Will my case move faster if I have a master’s or doctoral degree?

No. EB-5 is an investment and job creation based pathway, not an academic credentials pathway. Holding a master’s or doctoral degree does not speed up the review of your case.

Advanced education can be an advantage in other immigration pathways, those where a professional’s qualifications are precisely the criterion being evaluated. In the EB-5, however, what the authorities examine is whether the investment was made lawfully, in the required amount, and whether it genuinely contributed to creating jobs in the United States.

In other words, how quickly a case moves depends on meeting the investment and employment requirements and on the consistency of the documentation, not on your degree. A well-organized file tends to avoid requests for clarification that delay the review.

Because processing times and requirements change and each case is evaluated individually, be wary of promises of fast results and confirm the current rules with USCIS or with a specialist before investing.

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.