EB-5 Direct Investment

EB-5 Direct Investment is one of two paths under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Instead of investing through a Regional Center, the investor directly creates or invests in a new commercial enterprise and is personally responsible for creating at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.

The minimum investment amount is $1,050,000 for standard areas and $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs), which include rural areas or zones with high unemployment. The investor must demonstrate that the capital was obtained through lawful means and that the investment is at risk, meaning there is no guaranteed return.

Direct investment offers more control over the business but requires hands-on involvement in job creation and business management. The investor must play an active role in the enterprise, either through day-to-day management or policy-making. After a conditional two-year green card period, investors must prove that the jobs were created and the investment was sustained to obtain permanent residency.