Is there an annual per-country cap in the EB-5?

Yes, though indirectly. EB-5 is an employment-based green card category and, like the others in that family, is subject to annual limits on issuance and to per-country limits set by U.S. immigration law. In other words, visa distribution is not unlimited.

In practice, this means that when demand from a particular country is very high, a waiting line can form for investors of that nationality, even after the petition has been approved. This dynamic is the same one that affects other employment-based categories and is tracked periodically in the official visa availability publication.

Because limits and waiting times shift with demand and current policy, it makes no sense to fix specific numbers here. The safest approach is to check the most up-to-date official source.

To find out where availability stands for your situation, it is worth monitoring the Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State and the requirements on the USCIS website, 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.