Is EB-5 affected by pandemic restrictions, such as COVID testing?

The EB-5 program, as an investment-based immigration pathway, does not include COVID testing or public health requirements among its eligibility criteria. Qualification remains tied to the investment and job creation requirements, not to public health rules.

What may be affected are the administrative steps surrounding the petition. Health measures adopted by federal, state, or local authorities can, at certain times, influence:

• The scheduling and conduct of interviews.
• Access to government offices and service centers.
• Specific documentation requirements to enter certain facilities, regardless of visa type.

These rules are not specific to EB-5 and vary depending on the location, the responsible agency, and the public health conditions of each period. In other words, the program itself does not change, but the procedures around it may follow health guidelines in effect.

Because this type of requirement changes over time, confirm the rules in effect through official USCIS sources and the guidance of health authorities before each step, ideally with the support of an immigration professional.

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.