EB-5 Green Cards for Canadian Citizens

EB-5 Green Cards for Canadian Citizens

Since 1993, the EB-5 investor green card has allowed Canadians to invest a significant amount of money in a business enterprise in exchange for a green card. For new investments in non-rural, non-targeted employment areas (TEA), the required investment was $1 million plus the creation of 10 new direct jobs for U.S. workers. The Canadian citizen is also required to directly oversee the development of the enterprise.

If the investment was in a rural area, or a TEA, the investment amount was reduced to $500,000.00, plus the creation of 10 indirect jobs for U.S. workers. To qualify as a TEA, an area must have an unemployment rate of 150% of the national average or be located in a rural area with fewer than 20,000 people.

2019 changes to the EB-5 program

In July 2019, the Department of Homeland Security announced significant changes to the EB-5 program. Specifically, the $500,000 investment amount for regional centers or TEA’s will increase to $900,000 starting November 21, 2019. Further, the $1 million investment requirement for non-regional centers or TEA applications will increase to $1.8 million starting November 21, 2019.

Learn more about the EB-5 green card

Please go to Investor-Based Green Card for Canadians to learn more about the EB-5 green card.