📚 Understand the EB-5 Process

No confusion. No fluff. Just what matters.

So here’s the deal: the EB-5 process is complicated, but it doesn’t have to feel that way.

We built this page to help you cut through the noise, understand the real steps to getting your green card, and grab the tools that’ll keep you (and your lawyer) on track.

This isn’t a government site.
It’s better because we actually speak human.

🗺️ EB-5 Process Timeline

From Investor to Immigrant: Step by Step

🟢 Step 1: I-526 Petition

This is where it all begins. You submit proof that you’ve invested (or are actively investing) $1,050,000 in a USCIS-compliant new commercial enterprise and that this investment will create at least 10 full-time jobs for lawful U.S. workers.

✅ Includes: Proof of lawful source of funds, business plan, org docs, capital structure, and job creation plan.

🔒 Once filed, your investment is officially considered “at-risk.”

🔄 Step 2: I-485 or DS-260 (Adjustment of Status)

Are you already in the U.S.? Then you’ll file an I-485 to adjust your status to “conditional permanent resident.”

Outside the U.S.? You’ll go the consular route with the DS-260 to get your visa stamped.

⏳ You now have 2 years to prove the jobs were created, and the business remained viable.

✅ Step 3: I-829 Petition

Time to remove conditions. After about 2 years, you’ll submit this final package proving you met the job creation requirements and kept your capital in play.

Approved? Congrats! You and your family are now lawful permanent residents. The real kind.

❓ FAQs — No Sugarcoating

Q: What does “at-risk” really mean?
A: It means the money can’t be guaranteed. It must be subject to gain or loss, like real equity in a real business. USCIS doesn’t allow “guaranteed returns” or “buybacks.” We help you make sure your capital structure is clean.

Q: What exactly counts as 10 jobs?
A: They must be full-time (35+ hrs/week) and U.S. citizens or lawful permanent resident employees hired by the job-creating entity. Independent contractors, friends, or “shared jobs” don’t count.

Q: Can I be an advisor or part-time operator?
A: Yes, if structured right. Many investors serve in advisory or board-like roles, which can strengthen your connection to the project without requiring you to be a daily operator.

📂 Download These. Your Attorney Will Thank You.

Grab these investor-ready PDFs we use with all our consulting clients:

📥 EB-5 Investor Onboarding Checklist (PDF)
📥 EB-5 Project Sponsor Guide (PDF)
📥 EB-5 Safe Referral Cheat Sheet (PDF)

We’re not a law firm. But these tools are built to make your lawyer’s job easier and your USCIS submission smoother.

🎯 Strategy & Support for EB-5 Investors

Looking for a direct investment that actually qualifies?
Need someone to review your business plan and capital flow before you send it to USCIS?

We’ve helped dozens of families and founders navigate this without ever crossing into legal advice or securities land.

We’re guides. Not gatekeepers.
If you’re ready to do this right, let’s talk.

👉 Book a Free Consultation with Jer & Rommel