The Canadian investor’s guide
A US green card.
A strategy built around you.
EB-5 can provide a route to US permanent residency for qualifying investors and eligible family members. Here’s what to understand before you choose a project or move capital.
Current minimum for qualifying targeted-employment-area or infrastructure investments.
The investment must support the required full-time US job creation.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may also qualify.
Other investments currently require US$1,050,000. Fees are additional. Investment amounts are scheduled to adjust from January 1, 2027.
What you are working toward
Permanent residency.
More ways to build a life.
A green card allows you to live and work in the US as a lawful permanent resident. EB-5 does not depend on an employer sponsoring your permanent-residence petition.
For regional-centre investors, the investment project does not ordinarily dictate where the family lives. Your attorney should explain the residency obligations and how they fit your travel and relocation plans.
Already a Canadian citizen?
Your Canadian citizenship and US immigration status are separate. A green card is permanent residency, not US citizenship. Naturalization can be considered later if you meet its requirements.
For snowbirds, a green card changes the planning conversation: extended stays outside the US can affect permanent-resident status. Discuss how you intend to divide your time with counsel.
Two paths to consider
Regional centre or
direct investment?
A regional-centre investment typically pools capital in a sponsored project and may count qualifying indirect jobs. A direct EB-5 investment involves the standalone business and direct qualifying job creation. The right approach depends on your desired involvement, investment goals and immigration circumstances.
Our Canadian consultations focus on understanding potential investment structures and evaluating project risk. A licensed US immigration attorney determines the appropriate legal pathway and prepares your petition.
What happens after the investment?
- Investor petition: your attorney prepares Form I-526E for a regional-centre case, supported by the investment and source-of-funds evidence.
- Visa or adjustment process: after the required petition and visa-availability steps, eligible applicants pursue consular processing or adjustment of status as appropriate.
- Conditional permanent residence: a successful EB-5 admission or adjustment begins a two-year period of conditional residence.
- Removal of conditions: Form I-829 is generally filed during the 90-day period immediately before the second anniversary of conditional residence. Counsel should track your actual deadline and required evidence.
None of these stages guarantees project repayment. Immigration processing and investment liquidity follow different requirements and timelines.
The investment minimum
is only part of the budget.
| Plan for | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Investment capital | US$800,000 for a qualifying reduced-threshold investment or US$1,050,000 otherwise, under current rules. |
| Project and administration fees | Which charges apply, when they are paid and what is refundable. |
| Legal and government fees | The filings covered, costs for family members and later-stage applications. |
| Cross-border planning | Currency conversion, Canadian and US tax advice, banking and documentation costs. |
| Time and liquidity | The project’s investment term, possible extensions and the risk of delayed or failed repayment. |
EB-5 investments can be illiquid for years and may lose some or all principal. Meeting an immigration sustainment requirement does not mean the project must repay you at that point. Review the actual offering documents and repayment terms.
Prepare your evidence early
Your capital has a story.
Make it traceable.
Canadian investors may fund an investment through business income, an asset sale, employment savings, gifts or other lawful sources. Your attorney must assess what evidence is needed for your particular source and path of funds.
Start organising relevant records before making transfers. A clean paper trail is more useful than a rushed application.
Discuss with your attorney
- Tax returns and supporting financial records
- Business ownership and income documentation
- Property or business sale agreements
- Gift or inheritance records, if relevant
- Bank statements and the full transfer trail
- Canadian-dollar conversion and US-dollar transfers
This is a preparation prompt, not a complete legal checklist. Don’t send these documents through the initial enquiry form.
Visa availability and timing
Current does not mean instant.
In October 2026, the EB-5 unreserved and reserved categories are current for applicants chargeable to Canada. This means the bulletin does not impose a priority-date cutoff in those categories for that chargeability area.
It does not promise fast approval. Petition adjudication, visa processing, project readiness and your personal circumstances all affect the timeline. A Canadian citizen born elsewhere may have a different chargeability position.
Your attorney can also assess whether consular processing or, if you are eligible while in the US, adjustment of status is appropriate. Filing an application does not itself authorise work or international travel.
Your next chapter
Start with a conversation.
Move forward with clarity.
Tell us what a future in the US looks like for you. We’ll help you understand whether EB-5 belongs in your plans.