Approved Investment Routes

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The U.S. offers two primary pathways for investors seeking U.S. residency or long-term presence: the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. Each has unique legal structures, capital requirements, and immigration outcomes.

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EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

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The EB-5 program provides a direct path to U.S. permanent residency (green card) in exchange for a qualifying investment in a job-creating U.S. enterprise. There are two routes:

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Regional Center Route

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Investors place capital in a USCIS-approved regional center project—typically large-scale real estate or infrastructure ventures. The minimum investment is:

• $800,000 for rural/high-unemployment/targeted projects
  
• $1,050,000 for standard (non-TEA) projects
  
  

Investors must prove that the investment led to the creation of at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs, directly or indirectly. Funds must remain at risk for at least 2 years from conditional residency approval, though some projects require longer hold periods.

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Direct EB-5 Route

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In contrast, direct investments involve active participation in a new or existing business—often in manufacturing, retail, hospitality, or services. Job creation must be direct (W-2 employees), and investors typically must play a managerial or policy-forming role.

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Direct EB-5 projects offer more operational control but require hands-on involvement and may present higher execution risk.

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E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

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The E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa available to nationals of treaty countries (e.g., Japan, Germany, Grenada, Turkey, Italy) who make a “substantial investment” in a U.S. business.

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There is no fixed minimum investment, but in practice, USD $100,000–$300,000 is the expected threshold. The business must:

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• Be real and operating (not speculative)
  
• Generate sufficient income to support the investor and dependents
  
• Create U.S. jobs over time (not strictly defined but expected)
  
  

Unlike EB-5, the E-2 visa does not lead directly to a green card. It is issued for 2–5 years, depending on the treaty, and can be renewed indefinitely, provided the business remains viable.

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E-2 is popular among entrepreneurs seeking fast relocation, flexible structure, and lower capital risk—but it requires planning for long-term immigration outcomes (e.g., transitioning to EB-5 or EB-1C).

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