FAQs

Under the current rules, the minimum investment is $1,050,000, or $800,000 if the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) — a rural area, a high-unemployment area, or an infrastructure project.

A TEA is either a rural area (outside a metropolitan statistical area and outside the boundary of any city or town with a population of 20,000 or more) or a high-unemployment area (an area experiencing unemployment of at least 150% of the national average). Investments in a qualifying TEA are eligible for the reduced $800,000 minimum.

EB-5 capital is commonly invested in real estate developments, hospitality, and other job-creating commercial enterprises, either directly or through a USCIS-designated Regional Center. New Roots EB5 Fund focuses on carefully vetted real estate projects such as Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Texas.

EB-5 investments are made primarily to obtain a green card rather than to maximize financial return, so returns are typically modest — often in the range of 1–2% — and are never guaranteed. The invested capital must remain "at risk" throughout the required period to qualify.

As with any investment, your capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed. The two primary risks are financial (the project may underperform or lose value) and immigration (the required jobs may not be created, or the petition may be denied). New Roots EB5 Fund works to mitigate these risks through rigorous due diligence, but no outcome can be guaranteed.

The typical steps are: (1) select a qualifying project and make the investment; (2) file the immigrant petition (Form I-526E for Regional Center investments, or I-526 for direct investments); (3) upon approval, apply for a green card through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status in the U.S.; and (4) after two years of conditional residency, file Form I-829 to remove the conditions and obtain permanent residency.

Each EB-5 investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers. In Regional Center projects, both direct and indirect jobs (calculated using approved economic models) can count toward this requirement.

Yes. A single qualifying investment covers the investor, their spouse, and unmarried children under the age of 21, all of whom can obtain green cards.

No. The EB-5 program does not require prior business experience, a minimum level of education, or English-language ability. The investor is not required to manage the day-to-day operations of the business.

Yes. Once you receive your green card, you are free to live, work, study, or retire anywhere in the United States, in any industry or profession.

If your petition is denied, you may have options depending on the reason — including appealing the decision, refiling, or seeking a refund of your investment where the project's terms allow. The specific outcome depends on your circumstances and the terms of the offering, so you should consult your immigration attorney.

In a direct investment, you invest in and are typically involved with a single business that must directly create the 10 required jobs. In a Regional Center investment, you invest through a USCIS-designated entity that can count both direct and indirect jobs, usually with a more passive role for the investor. Most EB-5 investors choose the Regional Center route.