Indian nationals can pursue a United States green card through the EB-5 immigrant investor programme by making a qualifying investment that creates jobs. Demand from India makes the reserved visa categories particularly relevant.
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.
There is no nationality bar for Indian applicants. Eligibility rests on making a qualifying investment that is at risk and that creates at least ten full time jobs for United States workers. The investor must show that the funds are lawfully sourced.
What affects Indian applicants most is visa demand. Each country is limited to a share of the annual EB-5 visas, which can create a backlog known as retrogression. The reserved categories created by recent law have eased this for many Indian applicants, but the position can shift during a fiscal year.
The lower investment level applies to projects in a targeted employment area, which covers rural areas, areas of high unemployment and certain infrastructure projects. The higher level applies to standard projects outside those areas. Recent law reserves a portion of visas each year for rural, high unemployment and infrastructure projects.
As of the June 2026 visa bulletin, the three reserved EB-5 categories were current for India, while the State Department warned that the unreserved category for India could retrogress or become unavailable later in the fiscal year. Confirm the present visa bulletin position before you plan.
Processing covers the investment petition, then either consular processing or adjustment of status, followed by a period of conditional residence before the conditions are removed. Times vary widely and depend on the visa bulletin. Confirm current timelines with USCIS and the latest visa bulletin.
The investment thresholds below are set by statute and were confirmed by USCIS to hold for fiscal year 2026. Government filing fees apply on top and change over time, so verify them with USCIS.
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Targeted employment area investment | USD 800,000 | Rural, high unemployment or infrastructure projects |
| Standard investment | USD 1,050,000 | Projects outside a targeted employment area |
| Jobs created | At least 10 full time jobs | Per qualifying investor |
| Government filing fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Set and revised by USCIS |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
The statutory minimum is USD 800,000 for a project in a targeted employment area and USD 1,050,000 for a standard project. USCIS confirmed these hold for fiscal year 2026.
Indian demand can lead to retrogression in the unreserved category. As of the June 2026 visa bulletin the three reserved categories were current for India, while the unreserved category was flagged as at risk later in the year. Check the latest visa bulletin.
EB-5 grants permanent residence, first on a conditional basis, and after the conditions are removed it can lead to eligibility to naturalise under the usual rules. Confirm the present rules with USCIS.
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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