EB5 Visa cost

The EB5 Visa is an investor visa that was launched in 1990 by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to attract foreign investments into the United States. The basic requirement to get the EB5 Visa is to invest at least $1,050,000, as a direct investment, or $800,000, as a regional investment, in a US commercial enterprise, and your investment must create ten full-time jobs for workers in the United States. However, in addition to the investment, there are many other costs that you will need to take into account before you begin an EB-5 Visa application.

You can refer to our expert guide on the EB-5 visa requirements for more information on the eligibility criteria.

Once you satisfy the requirements, you will be eligible for a green card for yourself and your family, with children under 21 years of age. The EB5 Visa is a powerful option for entrepreneurs and investors. In this article, we will discuss in detail the EB5 Visa cost throughout the application process.

How Much Does an EB5 Visa Cost?

As well as the minimum investment amount, there are many other costs that are involved in obtaining an EB5 Visa because of the various services and processes involved in the application process. The additional costs are as follows:

The administrative fee for the regional centers
I-526 petition filing fee
I-485 application processing fee
I-829 filing fee
Immigration lawyer legal fee
Tax on money invested
Relocation and travel expenses
Document translations

In the following sections, we shall discuss all these costs in detail.

EB5 Minimum Investment

The EB5 investment is your biggest and most important cost required to get the EB5 Visa. It is the minimum investment amount that you are required to invest in the US economy to be eligible for an EB5 Visa. The necessary investment to qualify for the EB5 Visa is $1,050,000. However, if you are investing in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), then the investment amount required is $800,000.

An area is considered a TEA if it is a rural area or it has a high unemployment rate. If you are keen to learn more about the TEA, go through our EB 5 investment visa in the USA article. The business that you invest in must be for profit and can be one of the following:

Business trust
Corporation
Joint venture
Own company
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Other privately or publicly owned structure

Investment rule change

If your petition is filed prior to November 21, 2019, then the minimum investment is at least $1 million, and for TEA it is $500,000. If it is after this date, then the minimum investment amount is $1.8 million, and $800,000 for TEA investment.

Administrative Fees for the Regional Centers

To be eligible for the EB5 Visa, you need to either make a direct investment or invest in a commercial enterprise associated with a regional center. A direct investment is where you invest in your own business, purchase an existing business, or invest in another business.

The regional center is a business entity that develops bigger projects, such as resorts and other major development projects. Regional centers are nominated by the USCIS, to accumulate EB5 investment funds from multiple investors. If you invest in a regional center, you will be classified as a limited member with voting rights and other similar rights.

Your role in the management and operations is very limited. The managing directors will take care of EB-5 job creation requirements, manage business operations, and be responsible for other management tasks. The regional centers charge a certain administrative fee to manage the projects. The administrative fee ranges from $50,000 to $70,000

I-526 Petition Filing Fee

The I-526 Petition, which is also known as the Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, is filed to show that you have invested the required amount in a suitable EB5 project or that you are in the process of investing.

These investment projects must be a part of a New Commercial Enterprise (NCE), and they can be either direct investments or through regional centers. The immigration attorney files the I-526 petitions on your behalf. The processing fee is $3,675, which includes the investor and the dependants. You will receive a notification of the status of your filing after a period of 29 to 50 months.

Business plan

If you opt for direct investment, then you are required to submit the EB5 business plan while filing your I-526. It is recommended to contact a company that is an expert in creating the EB5 and immigration business plans due to the specific requirements. The EB5 business plan usually costs $3,500. If you opt to invest in a regional center, the regional center will provide you with a business plan and all the other required project documents.

I-485 Application Processing Fee

The I-485 application is filed upon the approval of I-526. By filing the I-485, you can adjust your status within the US and acquire a conditional permanent residency. You and each of your dependents must file the I-485 petition individually.

This petition demands each of the applicants to disclose their biographical information, which helps the USCIS determine if they are eligible for permanent residence or not.

The immigration attorney files the I-485 petitions on your behalf. The processing fee for the petition is $1,140, and there is an additional $85 charge for the biometric services. If the dependent is under 14 years of age, then the processing fee is $750. The biometric charge is waived for applicants above 79 years and for those below 14 years of age.

I-829 Filing Fee

The I-829 is filed as the last step in attaining lawful permanent resident status in the United States. It is considered evidence that you have successfully met all the requirements listed by the USCIS.

Upon the approval of I-829, the conditional residency is changed to permanent residence for you, and your dependants (spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21).

The immigration attorney files the I-829 petitions on your behalf. The filing fee is $3,750, and there is an additional biometric processing charge of $85. The processing time for the I-829 application is 24.5 months to 45 months. Upon the approval of the application, you will be asked to attend an interview with the USCIS.

