Davies & Associates LLC Home
EB-5 and Its Growth in the Indian Market
Published by Davies & Associates at October 13, 2016
The EB-5 Investor visa offers foreign nationals a path to a U.S. green card through investment. To qualify, applicants must:
- Invest $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), or $1,050,000 outside a TEA
- Create at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs
There are two investment routes:
- Direct Investment
- Investing through a Regional Center
India has become one of the fastest-growing EB-5 markets. Key highlights include:
- India ranked as the 4th largest EB-5 investor market by I-526 approval volume in 2014
- Average of 34 I-526 approvals per year since 2008
- 73.77% increase in I-526 approvals since 2008
- 24.67% increase in EB-5 visa usage between 2012–2014
- India holds 7.41% of the world’s total I-526 approval market share since 2011
- Indian EB-5 investment generates roughly $84 million in U.S. Foreign Direct Investment
This growth is driven by India’s increasing economic stability and the Reserve Bank of India’s relaxation of capital controls. Approvals rose from 86 (1990–2007) to 169 (2011–2014), showing strong upward momentum.
Why Choose EB-5?Among the many paths to a U.S. Green Card, EB-5 stands out for several reasons:
- Supports Make in India — the program channels investment into U.S. job creation while building global connections for Indian entrepreneurs
- Ideal for High Net Worth Individuals — it is one of the most straightforward green card routes for HNIs
- A solution for Indian students in the U.S. — it helps students bypass H-1B visa challenges and secure permanent residency directly
The process involves three key steps:
- Get legal advice — choose between a direct investment or a Regional Center route
- Conduct due diligence — evaluate the project, document your source of funds, and prepare the EB-5 petition
- Hire the right law firm — choose a firm that specializes in EB-5 and understands the local laws of the applicant’s country
