The EB-5 immigrant investor program is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and offers a direct pathway to a U.S. Green Card (Permanent Residency) for foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in a U.S. commercial Enterprise.
International students currently in the United States on an F-1 visa and planning to stay in the United States post-graduation and apply for OPT or sponsorship via an H-1B visa can benefit from the EB-5 program. The EB-5 program has recently become increasingly attractive due to the 2022 Reform and Integrity Act and its addition of concurrent filing. This comprehensive FAQ and Timeline analysis addresses the most critical questions international students and their families have about leveraging the EB-5 program.
Section 1: Financial Requirements and Investment Options
How much capital is required for EB-5 investment for international students?
The minimum capital required for an EB-5 investment is determined by the location of the commercial enterprise receiving the funds. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity act of 2022 (RIA) established two primary investment tiers:
**1. Targeted Employment Area (TEA) Investment:** The minimum investment for the Targeted Employment Area is $800,000. A TEA is defined as a rural area or an area experiencing high unemployment. Rural targeted employment areas qualify for priority processing.
**2. Non-Targeted Employment Area Investment:** The minimum investment is $1,050,000. This applies to all other areas that are not designated as targeted employment areas.
Most international students and their families choose the Rural targeted employment areas due to the lower capital requirement and the priority processing advantage.
How long does the EB-5 process typically take?
EB-5 processing times are calculated on a case by case basis. The United States Citizenship and Immigration services website publishes estimated processing times for several different EB-5 centers.
Processing times vary based on many factors like visa availability and country of origin. Typically, after the international student concurrently files the I-526, I-485, Employment Authorization Document and Advanced Parole and the regional center has the pre-approved I-956F, processing times are expedited:
• **EAD/AP Approval:** Estimated 3-6 months
• **I-526E Approval:** Estimated 6-12 months
• **I-485 Timeline:** Estimated 6-8 months after I-526E approval
Can EB-5 investment funds be a loan or be borrowed?
Yes, the investor can use borrowed or gifted funds. The borrowed or gifted funds must come from a lawful and traceable origin. The funds must be legitimate and be proved to be so.
Are there EB-5 investment funds tailored for international students?
There are no funds exclusively for international students but many reputable EB-5 regional centers and investment firms structure their project and marketing to cater to the international student demographic. These projects often feature source of funds flexibility, concurrent filing compatibility and conservative investment structures.
Section 2: Concurrent Filing
What is concurrent filing?
Concurrent filing was introduced to the EB-5 program in 2022 via the Reform and Integrity Act. The RIA allows an F-1 student to file their I-485 petition for adjustment of status at the same time as their I-526E petition. This immediately grants them a period of authorized stay and allows them to remain in the country while their petition is adjudicated. Most importantly, it allows the international student to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and an Advanced Parole travel document. These effectively grant the international student the freedom to work for any employer and to travel internationally without restriction. In layman terms, the international student gets the benefits of the green card almost immediately without having the green card.
This mechanism provides a powerful solution to the challenges of the F-1 visa. Students are no longer constrained by the limitations of on-campus work or the highly competitive Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. They also won't have to compete in the H-1B lottery. As permanent residents they can qualify for in-state tuition, a wider pool of scholarships and federal financial aid which in most cases can offset the cost of the initial EB-5 investment.
USCIS policy has further solidified this incredible pathway for the international student by clarifying that the act of filing an immigrant petition like the I-526E does not negate the nonimmigrant intent required for an F-1 visa as long as the student maintains a residence abroad that they do not intend to abandon.
What are the forms for concurrent filing for international students using the EB-5?
F-1 students file the following forms concurrently:
• **Form I-526E:** Immigrant petition by Regional Center (EB-5 visa application)
• **Form I-485:** Application to register permanent residence or adjust status (Green card application)
• **Form I-765:** Application for Employment Authorization Document (work permit application)
• **Form I-131:** Application for Travel Document (travel permit application)
Section 3: Benefits for F-1 Students
What are the benefits for F-1 students to apply for the EB-5 visa?
**Employment Benefits:** The EB-5 visa provides a route to permanent residency without the need for employer sponsorship. After graduation, many international F-1 students struggle to find an employer to sponsor their H-1B visa. This is not an issue for EB-5 visa holders who are free to work and live wherever they please. EB-5 visa holders are also able to start their own business which is a luxury not afforded to other visa holders.
