Chinese applicants · United States of America
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for Chinese citizens
Permanent residence through investment in a new US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
This page covers the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 18 months – 4.9 years
- Government fees
- I-526/I-526E USD 3,675 (plus the USD 1,000 EB-5 Integrity Fund fee); I-829 USD 3,750 — a federal court vacated the higher April-2024 fees (USD 11,160 / USD 9,525) and USCIS reverted to these amounts on 14 November 2025; a new fee rule is pending, so confirm before filing. Plus regional-center or direct-project fees set privately.
- Typical duration
- Conditional 2-year residence leading to unconditional permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan
Tourist entry vs. this route
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Chinese applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
US$1,050,000/yr
EB-5 Direct investment minimum
Verified 15 March 2022 · USCIS — EB-5 →
How long it takes
18 months – 4.9 years
I-526/I-526E adjudication: 18–60 months typical. Reserved set-asides (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) process faster than unreserved categories.
Verified 1 June 2026 · USCIS — Case Processing Times →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years.
Leads to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), then U.S. citizenship (naturalisation).
Visa overview
The EB-5 immigrant investor program grants conditional permanent residence for qualifying investment in a new US commercial enterprise. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 set the standard minimum investment at USD 1,050,000, reduced to USD 800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs) and infrastructure projects. Set-aside visa categories (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) provide faster pathways for qualifying regional-center projects.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Minimum qualifying investment of USD 1,050,000, or USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or infrastructure project.
- ✓Investment into a new commercial enterprise (formed or restructured post 29 November 1990).
- ✓Creation of at least 10 full-time US jobs (directly, or indirectly if invested through a regional center).
Common blockers
- !Insufficient documentation of lawful source and path of funds.
- !Investment loaned on non-arm’s-length terms or not truly at risk.
Typical evidence
- ·Bank statements, tax returns, and loan documents tracing source of funds.
- ·Business plan compliant with Matter of Ho for direct cases.
- ·Private-placement memorandum and escrow agreements for regional-center cases.
Application pathway
Select project and file I-526E (regional-center) or I-526 (direct)
Investor files petition demonstrating capital at risk and job creation.
Obtain conditional permanent residence
Adjust status or consular process once priority date is current.
File I-829 within 90 days before conditional residence expires
Demonstrate job creation and sustained investment.
Receive unconditional permanent residence
Pathway to naturalisation follows.
Other United States of America routes covered for Chinese applicants
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Permanent residence for the spouse of a US citizen (IR1/CR1) or lawful permanent resident (F2A preference).
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer investor routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese citizens eligible for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?+
Eligibility for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?+
Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
What salary do Chinese applicants need for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?+
The EB-5 Direct investment minimum floor is US$1,050,000/yr, effective 15 March 2022 (USCIS — EB-5). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How long does the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program take to process from China?+
The typical published decision window is 18 months – 4.9 years. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in United States of America?+
Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years. The route leads to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), then U.S. citizenship (naturalisation). See USCIS — Citizenship and Naturalization for the qualifying-residence rules.
What changed with the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA)?+
RIA, signed March 2022, re-authorised the regional-center program, increased oversight, set new minimum investment levels (USD 800,000 TEA / USD 1,050,000 standard), introduced set-aside visa categories (20% rural, 10% high-unemployment, 2% infrastructure), and added integrity measures for regional centers.