Is EB-5 investment refundable?
However, if the business does not succeed, there is a risk that the investor may not recover their initial investment. Please note that an EB-5 investor cannot be guaranteed they will fully or partially get their invested capital back as that does not comply with the at-risk requirement.
Many EB-5 investors have been unable to recoup invested funds because of this. However, this doesn't have to be the case. While a regional center cannot directly guarantee EB-5 capital repayment, there are several ways in which investors can increase their chances of getting their money back.
To qualify for the EB-5, you must invest a minimum amount of $1,050,000. However, if your EB5 investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which is an area with a high unemployment rate or rural characteristics, the minimum investment is reduced to $800,000.
Rates of return depend on a number of factors. However, investors should expect to earn a much lower rate of return on an EB-5 investment than they would on, say, a diversified index fund investment. The typical regional center EB-5 project that employs a loan-based model might earn 1% to 2% annually.
The EB-5 program is a worthwhile investment for a qualified foreign national applicant who aims to establish permanent residence in the United States. It's a relatively low-cost and high-value immigrant visa. You and your family can gain access to tremendous personal and professional opportunities.
For equity investments, a fair percentage for an investor is typically between 10% and 25%. If you are offering equity in exchange for investment, you will need to determine what percentage of the company you are willing to give up.
Investors typically get repaid when they sell their shares in return for cash. There are several potential scenarios: The company gets bought by another in a merger or acquisition.
Immigrant investors file either Form I-526 or Form I-526E to demonstrate to USCIS their compliance with all tenets and laws of the EB 5 visa program. The approval rate for I-526 petitions generally ranges from about 75% to above 80%.
The standard minimum investment amount has increased to $1.8 million (from $1 million) to account for inflation. The minimum investment in a TEA has increased to $900,000 (from $500,000) to account for inflation.
Foreign investors can use a loan to finance their EB-5 investment. However, the complexities of using debt when applying for this U.S. investor visa are inherent in the EB-5 visa program.
What is EB-5 high unemployment?
Area with an unemployment rate of at least 150% of the national average rate. Unspecified, but must be government approved.
Each EB-5 Visa applicant must invest a minimum of $1,800,000 in a job-creating venture. If the business receiving capital is located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) – defined as a rural area or a region with high unemployment – the minimum investment amount is reduced to $900,000.

This means an EB-5 project is positioned to return the invested capital within approximately 2 to 5 years from the time funds are released to the EB-5 project, typically as a construction loan.
The amount you need to invest to immigrate to the U.S. depends largely on the visa type and your business goals. The EB-5 visa offers a clear and direct path to permanent residency but requires a significant investment of at least $800,000.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires that EB-5 investments be "at risk," meaning there can be no guarantee of return on investment. This is to ensure that the funds are genuinely being used to create jobs and promote economic growth. If the business fails, the investor may lose their capital.
Likely candidates include farms, aquaculture projects, forestry projects, lumber mills, manufacturing plants, research facilities, restaurants, hotels, community centers, nursing homes, and hospitals.
90% Retail Investors Lose Money. Only the top 5 per cent profit makers account for 75 per cent of profits.
The 70% rule states that an investor should pay no more than 70% of the ARV (after repaired value) of a property. This is a commonly used rule that investors use to judge whether or not a property is worth buying for a flip and how much they should offer for the property.
General ROI: A positive ROI is generally considered good, with a normal ROI of 5-7% often seen as a reasonable expectation. However, a strong general ROI is something greater than 10%. Return on Stocks: On average, a ROI of 7% after inflation is often considered good, based on the historical returns of the market.
The bigger the better. In general, angel investors expect to get their money back within 5 to 7 years with an annualized internal rate of return (“IRR”) of 20% to 40%. Venture capital funds strive for the higher end of this range or more.
How much money will I get back if I invest?
You can calculate the return on your investment by subtracting the initial amount of money that you put in from the final value of your financial investment. Then you would divide this total by the cost of the investment and multiply that by 100.
However, once a loss is realized, there's no chance of recovery from that specific investment unless the investor decides to repurchase the stock. The decision to realize a loss or continue holding an investment depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and overall market outlook.
The EB-5 Investor Visa requires a substantial investment in a US business that creates jobs, but in return, it offers you a direct path to US citizenship. It's an excellent option if you lack family ties or a sponsor, and, in certain cases, the application process can be quicker than other visa routes.
Act (INA), allocates 10,000 “EB-5” immigrant visas per year to qualified individuals seeking Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status on the basis of their capital investment in a commercial enterprise.
As of September 2024, the average processing time for I-829 petitions per the USCIS website is 55 months. Once the I-829 petition is approved, EB-5 applicants will receive lawful permanent resident status and a new unconditional Green Card, which can be renewed every 10 years.