Fast-Track to Green Card: Why EB-5 Appeals to Indians

For Indian nationals aiming for a US Green Card, the EB-5 investor visa presents a quicker and more reliable alternative compared to years of delays often faced through H-1B or family-based immigration pathways. According to Nadadur S. Kumar, an immigration attorney in California, while H-1B visa backlogs stretch up to 24 years due to annual country caps, EB-5 offers a more predictable and faster route to permanent residency.

Established in 1990 and strengthened by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the program allows foreign investors to gain US residency by investing in American businesses that create jobs. The minimum investment is $800,000 in rural or high-unemployment zones, or $1.05 million elsewhere. Most applicants opt for government-approved Regional Centers to handle job creation and project management.

The 2022 reforms have made EB-5 more accessible by offering reserved visa categories, fixing the investment threshold until 2027, allowing concurrent adjustment of status filings for those already in the US, and offering flexibility in employment or study options while remaining passive investors. Typically, capital is returned within four to six years, although returns are low.

While the program involves financial risk and requires careful project selection to avoid fraud, the updated regulations now include stronger oversight and investor protections. The US Visa Bulletin currently shows no backlog in EB-5 visas for Indians, though future demand may lead to temporary slowdowns. About 1,000 EB-5 visas are available annually to Indians, with special allocations for rural and infrastructure projects. Some investors raise funds legally through family remittances under Indian foreign exchange laws.

EB-5 offers Indian families a viable path to US residency, bypassing the long waits of other visa categories.

EB-5 visa, US Green Card, Indian immigration, investor visa, H-1B backlog