Does the EB-5 have a fixed limit per country?

Yes. The EB-5, like other employment- and investment-based immigration categories, operates with an annual visa limit and a maximum share reserved for each country. The idea is to distribute approvals in a balanced way and prevent a single nationality from concentrating the majority of available slots.

In practice, this means that applicants from countries with very high demand may face a waiting line until a slot becomes available in their category. Those from countries with lower demand tend to have a faster path in this regard.

This limit does not invalidate the EB-5 as an immigration pathway: it only affects the time until a green card becomes available. The investor still needs to meet all of the program’s investment and job-creation requirements.

Since quotas and wait times change periodically, avoid relying on secondhand figures. Check updated data through USCIS and the official visa bulletin (Visa Bulletin), or consult a trusted specialist.

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.