Is there a minimum income requirement for the EB-5?

The question rests on a premise worth clarifying: the EB-5 has no minimum income requirement. The program does not evaluate the investor’s salary or earnings; it evaluates the ability to make a qualified minimum investment and to document the lawful source of those funds.

In other words, the focus is on the investment amount, not on how much the applicant earns. That minimum amount is not fixed: it is lower when the capital goes into a targeted employment area (TEAs, which include rural zones or areas of high unemployment) and higher for projects outside those areas.

• There is no income or salary requirement.
• There is, however, a minimum investment threshold that varies depending on the project’s location.
• You must document the lawful source of the funds and demonstrate job creation.

Because minimum amounts are revised periodically, avoid relying on figures that may be out of date. Confirm the current thresholds at the official source (USCIS) and review your situation with a trusted specialist before committing capital.

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.