A Clear Timeline of the EB-5 Process : A practical guide for families planning ahead
For many families, U.S. residency isn’t about starting over. It’s about adding stability, flexibility, and long-term options, for your children’s education, for international mobility, or for building a second base.
The EB-5 visa offers a clear path to U.S. residency through investment. It’s not fast, but it is structured. And when the timeline is understood properly, everything else, from school admissions to tax planning, becomes easier to manage.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process.
Step 1: Choose your investment route
Timeline: 1 to 3 months
There are two ways to invest through EB-5:
- Direct investment, where you run your own U.S. business.
- Regional Center investment, where you place capital in a pre-approved project.
Most families we work with choose the Regional Center route. It’s simpler, less time-consuming, and structured for compliance. But that doesn’t mean the decision is casual.
You’ll want to look at:
- How the project creates jobs
- The track record of previous investors
- Terms for exit and return of capital
- Legal protections and escrow arrangements
Expect to spend a few weeks evaluating the right project and preparing your documents.
Step 2: File your I-526E petition
Timeline: Months 3 to 5
Once your investment is committed, you’ll file Form I-526E with USCIS.
This petition proves:
- You’ve invested the required amount ($800K in a Targeted Employment Area or $1.05M otherwise)
- Your funds come from a legal, documented, and traceable source
For many families, the source-of-funds documentation takes the most time. Income from business, property sales, family gifts, or inherited wealth can all be used, as long as you can explain and document the full path.
Doing this right upfront helps avoid delays later.
Step 3: Wait for approval and receive a conditional green card
Timeline: 24 to 30 months after filing
After your petition is submitted, there’s a waiting period. Timelines vary by country, but most applicants receive approval within two to three years.
Once approved, you and your immediate family receive conditional green cards, valid for two years. If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll go through consular processing. If you’re already in the U.S. on another visa, you may be able to adjust your status.
This is usually when relocation becomes more real, school plans take shape, partners explore business or career options, and families begin to transition.
Step 4: Live and maintain eligibility
Timeline: Years 2 to 4
During the two-year conditional period, you’ll need to:
- Spend at least 6 months per year in the U.S.
- Maintain compliance with all immigration rules
- Ensure your investment stays active and continues creating jobs
This phase is quieter, but still important. It’s often the time when families settle in, find a rhythm, and begin understanding the U.S. system — from schooling to healthcare to everyday life.
Some families relocate fully. Others split time between two countries. Either way, the flexibility is there.
Step 5: File to remove conditions
Timeline: Months 33 to 36
As the two-year period comes to an end, you’ll file Form I-829 to remove the conditions on your green card.
You’ll need to show:
- Your investment stayed in place
- The project created the required number of jobs
- You remained compliant throughout
Once approved, you receive your Permanent Green Card, valid for 10 years and renewable. In many cases, this is also when your investment capital begins to return, depending on the terms of the project.
Step 6: Apply for U.S. citizenship (optional)
Timeline: After five years of residency
After five years of U.S. residency which includes the two conditional years, you’re eligible to apply for citizenship.
Some families apply, particularly if their children plan to study or build careers in the U.S. Others choose to retain their original citizenship due to emotional, legal, or tax-related reasons.
It’s a personal decision, and it’s worth discussing with your advisors before you proceed.
Final thoughts:
The EB-5 process isn’t built for speed, it’s built for clarity. It’s a good fit for families who plan ahead, value long-term security, and want to expand their global options without disrupting what they’ve already built.
You decide the timing. You choose the investment. And you remain in control of how this fits into your life.
If this is something you’ve been considering, for your family’s next chapter or simply as a way to create more peace of mind, we’re happy to walk you through the details when the time feels right.
We’re based in Singapore, but we’ve worked with families across the region from Jakarta to Dubai, Mumbai to KL and the goals, questions, and timing considerations are often more similar than you’d expect.
If those questions are on your mind too, we’re happy to walk you through the answers: clearly, calmly, and at your pace.