Residence · Form I-485
Eligible investors may file an adjustment application alongside a pending or concurrently filed EB-5 petition when visa availability and filing rules allow.
EB-5 FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ALREADY IN THE U.S.
Get a work permit.
Before EB-5
approval.
Already in the U.S.? Speak to us to check whether you’re eligible. Eligible adjustment applicants can request a separate work permit while EB-5 is pending. Once approved and valid, it generally allows work without H-1B sponsorship. Qualifying investment from $800,000, plus fees.
Advising families since 2013. Your main point of contact from Dubai & London, coordinating immigration preparation, investment support and settlement planning.
$800kQualifying investment
Fees additional
Fees additional
10Qualifying full-time
jobs required
jobs required
OnePlan for your
eligible family
eligible family
Request your free consultation
Discuss the applicant, funding and timing questions for your situation. Free, with no obligation.
EB-5 FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ALREADY IN THE U.S.
Apply for residence.
Request work and travel permission.
For eligible applicants, I-485 can be filed while the EB-5 petition is pending. Work permission (I-765) and travel permission (I-131) are separate applications and decisions. Filing alone grants neither.
Work · Form I-765
An adjustment-based EAD requires a separate application and approval. Once valid, it generally allows employment without an employer-filed H-1B petition.
Travel · Form I-131
Advance parole is separate from work authorisation. Leaving without appropriate permission may abandon an adjustment application, subject to exceptions. Speak to us before any international travel so we can coordinate the necessary legal review.
Our own clients’ track record
Our clients.
Green Cards & capital returned.
Advising EB-5 families since 2013.
Multiple clients we have advised have completed the full EB-5 cycle: conditional residence, removal of conditions and return of their investment capital. Some have also become U.S. citizens.
100% approval recordOur adjudicated EB-5 applications, to date.
Conditional Green Cards
Permanent Green Cards
Investment capital returned
U.S. citizenship
Historical outcomes for our own clients.
Residency First helped us with our decision on EB-5, choosing an appropriate qualifying project, in ongoing engagement with the regional centre as the project milestones changed, and with introductions and engagement of a very good lawfirm. Their hand holding and engagement thru the process until receipt of the green card has been excellent.
HOW EB-5 WORKS
How EB-5 works.
Three core requirements.
A qualifying investment, evidence of job creation, and an immigration application. Understand all three before you choose a project.
I
Invest from $800,000
In a qualifying TEA or infrastructure investment; $1,050,000 otherwise. Administrative, legal and government fees are additional.
II
Create at least 10 jobs
Your investment must support at least 10 qualifying full-time positions. We coordinate a legal review of the job model, allocation and evidence.
III
Pursue family Green Cards
Apply for you and your eligible spouse and unmarried children under 21, subject to age-protection rules. Initial residence is conditional for two years.
Requirements reviewed 15 October 2026. 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5) · USCIS EB-5 overview.
How visa availability, work permits and filing costs affect timing
TIMING DESERVES A PLAN
Visa availabilityReserved categories, dated context
In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, all three EB-5 reserved categories are current for all listed countries. Current does not mean immediate approval; availability can change.
Already in the U.S.?Apply for work permission before EB-5 approval
Eligible applicants may file I-485 while the EB-5 petition is pending and request a separate work permit. Once approved and valid, that permit generally allows internships and jobs without H-1B sponsorship. Filing alone does not authorise work or travel.
Capital planningUnderstand the full commitment
Budget the qualifying investment and all fees. Statutory inflation adjustments begin on 1 January 2027. Speak to us to coordinate a check of the rules applying to your filing.
October 2026 Visa Bulletin · Filing requirements explained. No processing time is promised.
WHY RESIDENCY FIRST
What Residency First
does for you.
Review your family’s application.
We remain your main point of contact, discuss the family, funding and timing questions, and coordinate the specialist reviews needed.
Prepare funds and investment documents.
We coordinate the records and follow-up. One of our recommended attorneys carries out source-of-funds and legal document reviews; financial specialists assess investment questions.
Coordinate updates and settlement support.
Stay in contact with us for specialist communication, immigration updates and settlement planning, within your agreed engagement.
Legal advice is provided by the retained attorney; independent financial and tax professionals advise in their fields. Request our written scope, fees, attorney engagement terms and any project-related compensation before engaging.
Discuss how we can helpTHE HONEST PART
Understand the risks.
Make an informed decision.
U.S. law requires EB-5 capital to be at risk. You can lose some or all of your investment. No adviser can promise a Green Card or the return of your money.
What a serious review can do is ask the difficult questions early: Who is funding the project? How are jobs calculated? What could delay completion? Where do you stand if the project fails? We coordinate the document review with a recommended attorney and the appropriate independent financial specialists before you commit.
Escrow and an anticipated repayment date do not guarantee capital protection.
Questions to ask before investing →You make the final investment decision, based on your circumstances, the project documents and independent advice.
BEFORE YOU ASK
Questions before filing in the U.S.
Can I stop maintaining my F-1 or H-1B status after filing?
Do not make that decision based only on a pending EB-5 petition or adjustment application. Speak to us before making changes. We coordinate a legal review of maintaining status, using an EAD, travel and the consequences if an application is denied.
Is EB-5 work permission immediate?
No. Filing alone does not authorise employment. Processing times vary, and you must have valid authorisation before starting work.
Does EB-5 require an employer to sponsor me?
The EB-5 investor route does not require employer sponsorship. You must still meet the capital, lawful-funds, job-creation and immigration requirements. Some employment remains subject to citizenship, licensing or other restrictions.
What exactly is the minimum investment?
$800,000 for a qualifying TEA or infrastructure investment, or $1,050,000 otherwise. Legal, administrative and government fees are additional. Ask for a written breakdown of the whole commitment.
How long until we hold Green Cards?
There is no single reliable timetable. Petition adjudication, visa availability, country of chargeability and consular or adjustment processing all matter. Current visa categories do not mean immediate Green Cards. Ask for a plan that makes its assumptions clear.
Can I travel while adjustment is pending?
Travel and work permission are separate. Speak to us before booking international travel so we can coordinate a review of advance parole, your current status and any applicable exceptions.
YOUR FAMILY’S NEXT CHAPTER
Understand your options before changing your status.
Start with your current status, immigration history and family plans. We remain your main point of contact and coordinate the legal eligibility review before you make changes.
- Free consultation, no obligation
- Your eligibility, costs and next steps — discussed
- A personal conversation about your family’s plans
Read the free in-U.S. filing guide →
Free to use. No email address needed.
Request your free consultation
Discuss the applicant, funding and timing questions for your situation. Free, with no obligation.