Can I withdraw dividends from the EB-5 project during the conditional period?

In general, withdrawing dividends too early is not advisable in an EB-5 investment. The program’s underlying logic is that capital must remain at-risk and genuinely committed to job creation and maintenance throughout the conditional residency period.

For this reason, projects typically establish minimum holding periods for the invested capital, precisely to demonstrate that funds are being used in accordance with the program’s objectives. Some projects do provide for periodic dividend payments as a return, but the standard EB-5 structure does not encourage early withdrawal.

Pulling resources out ahead of schedule can disqualify the investment as at-risk and raise questions about the investor’s commitment, placing the petition out of alignment with the program requirements evaluated by USCIS. Each project also has its own contractual rules, and restrictions on early profit distributions are common.

• Capital must remain at-risk throughout the conditional period.
• Early distributions may weaken the case.
• The project’s contract defines what is permitted and when.

Before counting on any return, read the contract terms carefully, align expectations with the project managers, and seek guidance from an immigration and investment specialist, confirming the current rules with 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.