INTERNATIONAL BUYERS · EB-5 EDUCATION
Real estate and EB-5.
Understand the distinction.
Some real estate developments may be associated with separate EB-5 investment offerings. Understand the program, the documents and the professional roles before considering any immigration-related investment.
Program guidance reviewed November 3, 2026. This page is educational and does not advertise a verified investment offering.
What is the EB-5 program?
EB-5 is a U.S. immigrant-investor category administered by USCIS. It involves qualifying capital invested in a new commercial enterprise and qualifying job creation. For qualifying investors, it can provide a potential route to U.S. permanent residence through the applicable immigration process. USCIS describes a requirement for at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying employees per investor, subject to the program’s rules. USCIS’s Policy Manual describes capital, lawful source of funds and job-creation requirements. USCIS eligibility guidance ↗
Investment thresholds: read the date.
Policy reviewed November 3, 2026: for petitions filed on or after March 15, 2022, USCIS lists a general minimum of $1,050,000, or $800,000 for a qualifying targeted employment area or infrastructure project. USCIS states that the amounts increase on January 1, 2027, and every five years thereafter.
These figures are qualifying-capital thresholds, not a condo price, the total cost of participation or a recommendation to invest. Have counsel verify the amount applicable to the proposed offering and your filing date. Check the current USCIS policy ↗
The real estate purchase and the investment offering.
A residence purchase transfers rights in a particular home under its purchase documents. An EB-5 offering has its own investment structure and documents. Do not count a condo deposit or purchase price as qualifying EB-5 capital without independent legal review of the actual structure. Owning and operating a personal residence is not, by itself, a qualifying commercial enterprise under USCIS policy.
| Question | Residence purchase | Separate EB-5 offering |
|---|---|---|
| What are you reviewing? | The home, title, purchase contract and ownership costs. | The enterprise, investment terms, evidence and immigration requirements. |
| Which documents matter? | Purchase agreement, condominium disclosures, plans and specifications. | Offering documents, subscription terms and applicable USCIS filing evidence. |
| Who advises on eligibility? | Qualified real estate counsel addresses purchase eligibility and the contract. | Independent qualified immigration counsel assesses your immigration circumstances. |
| What is not promised? | Rental income, appreciation or permission to reside in the U.S. | Petition approval, visa availability, investment repayment or a green card. |
Project filing is different from investor approval.
For regional-center offerings, USCIS describes Form I-956F as the project application and requires it to be filed before an investor files Form I-526E based on that offering. A filing receipt and an approval notice are different evidence. Project determinations do not remove the need to review the individual investor’s eligibility or guarantee an immigration outcome. USCIS project-application guidance ↗
Questions international buyers often ask.
Does buying a condo grant a green card?
No. A residence purchase does not itself establish EB-5 eligibility or immigration status. Any separate investment and your individual circumstances require review by qualified immigration counsel.
Does “regional center” mean an investment is government-guaranteed?
No. Regional-center designation is not a guarantee of investment performance or investor approval. Review the specific offering and independently verify the parties and evidence. SEC and USCIS investor alert ↗
Does I-956F approval mean my petition will be approved?
No. It concerns the particular project application. Individual requirements and immigration adjudication remain separate. Ask your own counsel to interpret the notice and its relevance to your case.
Is the minimum investment the entire amount I need?
Do not assume so. Ask the appropriate advisers for an itemized explanation of investment capital, administrative charges, professional fees and filing-related costs, together with the terms governing each payment.
Does every Miami development qualify for the lower investment threshold?
No such assumption should be made. Ask qualified counsel to verify whether the particular offering qualifies for the relevant targeted-employment-area or infrastructure provisions. A Miami address, a brochure or a condo price does not establish that qualification.
Do I receive ownership of a condo through an EB-5 offering?
Do not assume that an investment interest gives you title to a residence. Ask your independent advisers to explain precisely what the offering provides and whether a separate property purchase is involved.
Can Diego assess my immigration eligibility or prepare my petition?
No. Diego provides real estate assistance, not immigration services, representation or petition preparation. Work directly with independent qualified U.S. immigration counsel.
How quickly would I receive an immigration benefit?
This website does not promise a processing time. Ask counsel to assess the relevant category, filing stage and visa availability, using current official information. A marketing timeline is not an individual result.
A useful next step.
Keep your real estate brief and immigration review separate. Diego can help compare residences and request relevant project contacts or documents. Your independent advisers should assess any investment offering, immigration eligibility and associated risks before you commit.
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Tell us what matters to you: location, lifestyle, timing. Begin with a focused conversation with Diego A. Jerez Pizarro, eXp Realty LLC.
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