South Korean applicants · United States of America
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for South Korean citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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 South Korean applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to South Korea. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- 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
- US E-1/E-2 Treaty
Consular processing: Seoul
Tourist entry vs. this route
Yes — South Korean nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Key figures for South Korean 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
No fixed national clock published
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 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.U.S. Department of State ↗
- ✓Investment into a new commercial enterprise (formed or restructured post 29 November 1990).U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8 CFR, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- ✓Creation of at least 10 full-time US jobs (directly, or indirectly if invested through a regional center).U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8 CFR, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
Common blockers
- !Insufficient documentation of lawful source and path of funds.U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8 CFR, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- !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.U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8 CFR, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- ·Business plan compliant with Matter of Ho for direct cases.
- ·Private-placement memorandum and escrow agreements for regional-center cases.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ↗
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.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United States. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantFile EB-5 investor petition ↗
Investors use Form I-526 or I-526E to request EB-5 immigrant investor classification.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · verified
Other United States of America routes covered for South Korean applicants
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer investor routes that South Korean nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are South Korean 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. South Korean applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do South Korean applicants typically file the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?+
Seoul. 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 South Korean applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Yes — South Korean nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
What salary do South Korean 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 South Korea?+
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. South Korean applicants usually file via Seoul, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 10 September 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.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Last checked: 1 August 2026