Country-of-birth backlogs: what to check first
EB-5 visa availability is allocated by country of birth (not citizenship or residence), with per-country caps designed to prevent any single country from consuming the entire annual allocation. In practice, this means applicants born in mainland China face the longest-standing EB-5 backlog, and applicants born in India and, at times, Vietnam, have also experienced longer waits than the rest of the world. Investors born in most other countries — including Brazil, Nigeria, the UK, South Africa, the Philippines, and elsewhere — have generally had visas current or close to current, meaning minimal additional wait beyond standard processing.
Reserved categories, including the rural TEA set-aside, draw from a separate pool of visas specifically carved out by Congress, which has generally kept those visas available faster even for backlogged countries. Always confirm current visa bulletin data with your immigration attorney before finalizing a timeline.
| Country of birth | Typical EB-5 visa availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | Longest wait | Longest-standing EB-5 backlog; reserved categories may still move faster than the general pool |
| India | Moderate to long wait (general category) | See our dedicated India guide |
| Vietnam | Historically moderate wait | Has approached backlog status at times; confirm current bulletin |
| UAE / GCC countries | Generally current | See our Dubai & UAE guide |
| Most other countries | Generally current | Brazil, Nigeria, UK, South Africa, Philippines, and most others |
What every investor needs regardless of nationality
- Lawful source of funds for the full investment amount, documented with a clear paper trail (see our source-of-funds guide).
- A qualifying healthcare project in a Targeted Employment Area for the reduced $800,000 threshold, or $1,050,000 for non-TEA projects.
- An independent U.S. immigration attorney to prepare and file Form I-526E.
- Patience through the visa bulletin process, which varies by country of birth as outlined above.
Why healthcare, no matter where you're investing from
Regardless of nationality, every EB-5 investor is underwriting the same risk: will this project create and sustain the required jobs, and will the underlying business remain viable? Healthcare facilities — serving non-discretionary community needs with staffing-heavy job creation — offer a defensible answer to both questions across economic cycles, which is why we've built our entire regional center around this single sector. Review our current healthcare project offerings or our 2026 program requirements to get started.