Magazine>EB-5 processing time by country

EB-5 Visa Processing Time by Country 2025

Gain valuable insights into EB-5 Visa Processing Time by Country 2025 worldwide. Navigate the residency journey efficiently with Paperfree's global perspectives on country-specific processing times.

last updated Friday, December 20, 2024
#eb5 processing time #eb-5 processing time

John Burson

EB-5 processing time by country 2023, 24

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Key Points

Processing times are varied
The EB-5 Visa processing time in 2025 differs significantly by country due to varying demand and country caps.
China has the longest EB5 visa processing time.
Chinese applicants typically face extended processing times due to high demand and a large backlog.
Vietnam
Following China, countries like Vietnam also experience extended processing periods.
India
Following China, India also experiences an extended processing period.
Country Cap Impact
Each country is subject to a cap, often resulting in longer wait times for nationals from countries with high application volumes.
Fluctuations
Processing times are subject to change based on application volume, administrative changes, and policy updates.
USCIS Updates
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regularly updates processing times, reflecting current trends and backlogs.
Importance of Regular Checks
Applicants are advised to check the latest processing times, which vary monthly.

Article Glossary

I-485 is a form of application to register permanent residence or adjust status

I-526 is a form of an immigrant petition by a standalone investor

I-526E is an immigrant petition by a regional center investor

NVC is an abbreviation of the National Visa Center

Latest EB-5 Visa Processing Times by Country (2025)

China (Mainland-born)
- Priority Date: January 1, 2015
- Estimated Processing Time: 9-10 years
  Due to high demand, applicants from China are facing significant backlogs.
India
- Priority Date: October 1, 2019
- Estimated Processing Time: 5-6 years
  Processing times for Indian nationals have increased with rising demand.
Vietnam
- Priority Date: November 1, 2019
- Estimated Processing Time: 2-3 years
  Vietnam’s demand is increasing, but processing times remain relatively shorter.
South Korea
- Priority Date: Current (No backlog)
- Estimated Processing Time: 1-2 years
  South Korean applicants can expect faster processing times with no backlog.
Brazil
- Priority Date: Current (No backlog)
- Estimated Processing Time: 1-2 years
  Processing times for Brazil are relatively quick, with no backlog.
Other Countries (Mexico, Canada, etc.)
- Priority Date: Current (No backlog)
- Estimated Processing Time: 1-2 years
  Applicants from countries with lower demand face the shortest processing times.

Generic EB5 Visa to Green Card Process

Each EB-5 visa applicant has unique circumstances that shape their journey to obtaining a Permanent Green Card. The high-level process involves several stages, from filing the initial petition to receiving a Conditional and eventually a Permanent Green Card.

Generic EB5 Visa to Green Card Process

Fig 1. EB5 Green Card Processing

How to Get the EB-5 Visa: Step-by-Step Process Explained

Filing the I-526 Petition: Investors submit the I-526 form, demonstrating their investment in a U.S. business.
Priority Date Assignment: Upon acceptance, applicants receive a priority date, securing their place in the visa queue.
Visa Availability and Application: When the priority date aligns with the current visa bulletin, applicants can proceed with visa applications or adjustment of status.
Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status: Final steps involve either consular processing abroad or adjusting status within the U.S.

EB5 Wait Time by Country

The primary determinant of visa wait times is the volume of I-526 Petitions By the December 2023 Visa Bulletin.

When even the most hopeful estimates of wait times are excessively lengthy, it becomes crucial to focus on resolving the EB-5 Backlog Issue and pursue the singular potential solution of increasing visa availability.

China EB5 wait time, Analysis as of March 2022.

China wait time	Pending I-526	Pending at Visa Stage (visa application or I-485)	Total
China-born principal applicants in the process	4,823	18,095
[1] Visa demand estimate	≈ 6,000	≈ 39,000	≈ 45,000
[2] Visa supply estimate			≈ 5,600
VISA TIME ESTIMATE Estimated total wait time for a visa for China priority date			≈ 45,000/5,600 ≈ 8 years (i.e. 2029)

Table 1: China I-526 Petitions By December 2023 Visa Bulletin. Source: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/historic-pt

Where:

[1] Visa demand estimate

Estimated total Chinese-born applicants (principals + family) who were in the process and who will persevere to get approved for a visa.

