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EB-5 Investment Visa 2025 Guide: RIA Changes, Requirements & Faster Paths

EB-5 Investment Visa 2025: Amounts, Set-Asides & Timeline

See the 2025 EB-5 quantities, reserved visas, timelines, I-693 rules & filing tips under the RIA. Start your compliant, lower-risk approach to a green card today.

The EB-5 Investment Visa remains one of the most reliable routes to US permanent residency for foreign investors, regardless of whether they are already in the US or applying from their home country. The program under the Reform and Integrity Act highlights strict supervision, special visa categories, and quicker filing processes, thus making 2025 a year to watch for new applicants.

EB-5 Minimum Investment Amounts (2025)

  • US $800,000 for rural/ high unemployment (TEA) / infrastructure projects
  • US $1005,000 for non-TEA projects

The RIA sets the minimum amount that applies to all petitions currently in process.

Five-Year Inflation Adjustment

Under the law, the EB-5 minimum investment will be adjusted for inflation every 5 years. The first change will come into effect on January 1, 2027, for petitions filed on or after that date (uscis.gov).

Reserved Visa Categories: Faster Processing

Out of the total EB-5 Visas available, 32% are reserved each fiscal year: 20% for rural areas, 10% for high-unemployment zones, and 2% for infrastructure projects. These TEA projects usually move quickly through the Visa Bulletin and have been “current” in recent months.

Job Creation Requirement

It is mandatory that every EB-5 investment create 10 full-time jobs in the US. USCIS also considers Indirect employment if the project is carried out by a regional center and is supported by an approved economic development model.

Concurrent Filing for Applicants Already in the US.

Applicants holding lawful non-immigrant status may file Form I-526E and Form I-485 at the same time and receive work authorisation (EAD) and advance parole (AP) while the case is pending, which is quite an advantage in the transition to permanent residency.

The Medical Examination (Form I-693) – New Rules for the year 2025

There is a new USCIS requirement that began on December 2, 2024: a Form I-693 (the vaccination section) must accompany all I-485 applications. USCIS considers a form completed on or after November 1, 2023, valid throughout the adjudication process.

“Cash flow” period, the minimum amount of time for the funds invested

USCIS links the EB-5 cash flow period directly to the two-year conditional residence period. Investors should plan for their funds to be locked up for at least 2 years after the issuance of conditional green cards; however, project timelines may vary.

Current Visa Bulletin – A Quick Look at the Example of September 2025  

  • Categories with set-asides: rural / high-unemployment / infrastructure: Current – no cut-off dates.
  • Reserved EB-5: Cut-off dates for China, December 8, 2015, and India, November 15, 2019; the situation is the same (current) for the rest of the world. (travel.state.gov)

The US Department of State website is the best place to check for the latest bulletin.

Integrity and Oversight under the RIA

To promote openness in the program, the Regional Centers are required to make payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to the EB-5 Integrity Fund on October 1 each year. USCIS continues to have audit power and can impose penalties on the entities that are not compliant.

ICC’s role:

Successfully starting the process of Getting Your EB-5 Investment Approval depends on selecting a qualified project and providing the correct job-creation documentation. Before finalising the investment decision, it is essential to review economic reports, USCIS notices, and regional centre records. ICC’s team provides support with strategy, documentation, and timeline optimisation to ensure your petition complies with RIA integrity requirements and maximises your chances of approval.

Schedule your EB-5 consultation today.

FAQs 

What will be the EB-5 investment amount in 2025? 

$800,000 for rural/high-unemployment/infrastructure projects; $1,050,000 for non-TEA projects.

Can we expect an increase in the EB-5 minimum investment amount? 

According to the law, the amount is adjusted for inflation every five years, with the first adjustment taking place on January 1, 2027.

Are reserved categories quicker? 

Typically, they are current and sometimes faster than the queues for unreserved categories; check the Visa Bulletin monthly.

Do I have to submit a medical exam with Form I-485? 

Indeed, the I-693, or vaccination document, is mandatory along with the I-485; forms signed on or after November 1, 2023, will be accepted for the entire period of the case.

References

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