The EB-5 immigrant investor programme offers United States permanent residence to those who make a qualifying investment that creates jobs. Chinese nationals are eligible, but the unreserved category carries a long backlog while the newer reserved categories are far more current. This page explains the position and where to confirm it.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Chinese nationals are eligible for EB-5 and have historically been among the largest applicant groups. The challenge for mainland China born applicants is not eligibility but visa availability, because demand has long exceeded the annual country share in the unreserved category.
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 created reserved visa categories for investments in rural areas, high unemployment areas and infrastructure projects. These reserved categories have separate visa set asides and have been current for all countries, which lets Chinese born investors avoid much of the unreserved backlog. Confirm the latest position in the official Visa Bulletin.
An applicant invests in a new commercial enterprise, either directly or through a designated regional centre, and the investment must create at least ten full time jobs. Regional centre projects can count indirect jobs, which is why most applicants use them.
The investment amount depends on location. A project in a targeted employment area, meaning a rural area or a high unemployment area, qualifies at the lower threshold. A project outside such an area requires the higher amount. Rural projects also receive priority processing at the petition stage. Confirm the current thresholds and designations with the official authority.
Petition adjudication times vary widely and can run for many months, with rural projects benefiting from priority processing. After petition approval, the wait for a visa depends on the category. Reserved category applicants from China have generally been able to proceed without the long unreserved backlog.
Applicants in the unreserved category from mainland China face a priority date cutoff that has stood several years in the past, meaning a long wait between petition approval and visa availability. Always confirm the current cutoff in the official Visa Bulletin.
The qualifying investment is the dominant cost and is at risk rather than a fee. Government filing fees apply at each stage and are set by the authority. Regional centre administration fees, legal fees and other costs are separate. Use the table as a checklist and confirm each figure with the official authority.
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Investment in a targeted employment area | USD 800,000 | Rural or high unemployment area, reserved categories |
| Investment outside a targeted employment area | USD 1,050,000 | Standard unreserved threshold |
| Jobs required | At least ten full time jobs | Indirect jobs may count via a regional centre |
| Government and professional fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Filing, legal and administration fees |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Yes. Chinese nationals are eligible. The main consideration is visa availability, where the reserved categories created in 2022 have been far more current than the unreserved category. Confirm the latest position in the Visa Bulletin.
The lower threshold of USD 800,000 applies to projects in a targeted employment area, while projects outside such areas require USD 1,050,000. Confirm the current figures and area designations with USCIS.
The reserved rural, high unemployment and infrastructure categories have separate visa set asides that have been current, helping Chinese born investors avoid the long unreserved backlog. Confirm the current cutoffs in the Visa Bulletin.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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