Make America Part of Your Family’s Long-Term Plan
One of the fastest and most popular routes to acquire permanent residency through a qualifying investment that creates American jobs.
What Is the EB-5 Visa?
The Only U.S. Visa Built for Investors.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor immigration program is the only U.S. visa that grants immigrant status and permanent residency directly through investment — no employer sponsorship, no lottery, no annual cap for most nationalities.
Created by Congress in 1990, it allows foreign investors to obtain lawful permanent resident status for themselves and their immediate families by placing investment capital into a U.S. employment-creating enterprise that generates American jobs.
$800K
Min. Investment
10
Jobs Required
Family
Fully Included
Benefits of the EB-5 Visa
Why Investors Choose EB-5
Six advantages that make EB-5 unique among all U.S. immigration pathways.
01
No Employer Required
No U.S. job offer or employer sponsor needed. Your investment is the basis.
02
Concurrent Filing Allowed
Acquire all the rights of a green card holder for you and your family while your EB-5 petition is being reviewed.
03
No Wait Times
Certain categories of projects allow for processing without wait times or lines.
04
Passive Investment
No need to actively manage a business in the U.S.
05
Business Freedom
Work or live anywhere in the U.S.
06
Excellent For Families
Popular option for families with children close to 21 to acquire residency.
For You If
This is the right fit
- You seek permanent residency for your entire family
- You are prepared for a 5+ year process
- You are seeking permanent residency for your children who are close to 21
Not the Right Fit If
This is not for you
- You are unable to adequately prove the source or path of investment funds
- You don’t have $800,000+ funds to invest for 5+ years
- You’re not prepared for a long-term immigration and investment timeline
- You are seeking the lowest cost for a green card
How Our Investments Work
Most Common Pathway for Investments
96% of EB-5 investors do not invest in their own business, but invest in regional center projects. Regional centers are companies that have a license from USCIS to sponsor investment projects for purposes of acquiring a green card through the EB-5 program.
Regional center projects allow for a completely passive investment. The regional center takes on all oversight and management of the project and the developer. A small rate of return is paid to investors. Funds can be returned in as quickly as 3.5 years. Average holding period of funds is approximately five years. AmLaw is happy to provide recommendations to its clients about reliable regional centers to assist clients in properly choosing an appropriate project.
USCIS processing times differ by project. Rural projects generally are approved within one year. Urban projects generally take 2-3 years. However, with the option of concurrent filing, investors and their families can live in the U.S. and acquire an EAD and advance parole while awaiting a decision on their EB-5 petition.
Requirements
What USCIS Requires
Every EB-5 immigration application must satisfy four non-negotiable requirements. Missing any one of them — even partially — is grounds for denial. Our immigration law services ensure each requirement is documented thoroughly and defensibly.
01
$800,000 Minimum Investment
Capital
Capital must go into a USCIS-approved EB-5 project in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). Standard projects outside TEAs require $1,050,000.
02
10 U.S. Jobs Created
Employment
Your investment must directly or indirectly create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers. Regional Center investments count indirect jobs.
03
Lawful Source of Funds
Documentation
USCIS requires documented proof that investment capital was obtained legally — through business, real estate, inheritance, or other legitimate sources.
04
Capital Must Be “At Risk”
Structure
The investment must be at genuine risk of loss throughout the two-year sustainment period. Guaranteed returns or refund promises disqualify the petition.
Processing Times & Application Process
The EB-5 Journey, Step by Step
Total timeline: 3–5 years from engagement to permanent Green Card.
Week 1
Strategy Consultation
Discovery call with senior counsel; preliminary fit assessment; engagement letter.
Months 1–3
Diligence & Source of Funds
Project vetting; source-of-funds documentation; pathway selection (Regional Center vs. direct).
Month 3–4
I-526E Filing
Immigration application preparation, investment deployment confirmation, and filing with the authorities.
Months 12–36
Adjudication
USCIS reviews the I-526 immigrant investor petition. Rural projects generally get approved in one year period. Urban projects generally take 2-3 years for approval.
Months 18–36+
Conditional Immigrant Status
Approval of the I-526 investor application; consular processing or adjustment of status; conditional immigrant status issued for two years.
Months 42–48+
Permanent Residence
Filing of I-829 to receive removal of conditions and 10-year green card.
