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United StatesInvestors & entrepreneursLast checked October 17, 2026

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

EB-5 gives a green card to investors who put at least 1,050,000 USD (or 800,000 USD in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project) into a new US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers. Investors can invest directly in their own business (standalone) or through a USCIS-designated regional center, where indirect jobs can count. Approval first gives 2-year conditional residence; the investor then files Form I-829 to remove the conditions. New EB-5 fees take effect on 30 November 2026.

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3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel

These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.

Entry restrictions apply to 40 passports for United States

The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Source: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force

Life in United States

Money

3

Currency

US Dollar

USD

US Dollar

Cost of living

100

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

10–37%

Income tax (national)

social security 7.65%

Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.8

#22 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Investors with lawfully sourced capital of at least 800,000 USD who want US permanent residence through a job-creating investment.

Eligibility

  • Minimum investment

    You need to invest at least 1,050,000 USD, or 800,000 USD in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project.

    Minimum investment (petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022)

    Petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022
    Standard
    1,050,000 USD
    TEA or infrastructure
    800,000 USD
    • Amounts due to be adjusted for inflation for petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027
    Official wording

    For petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022, the minimum is 1,050,000 USD, or 800,000 USD in a targeted employment area (TEA) or infrastructure project. The amounts are due to be adjusted for inflation for petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027.

  • Targeted employment areaTEA investments

    A targeted employment area is either a rural area or a high-unemployment area.

    • Rural: outside a metropolitan statistical area and outside any city or town of 20,000 or more people
    • High-unemployment: unemployment at least 150% of the national average
    Official wording

    A TEA is a rural area (outside a metropolitan statistical area and outside any city or town of 20,000 or more people) or a high-unemployment area where unemployment is at least 150% of the national average.

  • Job creation

    Your investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying employees.

    Job creation

    Jobs required
    10
    Minimum hoursper week
    35 hours
    • Qualifying employees include US citizens, permanent residents and others authorised to work
    • You and your family do not count
    Official wording

    The investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs (at least 35 hours a week) for qualifying employees such as US citizens, permanent residents and others authorised to work. The investor and family do not count.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementDirect or indirect jobs
  • Document checklistForm I-526 (standalone) or Form I-526E (regional center)
  • FeesForm I-526 or I-526E filing fee (current)

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  • 7 more requirements
  • 9 documents
  • 7 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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