The model uses these assumptions to estimate visa demand from data for principal applicants:

60% future I-526 survival/approval rate,
2.7 visas per principal/investor,
80% visa-stage survival/approval rate.

This is consistent with recent history, but the future could differ.

[2] Visa supply estimate

Estimated average annual unreserved visas available to China 2022-2030**

The model assumes all reserved visas in 2022 and EB-5 Visa US 2023 will go unused and carry over; continued low-volume I-526 processing; low incoming demand for unreserved visas; most “otherwise unused” visas go to China; and consular processing keeps up with supply.

India EB-5 Visa Wait Times as of January 2025

As of January 2025, we've updated our analysis to reflect the latest Visa Bulletin data, providing a clearer picture of the current wait times and what applicants can expect moving forward.

Current Wait Times Overview

Based on the January 2025 Visa Bulletin, here is the updated estimate for EB-5 visa wait times for India:

INDIA	Pending the I-526 Stage	Pending at NVC	Pending I-485	Total
India-born Principal Applicants in the Process	2,175
[1] Visa Demand Estimate	≈ 3,600	≈ 1,900	≈ 700	≈ 6,200
[2] Visa Supply Estimate				≈ 800
Total Wait Time for a Visa India Priority Date				≈ 6,200 / 800 ≈ 7.75 years (i.e., 2032)

Table 1: India EB-5 Visa Wait Times as of January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Understanding the Numbers

[1] Visa Demand Estimate

Our demand estimate is based on the following assumptions:

I-526 Survival/Approval Rate: 89%
Visas per Principal Applicant: 2.26 visas
Visa-Stage Survival/Approval Rate: 83%

These figures account for India-born applicants (both principals and their families) who are actively pursuing their visas and are likely to persevere through the approval process. While these assumptions align with recent historical data, future trends may vary based on policy changes and processing efficiencies.

[2] Visa Supply Estimate

The visa supply estimate considers:

Average Annual Unreserved Visas Available (2022-2029): ≈ 800
Country Caps and Carryovers: We assume a higher supply due to increased EB-5 visa limits and the carryover of unused reserved visas during the prediction period.
Processing Assumptions: Continued low-volume “first in, first out” I-526 processing, with most “otherwise unused” visas allocated to China, and visa issuance keeping pace with supply.

Recalculating the Wait Time

Using the updated figures:

$\text{Total Wait Time} = \frac{\text{Total Visa Demand}}{\text{Annual Visa Supply}} = \frac{6,200}{800} \approx 7.75 \text{ years}$

This recalculation projects that the wait time for an EB-5 visa for India priority dates is now approximately 7.75 years, moving the estimated completion year to 2032.

Table 2: India I-526 Petitions by January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Stage	Number of Applicants
Pending the I-526 Stage	2,175
Pending at NVC	1,900
Pending I-485	700
Total	6,200

Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025

Reserved visa supply under country caps in a typical year for EB-5 waiting times by country is about 10,000*68%*7%=. However, the model assumes a higher number due to higher EB visa limits and carryover of unused reserved visas during the prediction period. The model further assumes continued low-volume “first in, first out” I-526 processing, most “otherwise unused” visas go to China, and that visa issuance keeps up with supply.

Vietnam EB-5 Visa Wait Times as of January 2025

As of January 2025, we've refreshed our analysis to incorporate the latest Visa Bulletin data, offering a clearer understanding of current wait times and what Vietnamese applicants can anticipate in their immigration journey.

Current Wait Times Overview

Based on the January 2025 Visa Bulletin, here is the updated estimate for EB-5 visa wait times for Vietnam:

VIETNAM	Pending at I-526 Stage	Pending at NVC	Pending I-485	Total
Vietnam-born Principal Applicants in the Process	1,028
[1] Visa Demand Estimate	≈ 3,200	≈ 1,300	≈ 40	≈ 4,500
[2] Visa Supply Estimate				≈ 660
Total Wait Time for a Visa Vietnam Priority Date				≈ 4,500 / 660 ≈ 6.8 years (i.e., 2031)

Table 1: Vietnam EB-5 Visa Wait Times as of January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Understanding the Numbers

[1] Visa Demand Estimate

Our demand estimate is derived from the following assumptions:

I-526 Survival/Approval Rate: 88%
Visas per Principal Applicant: 3.81 visas
Visa-Stage Survival/Approval Rate: 92%

These figures account for Vietnam-born applicants (both principals and their families) who are actively pursuing their visas and are likely to persevere through the approval process. While these assumptions align with recent historical data, future trends may vary based on policy changes and processing efficiencies.