Immigration Lawyer Legal Fee

The job of an immigration attorney is to verify the business structure against the EB5 requirements. The primary focus is to ensure that your source of funds is compliant. The immigration lawyer fees for the regional center EB5 investment are considerably less than for the direct investment. The lawyer fee is to file all the paperwork, and the cost will depend on the firm that you hire.

Tax Considerations, Relocation, and Travel Expenses

Foreign nationals with EB5 Visas are considered to be temporary visa holders. You are subjected to US tax on your worldwide income, and you are required to disclose your foreign assets and accounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Before reporting your global income and investment to the US government, you must take the Substantial Presence Test (SPT), to determine how many days you have resided in the US in the past three years. The tax rules for the EB5 Visa are very complicated. It is recommended to consult a tax attorney to evaluate the tax consequences of getting a green card.

You must also consider the travel and relocation costs if applicable. At a minimum, you must plan your budget for one trip to enter the US to get a conditional green card. However, you should also take into consideration the costs of multiple trips to the US.

Document Translation

While applying for the EB5 investor visa, you will need to submit many different documents, including foreign bank statements, birth certificates, and so on. The documents in languages other than English must be translated into English with the help of a certified translator before you submit them to the USCIS. You must work with a certified document translation company, and their fees will vary from firm to firm and depend on how fast you need the documents to be translated.

Conclusion

The EB5 Visa is a wonderful opportunity for foreign investors to get a green card in the United States. The Eb5 Visa process is complex, with many steps, and there are multiple fees that you will need to consider. The EB5 immigrant visa is the fastest way to get US citizenship, it saves you time and gives you a chance to invest in the US economic growth. American citizenship is the real-valued prize payout, depending on your investment. Also, holding the most powerful passport in the world is very prestigious. Refer to the US passport ranking article to understand why according to the new Global Passport Index, the US passport is considered the most powerful passport in the world. The investment through the EB5 Visa offers small returns gain as a profit.

Why work with Global Citizen Solutions?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique investment migration consultancy firm focused on finding the right residency or citizenship by investment program for individuals wishing to secure their future and become global citizens. With offices in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Brazil, our multilingual team guides individuals and families from start to finish, providing expert advice considering freedom, mobility, taxation, and security.

We have helped hundreds of clients from 35+ countries in all the top Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment programs. With an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the area, we provide our clients with solid guidance. We have a team of immigration lawyers, and immigration advisers specialized in US immigration.
Our team has never had a case rejected. Our 100 percent approval rate sets us apart from our competitors and guarantees that you can expect a successful application.
Our transparent pricing covers all the processes from opening your bank account, document certification, and legal due diligence to investment and submission. As there is one fee for the entire process, you can be confident that you will not face any hidden costs later.
All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server. You can be safe knowing that your personal data is treated with the utmost security.
Global Citizen Solutions provides an all-encompassing solution. Our support can continue even after you receive your passport. We offer additional services such as company incorporation, Trusts, and Foundations formation.
The BeGlobal Onboarding System® allows you to access the status of your application every step of the way, something that sets us apart from our competitors.

To find out more about immigration opportunities, investment visas, and work visas in the United States, the following articles may be useful:

Frequently Asked Questions About EB5 Visa Cost

How do I as an EB5 investor get my money back?

You can expect your money back when your borrower or developer develops and executes the development projects successfully that you invested in through the regional centers.

You must understand that you are making an equity investment in the NCE that is making the loan. Hence, the investment returns are dependent on two results, the repayment of the loan by the Job Creating Entity (JCE), and the liquidation of the NCE by the manager.

Can I take a loan to make an investment in the EB5 Visa to make it more affordable?

Yes, you can take a loan to make an EB5 investment. Refer to the EB5 Visa requirements article to learn more about the regulations regarding loans.

How much does an EB-5 Visa cost?

You need to file the Form I-526 in order to apply for an EB5 Visa, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services charges you a fee of $3,675 to file this form. To receive the EB-5 visa, you must then make an investment in the US economy, amounting to $1.050,000 – or $800,000 if in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA).

It’s worth noting there are also additional costs such as administration fees, petition filing fees, legal fees, income tax and other taxes, relocation expenses, and document translation fees.

Are gifts, divorce settlements, and inheritance eligible as sources of funds?

Gifts, divorce settlements, and inheritance are eligible sources of funds and they require supporting documents to be considered as investment funds.

If your investment in the EB-5 project is from the inheritance you acquired, then you must provide proof of inheritance, such as settlements of the deceased.

If the investment is from the gift that you received, you must include the registration of the money and the gift giver’s source of income.

In case of divorce, you must include the official court judgments, alimony, and proceeds of civil lawsuits.

What are my tax obligations as an EB-5 investor?

As an EB-5 investor, you should consult with a qualified tax professional to understand your tax obligations. Generally, you will be subject to federal, state, and local taxes on your worldwide income. However, the US tax system offers various deductions and credits that can help to optimize your tax situation.