# EB-5 Basics: The Core Concepts in One Read

> What EB-5 is, the investment thresholds, TEAs, regional center vs. direct investment, the two-stage I-526E / I-829 process, and the key changes from the 2022 RIA.

- URL: https://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-basics/
- Language: en
- Category: guides
- Published: 2026-10-01
- Tags: basics, RIA, TEA

## What is EB-5

EB-5 is the fifth employment-based preference category. Investors earn a green card by investing in a U.S. enterprise that creates jobs. It is one of the few U.S. green card paths that requires **no employer sponsorship and no special skills**.

## Investment thresholds

Under the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA):

| Project type | Minimum investment |
| --- | --- |
| TEA (Targeted Employment Area) | $800,000 |
| Non-TEA | $1,050,000 |

TEAs cover rural and high-unemployment areas. Both categories also receive **reserved visa set-asides**, which is why they are currently the lower-backlog option for applicants born in mainland China.

## Regional center vs. direct

- **Regional center projects** may count indirect and induced jobs. The vast majority of investors choose this route.
- **Direct investment** counts only full-time employees hired directly, which suits people running their own business.

## The two-stage process

1. **I-526E**: file proof of investment and source of funds. Once approved, apply for a conditional green card (concurrent I-485 filing is possible from inside the U.S.).
2. **I-829**: file within the 90 days before the conditional green card expires, proving the investment was sustained and 10 jobs were created. Approval converts it to a permanent green card.

> Upcoming posts cover source of funds, project due diligence, and visa backlogs in depth. Subscribe via RSS.