Can I receive financial assistance from U.S. banks?

The EB-5 allows foreign investors to pursue permanent residence in the United States through a qualified investment that must be ‘at risk’ and contribute to job creation. A common question is whether financial assistance from U.S. banks can be used to form that investment amount.

In practice, EB-5 rules require that the invested funds be genuinely yours and exposed to the risk of the project. For this reason, traditional loans and bank financing typically do not qualify: the guarantees and repayment conditions attached to those products can undermine the ‘at risk’ capital requirement. Capital sourced from this type of loan may not meet USCIS requirements and could jeopardize eligibility.

This is different from seeking credit for other personal purposes, such as buying a property or starting a business after approval. For those purposes, U.S. banks offer financing normally. The key is to keep the EB-5 investment separate from your personal or business financial planning.

• The EB-5 contribution must be yours and remain exposed to the project’s risk.
• Traditional bank loans generally do not form part of this investment.
• Credit for other personal purposes is an entirely separate matter.

Because every case has its own specifics, it is worth consulting specialized professionals and demonstrating the lawful origin of funds, while confirming updated requirements at the official source (USCIS).

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.