Regional Center investments can be more passive.

An EB-5 investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years of the immigrant investor’s admission to the United States as a Conditional Permanent Resident.

To begin the EB-5 visa application process, an applicant must file Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).