Timelines vary based on USCIS processing, country of birth, and project specifics. Timing of return of investment funds varies based on project period.
Our Services
What AmLaw Does on an EB-5 Case
From source-of-funds through removal of conditions — the full chain.
01
Source-of-Funds Documentation
Bank records, tax filings, sale agreements, gift letters, loan documentation, and translated foreign-source records — organized into a single defensible record USCIS will accept.
02
Investment Due Diligence
Independent review of Regional Center investment opportunities. Job-creation methodology, business-plan credibility, escrow terms, exit structure, and sponsor track record. No compensation from investment sponsors — ever.
03
Investment Structuring
Regional Center vs. direct investment selection. Capital deployment structured so the “at risk” requirement is met. Coordination with tax counsel on entity selection and pre-immigration planning.
04
I-526E Application Preparation & Filing
Drafting and filing the full immigration application with supporting record: business plan, economic analysis, source-of-investment-funds package, and documentation. Responses to any requests for additional evidence.
05
Conditional Residence & Consular Processing
Adjustment of status for investors in the U.S.; consular processing abroad. Coordination with the National Visa Center and pre-interview preparation.
06
I-829 Filing & Removal of Conditions
Filing within the 90-day window before the two-year anniversary of conditional residence. Documenting sustained capital, job creation, and project performance.
Case Studies
EB-5 Cases We’ve Handled
EB-5 Case
India
Indian Family Investor — Approved After RFE With Multi-Source Funds
Navigating multi-source funding from salary, business income, and family contributions.
EB-5 Case
Canada
Canadian Business Sale — Approved Despite Buyer Financing
Professional valuation and clear transaction documentation overcame USCIS scrutiny.
EB-5 Case
Canada
Canadian Investor — Approved Using a Trust Structure
Explaining a Canadian trust arrangement to U.S. adjudicators through clear documentation.
Testimonials
Trusted by Families Worldwide
AmLaw Group did an excellent job guiding me through the EB-5 process and helping me secure my green card. They were knowledgeable, responsive, and handled all the complex paperwork smoothly.
Yulia very meticulously, time and again, carefully verified all transactions and confirmed the provided documents. The result was visa approval — which, honestly, I never doubted.
We worked with Charles, Yuliya and the team at AmLaw Group to get our EB-5 visa. We were able to get our approval faster than what we were expecting. Everything went smoothly.
Reproduced from public Google reviews. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
FAQ
Common Questions
How long does the EB-5 process take from start to Green Card?
Most cases run two to five years from engagement to unconditional Green Card. The first conditional Green Card typically arrives 18 to 36 months after filing the I-526E, depending on USCIS processing times and country of birth.
What is "source of funds" and what documentation does USCIS require?
Source of funds means tracing the investor’s capital from its lawful origin to the new commercial enterprise. USCIS expects documentary evidence at every step: tax returns, bank statements, contracts or sale agreements, and translated foreign-source documents.
What is the difference between Regional Center and direct EB-5 investment?
A Regional Center investment pools capital from multiple immigrant investors into an approved investment opportunity. The investor is passive, and indirect employment counts. A direct investment goes into an enterprise the investor controls, where only direct employment positions count.
What happens if my I-526E is denied?
Investors generally have three options: file a motion to reopen or reconsider, appeal to the Administrative Appeals Office, or restructure and refile. The capital itself is not automatically lost. Recovery depends on the terms of the underlying investment agreement, which is one reason investment due diligence matters before the immigration application is filed.
Is the $800,000 investment refundable?
The investment must remain at risk through the two-year sustainment period. Return of capital depends on the project’s terms. Realistic exit horizons are five to seven years. Any guarantee of return should be treated as a red flag.
Do I need to live in the U.S. during the 2-year sustainment period?
Once conditional residence is granted, you are expected to maintain U.S. residence. Extended absences can jeopardize status. Investors who need to spend time abroad should plan for it in advance — through a re-entry permit or adjusted timeline.
Contact Us
Book a Strategy Session
Every EB-5 case starts with a frank conversation about your capital, your timeline, and your family’s goals. Confidential, focused, and no obligation.
Phone
Office
Hallandale Beach, FL — Miami Metro
Attorney advertising. Charles Raether, Esq. is responsible for the content of this page. Principal office: 1920 E Hallandale Beach Blvd, Suite 709, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.