The EB-5 visa allows immigration to the U.S. and obtaining a green card through an investment of at least one million dollars in the U.S. If the investment is in a high-unemployment or rural area, only a $500,000 investment is required.

For someone to immigrate through this route, the investment must create at least ten new jobs. Simply buying a house or purchasing an existing business is not enough. The ten new jobs must be created either directly (i.e., through direct hiring by the investor) or indirectly. Additionally, the investor must prove the legal source of the funds used for the investment. The immigration process through investment is extremely complex, and an immigration lawyer often charges tens of thousands of dollars to complete the process.

For those who do not have a specific business idea for investment in the U.S., there are so-called Regional Centers—investment packages prepared by private companies with the aim of attracting investors who want to immigrate to the U.S. There are over 200 approved Regional Centers, and their reliability varies. In any case, there is no guarantee that the investor will get their money back. There have been cases where individuals use Regional Centers, but for various reasons, the immigration process does not have a successful outcome.

In addition to the EB-5 immigrant visa, citizens of treaty countries with business activities can use the non-immigrant E-1 visa, which is for those involved in trade between their home country and the U.S.