After how long as a resident can I apply for citizenship through EB-5?

With the EB-5 visa, the path to citizenship generally follows the same rules that apply to all other permanent residents. This means the investor must fulfill the minimum residency period required by law before filing for naturalization.

It is worth noting that, under EB-5, the investor initially holds conditional residence. After that initial period, the conditions on the residence must be removed by demonstrating that the investment requirements were met. From that point, the investor maintains the green card as a full permanent resident.

Time already spent as a resident counts toward the residency requirement for naturalization. There are also particular situations, such as being married to a U.S. citizen, in which the timeline rules may differ.

Because the timelines and eligibility criteria are defined by law and may change, confirm the updated requirements with USCIS before filing your petition, and consider seeking specialized guidance.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.