Can the EB-5 company be in the financial sector (brokerage)?

Yes, in principle. The EB-5 program does not include a specific prohibition against investing in a financial sector company, such as a brokerage. What the program examines is not the industry itself, but whether the business meets the core pillars of the EB-5.

Those pillars are two: the investment must be exposed to genuine commercial risk in a real enterprise, and it must create jobs in the United States. This is where some heavily financial structures face a challenge: if the structure does not make clear how the capital creates jobs and contributes to the economy, it tends to fit the requirements less cleanly.

A brokerage or financial company can therefore be eligible, provided it builds a business model that demonstrates job creation, with a solid development plan and a clear use of funds. Factors such as the complexity of the structure and the method of raising capital are part of the analysis, always on a case-by-case basis.

Because the evaluation is individual and policies may change, it is worth verifying the current requirements with USCIS and structuring the project with specialized support, avoiding any promises of guaranteed approval.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.