Does the spouse receive the green card at the same time or after?

In most cases, at the same time. In the EB-5 program, the lead investor can include a spouse and unmarried children within the age limit as dependents on the petition. When the spouse is included from the start, they typically accompany the investor and receive the conditional green card through the same process.

In practice, this happens after the EB-5 petition is approved and the family’s turn arrives in the immigration queue. From that point, the spouse can apply for adjustment of status, if already in the U.S., or go through consular processing, if abroad. Because the family’s documents are reviewed together, the timelines tend to be similar.

A few points help clarify the flow:

• The spouse must be included as a dependent on the petition to accompany the investor.
• The conditional green card typically comes through the same process, not as a separate step.
• Each case has individual circumstances that may affect the pace of adjudication.

Because official rules and timelines change, confirm the current requirements with USCIS or a qualified immigration professional before organizing the family’s case.

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.