I don’t have $800K in cash. What are my options?
- Who is eligible to receive immigration benefits from my EB-5 investment?
- Can I include my family members on my EB-5 visa petition?
- Can adopted children immigrate with me on EB-5?
- Why was the EB-5 Investor Visa Program created?
- What are the EB-5 Investment Requirements?
- Who Can Apply for the EB-5 Investor Program?
- What are EB-5 Eligible Countries?
- What Are the Benefits of the EB-5 Visa Investor Program?
- Is EB-5 a passive investment?
- How many EB5 visas can the US government issue each year?
- Are there any nationality restrictions for EB-5 applicants?
- Can I travel outside the US for extended periods after I get my green card?
- Do I require Tax returns & other financial documentation for EB5 filing?
- When can I apply for US citizenship?
- How long must I remain in the U.S. each year?
- What is a Reentry Permit? (USCIS Guide Download)
- I am a Green Card Holder, Do I need a Re-Entry Permit?
- Re-Entry Permit Process Timeline
- Expedited Processing for Re-Entry Permit
- USCIS requires EB-5 investments to be “at-risk”, so how do your projects have guarantees?
- May two or more investors qualify for immigration based upon a pooled investment in a single business?
- What is the USCIS background check?
- What Can Disqualify an Investor from Participating in the EB-5 Program?
- Can I use a loan for EB-5?
- What documents need to be translated when filing the I-526 petition?
- Can I Use a Gift for EB-5?
- Can I Use 401(k) funds for EB-5 investment?
- I don’t have $800K in cash. What are my options?
- What is the Source of Funds Report?
- 5 Things EB-5 Investors Can Do Preparing for Their Source of Funds Report
I don’t have $800K in cash. What are my options?
If you do not have $800K available in cash now, you still have several options to fund your investment:
- Gifts
Gifted funds are an acceptable source for the EB-5 investment, provided that the EB-5 investor documents the legal source of those funds. The donor would need to provide documentation on how they acquired those funds (e.g. sale of overseas investment property) and a gift affidavit describing the relationship between the donor and donee, the reasons for the gift, and that the EB-5 investor is not obligated to reimburse the gift. Please note that gifted funds may be subject to a gift tax. The donor and the EB-5 investor are strongly recommended to consult a tax professional to determine any tax implications of gifted fund transfers.
- Loans
Loans are commonly used to fund the EB-5 investment. Often, EB-5 investors will obtain loans secured by their personal assets, such as a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Loans may be borrowed from a private individual as well, but substantial documentation is necessary, including the written loan agreement, the lender’s income tax returns, and documentation of how the lender accumulated the loaned funds.
You may also use unsecured loans. In October 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Zhang vs. USCIS affirmed that loan proceeds are “cash” for purposes of EB-5 regulations, rejecting USCIS’s requirement that loans be secured by the EB-5 investor’s assets.
- Partial Capital Contributions
An EB-5 investor may invest in installments using a partial capital contribution. USCIS permits EB-5 investors to file the I-526 petition by showing they are actively in the process of investing, provided they prove an actual commitment to fund the total investment amount within a defined period.