What is the EB-5 investor visa threshold for Miami in 2026?

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program lets foreign nationals obtain US permanent residence by investing in a US business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. The minimum varies by where the investment lands.

The two investment thresholds

• $800,000, if the investment is in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA): rural region or high-unemployment area (≥150% of national average).
• $1,050,000, for standard (non-TEA) investments.
• Real-estate developments in southern Miami-Dade (Homestead, Florida City) typically qualify as TEAs; central Brickell and Sunny Isles usually do not.

Timeline you can plan around

1. I-526E petition filed, case-prep ~2–4 months, USCIS review ~12–24 months for TEA set-aside categories.
2. Conditional green card issued, 2-year residency clock starts.
3. I-829 petition filed (months 21–24 after green card), removal of conditions.
4. Permanent green card issued, typically 24–36 months after I-829 filing.

Set-aside categories, the 2026 advantage

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 created visa set-asides: 20% rural, 10% high-unemployment, 2% infrastructure. As of 2026 these set-asides remain current, meaning faster I-526E adjudication for qualifying projects vs the heavily backlogged unreserved category.

What you should ask any project sponsor

• Is this a TEA designation, and which type (rural / high-unemployment)?
• What's the projected job-creation count per investor unit?
• What's the redeployment strategy if the project finishes before the conditional residency period ends?
• Who is the Regional Center and what's their I-526E approval track record?

“EB-5 is not a passive investment, it's an immigration vehicle. Choose the project on visa security first, return on capital second.”