**Education Benefits:** International students who obtain EB-5 visas qualify for the same education benefits as U.S. citizenship which includes in-state tuition, eligibility for federal aid, scholarships, increased admission opportunities and internship/work flexibility.
**Travel Benefits:** EB-5 visa holders can travel internationally without any constraints associated with temporary visas. This allows for more freedom when traveling into and outside of the United States.
How does the EB-5 visa lower the cost of education for international students?
The EB-5 program can offer visa holders numerous avenues of savings with the most potential for savings is the ability of the visa holder to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities.
**Tuition Savings:** International students pay the highest tier of tuition which can be $40,000 to $50,000 per year higher than in state tuition rates. By obtaining a green card and establishing residency in the same state as their university the student can qualify for dramatically lower tuition rates.
**Federal Aid Access and Scholarships:** Green card holders are eligible to apply for federal student loans, grants and scholarships. This access to scholarship opportunities, cheaper capital and permanent resident financial aid can further reduce the cost of United States education and offset the initial investment of the EB-5.
Section 4: Visa Allocation and Priority Dates
How many visas are available to EB-5?
EB-5 has roughly 10,000 visas deployed. Since 2022, the typical EB-5 allocation is divided into about 6,800 Unreserved visas, 2,000 Rural set aside visas, 1,000 High Unemployment set aside visas and 200 infrastructure set aside visas.
What is a priority date for International Students?
The priority date is the date when the immigrant petition is properly filed with USCIS. An EB-5 investor's priority date the day that the USCIS accepts form I-526 or I-526E for processing. The investor can find their priority date on the I-526E or I-526 approval notice from USCIS.
What are country caps and how are they correlated to visa allocation for International Students?
Country caps are a tool to prevent high demand countries from monopolizing all available visas. EB-5 country caps limit individual nations to 7% of the available employment based visa category; not just applicable to the EB-5 visa.
What does Retrogression mean for International Students?
Retrogression means situations where visa backlog led to longer visa wait times. When demand for a visa category or country exceeds visas available, the Department of state uses the Visa bulletin to control demand and signal which applicants can move forward and which must wait.
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Sources
• USCIS. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. [https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program)
• Golden Gate Global. Advantages of the EB-5 Visa for International Students (F-1 Visa Holders). [https://www.3gfund.com/eb-5-visa-for-international-students/](https://www.3gfund.com/eb-5-visa-for-international-students/)
• EB5 United. EB-5 Visa Investment Cost & Regional Center Fee for 2025. [https://www.eb5united.com/eb5-visa/cost/](https://www.eb5united.com/eb5-visa/cost/)
• EB5 United. EB-5 Set Asides. [https://www.eb5united.com/eb5-visa/set-asides/](https://www.eb5united.com/eb5-visa/set-asides/)
• USCIS. Approved EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centers. [https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers/approved-eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers/approved-eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers)
• Forbes. Why 2025 Is A Rare Opportunity For The EB-5 Regional Investor Program. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2025/12/18/why-2025-is-a-rare-opportunity-for-the-eb-5-regional-investor-program/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2025/12/18/why-2025-is-a-rare-opportunity-for-the-eb-5-regional-investor-program/)
• EB5 Visa Investments. What EB-5 Investors Want in a Regional Center. [https://eb5visainvestments.com/2024/09/10/is-eb-5-worth-it-an-in-depth-look/](https://eb5visainvestments.com/2024/09/10/is-eb-5-worth-it-an-in-depth-look/)
• The Modi Law Firm. Understanding the Financial Requirements for an EB-5 Visa. [https://www.themodilawfirm.com/blog/2025/october/understanding-the-financial-requirements-for-an-/](https://www.themodilawfirm.com/blog/2025/october/understanding-the-financial-requirements-for-an-/)
• Golden Gate Global. Navigating the I-485 Adjustment of Status for EB-5 Investors Residing in the U.S.. [https://www.3gfund.com/eb-5-visa-concurrent-filing/](https://www.3gfund.com/eb-5-visa-concurrent-filing/)
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The opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author/presenter. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal advice. Student EB5 and its contributors do not endorse or take responsibility for any actions taken based on the information presented here. Visitors are strongly advised to consult with qualified immigration attorneys and financial advisors before making any EB-5 investment decisions or taking any actions based on the content on this website.
