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US real estate and the EB-5 investor green card
Buying a home in the United States does not lead to a visa or a green card. Here is the investor route that does.
Answer and evidence
Can buying US real estate get me a green card?
No. US immigration law has no route for property owners: owning a home, however valuable, gives no visa or residence status. The investor green card is EB-5, which needs at least USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere, placed at risk in a US business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
The EB-5 investment amounts
What counts as an EB-5 investment instead of a home purchase?
A home purchase does not count as an EB-5 investment, because the capital must be at risk in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. One qualifying investment covers you, your spouse and unmarried children under 21, and the required amounts are tied to inflation from 1 January 2027.
Figures as held in our data, checked against USCIS.
| Route | Minimum | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Targeted employment area or infrastructure | USD 800,000 | At risk in a business creating 10 full-time jobs |
| Standard investment | USD 1,050,000 | Outside a targeted employment area |
USCIS filing fees apply on top.
From investment to green card
How do you get an EB-5 green card step by step?
An EB-5 green card starts with an investment you choose yourself, followed by an I-526 or I-526E petition, a two-year conditional green card and then Form I-829. Timing varies by category, country of birth and filing date, so your US immigration attorney checks the current position before you commit.
- Choose an investment
You choose the investment, through a USCIS-designated regional centre or your own business, with your own independent due diligence; it must meet the job-creation rule. Mirabello does not name, rate, sell or recommend any project or regional centre.
- Document your funds
You prepare source-of-funds documentation with your US immigration attorney, showing the lawful origin of the capital you plan to invest.
- Invest and petition
The capital is invested at risk and your US immigration attorney files the I-526 or I-526E petition with USCIS.
- Conditional green card
After approval and a visa number, you receive a two-year conditional green card, through an immigrant visa abroad or adjustment of status in the United States.
- Remove the conditions
Form I-829, filed in the 90 days before the second anniversary, shows the investment was sustained and the jobs created, leading to the permanent green card.
What a green card means day to day
What does an EB-5 green card mean for you and your family?
An EB-5 green card makes the United States your permanent home, for you, your spouse and unmarried children under 21. Unlike a property purchase, it gives you the right to live and work in the country, along with US tax residence and a route to naturalisation after 5 years as a permanent resident.
Your permanent home
There is no fixed annual day count, but the United States must remain your permanent home. Long absences can affect your status, and a re-entry permit, applied for before you leave, can cover absences of up to two years.
US tax residence
Standard US tax rules apply from the start of US tax residence, with no special regime for EB-5 investors. Take advice from a qualified US tax adviser before you move.
A route to citizenship
You can apply to naturalise after 5 years as a permanent resident, and conditional residence counts. The rules include physical presence for at least 30 of those 60 months, basic English and a civics test.
Questions
What do people ask about property in the United States?
US real estate gives you no immigration status on its own, and the investor green card is EB-5, an at-risk business investment from USD 800,000 that creates jobs. The questions below cover home purchases, development projects, amounts, filing fees, the E-2 visa, family members and the route to citizenship.
Does owning a house in the US give residency?
No. There is no US visa or green card for property owners. A visitor who owns a home is still bound by the visitor rules.
Can a foreigner buy a house in the US without a green card?
Yes, as a rule, foreign persons can hold US real estate, and federal tax rules such as FIRPTA withholding apply when they sell. State rules can differ, so ask a US attorney before you buy. Owning the home adds nothing to your right to enter or stay.
Can EB-5 money go into real estate development?
EB-5 capital can be invested in a commercial project, including a development run through a regional centre, but it is an at-risk business investment that must create at least 10 full-time jobs. It is not a home you buy and own.
How much is the EB-5 investment?
At least USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, otherwise USD 1,050,000. USCIS ties these amounts to inflation, with the first adjustment applying to petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027.
What are the EB-5 government fees?
USCIS filing fees are charged on top of the investment and depend on the form, family size and filing date. A new EB-5 fee rule takes effect on 30 November 2026, so your attorney confirms the amounts on Form G-1055 when you file. Regional-centre administrative fees are set in each offering's documents.
What is the difference between a regional centre and a direct EB-5 investment?
A regional-centre investment is pooled through a USCIS-designated centre and filed on Form I-526E, and jobs may be counted indirectly within USCIS limits. A standalone investment means your own business, filed on Form I-526, where the jobs must be direct. The minimum amounts are the same.
Can buying a rental property qualify for an E-2 visa?
Owning a home does not by itself meet the E-2 rules. USCIS requires a real, active and operating commercial undertaking, capital at risk, and an investor who is a national of a treaty country. E-2 is also a temporary status, not a green card.
Who is covered by one EB-5 investment?
One investment of USD 800,000 or USD 1,050,000 covers the investor, spouse and unmarried children under 21. A USCIS fee applies per immigrating person.
Does an EB-5 green card lead to US citizenship?
It can. You may apply to naturalise after 5 years as a permanent resident, counting conditional residence, if you meet the continuous residence, physical presence, English and civics requirements. US law does not prohibit dual nationality, but your home country may have its own rules.
How do I start with Mirabello Consultancy?
Book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy through our contact page, in any of our 11 languages. A specialist compares the US routes for your profile and coordinates with your US immigration attorney, who prepares and files the petition. You can also ask Mira, by Mirabello, our AI guide, in the same languages.
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We compare the US routes for your profile and coordinate with your US immigration attorney, who prepares and files the petition.