The Countdown Has Begun
The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program faces a pivotal deadline — September 30th, 2026. That’s when its current authorization under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 expires.
What happens next is uncertain. Congress could renew the program, raise the minimum investment, or pause new filings while debating further reforms.
For global investors, this is more than a date on the calendar — it’s the final stable window to secure a U.S. Green Card under today’s rules.
A History of Change, and Missed Opportunities
EB-5’s three-decade journey has been shaped by periodic expirations and renewals — each one leaving a clear message: those who act early benefit most.
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1990 Launch: Congress established EB-5 to attract foreign investment and create U.S. jobs. The minimum was only US $500,000 in targeted areas.
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2015–2018: A series of short-term extensions caused uncertainty; many investors delayed decisions and missed approval windows.
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2019: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the minimum to US $900,000, catching late applicants unprepared.
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June 2021: The Regional Center Program lapsed for nearly a year, freezing thousands of petitions until reauthorization.
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March 2022: The Reform and Integrity Act revived EB-5, restoring investor confidence and lowering the TEA threshold to US $800,000 — but with a built-in sunset clause: September 30th, 2026.
Each cycle shows the same pattern — stability followed by sudden change. Investors who prepared early locked in existing benefits, while those who waited faced higher costs or uncertainty.
A Program Built on Stability – FOR NOW
Since 2022, EB-5 has been operating under its most structured and transparent framework. The Act introduced:
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Fixed investment levels — $800,000 in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA); $1,050,000 elsewhere.
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Integrity rules mandating registration, auditing, and disclosure for Regional Centers and fund administrators.
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Priority processing for rural projects with visa set-asides.
These reforms created confidence across the market — but only until the authorization expires in 2026. After that, investment amounts could be indexed for inflation or adjusted to new economic priorities.
The Global Context: Why the U.S. Still Leads
While European and Caribbean investment-migration programs tighten requirements, the United States continues to project credibility, permanence, and transparency.
EB-5 offers permanent residency, not temporary permits.
It links investment directly to job creation, ensuring policy legitimacy.
And it provides a path to U.S. citizenship for the investor’s entire family.
Demand from Vietnam, India, China, and the Middle East has accelerated throughout 2025 as investors seek to lock in the current thresholds before another policy shift.
A Race Against Time – Not Against Opportunity
Preparing an EB-5 application, selecting a project, obtaining lawful funding documentation, and conducting due diligence typically takes three to six months.
That means those who begin now can still comfortably file before potential reform.
“Every EB-5 cycle ends with a rush,” notes a U.S. immigration attorney interviewed by The Immigration Magazine. “Investors who plan ahead always secure the lower thresholds, those who wait face higher risk and higher cost.”
The Bottom Line
History repeats itself, and EB-5 has always favored proactive investors.
Today, the program remains open, compliant, and investor-friendly. Yet after September 30th, 2026, the next chapter could bring new rules, higher minimums, or another pause in adjudications.
For families planning relocation or global portfolio diversification, 2026 is not just another year. It’s the year of timing.
Begin your evaluation, organize financial records, and choose your project while the window remains open.
Because in investment immigration, timing isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.
Part of The EB-5 Countdown Series 2026
This article is part of The Immigration Magazine’s exclusive editorial series: “The Final Window – Secure Your U.S. Green Card Before the Law Changes.”
Next Article → The EB-5 Reform & Integrity Act – What’s Still Valid Until 2026.
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