Every fiscal year (October 1st – September 30th), approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available to qualified applicants under the provisions of U.S. immigration law. Employment-based immigrant visas are divided into five preference categories.

This page explains the visa application process for Employment Fifth Preference (E5) Immigrant Investors, also called Immigrant Entrepreneurs. Select Employment-Based Immigrant Visas for additional employment-based immigrant visa categories. U.S. immigration law makes visas available to immigrant investors seeking to enter the United States to engage in new commercial enterprises to benefit the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment. E5 investors receive up to 7.1 percent of all employment-based immigrant visas issued worldwide each year.

To qualify as an immigrant investor, a foreign national must invest, without borrowing, the following minimum qualifying capital dollar amounts in a qualifying commercial enterprise:

To qualify for an EB-5 visa, you must invest either $1,000,000 (U.S.) or $500,000 (U.S.) in a high-unemployment or rural area (considered a targeted employment area) in a qualifying commercial enterprise.

Your investment must create full-time jobs within two years for at least 10 individuals. These employees may be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other immigrants authorized to work in the United States, but not the investor, the investor’s spouse, sons, or daughters.

With over 20 years of experience in Florida immigration cases, our EB-5 investor lawyers can provide the guidance you need. Call to arrange a free in-person consultation.