[2] Visa Supply Estimate

The visa supply estimate considers:

Average Annual Unreserved Visas Available (2022-2028): ≈ 660
Country Caps and Carryovers: We assume a higher supply due to increased EB-5 visa limits and the carryover of unused reserved visas during the prediction period. However, the estimated average is lower than the EB-5 processing time in India due to the difference in visas issued in FY2022.
Processing Assumptions: Continued low-volume “first in, first out” I-526 processing, with most “otherwise unused” visas allocated to China, and visa issuance keeping pace with supply.

Recalculating the Wait Time

Using the updated figures:

$\text{Total Wait Time} = \frac{\text{Total Visa Demand}}{\text{Annual Visa Supply}} = \frac{4,500}{660} \approx 6.8 \text{ years}$

This recalculation projects that the wait time for an EB-5 visa for Vietnam priority dates is now approximately 6.8 years, moving the estimated completion year to 2031.

Table 2: Vietnam I-526 Petitions by January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Stage	Number of Applicants
Pending at I-526 Stage	1,028
Pending at NVC	1,300
Pending I-485	40
Total	4,500

Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025

The model further assumes continued low-volume but FIFO I-526 processing, that most “otherwise unused” visas go to China, and that visa issuance keeps up with supply.

The Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) program is globally renowned as a leading immigrant investor program, highly sought after by affluent international individuals aspiring to achieve the American dream.

EB-5 Visa Processing Times by Country as of January 2025

As of January 2025, while some countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil offer relatively swift pathways, others like China and India require patience due to longer wait times.

As of January 2025, we've updated our analysis to reflect the latest trends and Visa Bulletin data, providing a clearer understanding of current wait times for applicants from various countries.

Current EB-5 Visa Wait Times by Country

Based on the January 2025 Visa Bulletin and recent processing trends, here are the updated estimated wait times for the EB-5 visa program:

Country	Waiting Time (Years)
China	7.5
Vietnam	6.8
India	7.75
South Korea	2.0
Taiwan	1.6
Brazil	1.4

Table 1: Updated EB-5 Visa Wait Times by Country as of January 2025 Visa Bulletin

Detailed Wait Time Breakdown

China
- Previous Wait Time: 8 years
- Updated Wait Time: 7.5 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025
Vietnam
- Previous Wait Time: 7.2 years
- Updated Wait Time: 6.8 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025
India
- Previous Wait Time: 5.7 years
- Updated Wait Time: 7.75 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025
South Korea
- Previous Wait Time: 2.2 years
- Updated Wait Time: 2.0 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025
Taiwan
- Previous Wait Time: 1.7 years
- Updated Wait Time: 1.6 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025
Brazil
- Previous Wait Time: 1.5 years
- Updated Wait Time: 1.4 years
- Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin January 2025

EB5 Green Card Waiting Times by Country Till 2024

This table displays current EB 5 visa timeline wait times till 2024 for various employment-based EB5 green card categories by country.

Country	Subregion	Rank	Green Card Waiting Time F2A	Green Card Waiting Time EB5
India	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	1	09-01-2023	04-01-2022
China	Eastern Asia	2	09-01-2023	01-01-2017
Indonesia	South-Eastern Asia	4	09-01-2023	Current
Pakistan	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	5	09-01-2023	Current
Nigeria	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	6	09-01-2023	Current
Brazil	South America, Latin America	7	09-01-2023	Current
Bangladesh	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	8	09-01-2023	Current
Russia	Eastern Europe	9	09-01-2023	Current
Mexico	Central America, Latin America	10	09-01-2023	Current
Ethiopia	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	11	09-01-2023	Current
Japan	Eastern Asia	12	09-01-2023	Current
Philippines	South-Eastern Asia	13	09-01-2023	Current
Egypt	Northern Africa, The Middle East	14	09-01-2023	Current
DR Congo	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	15	09-01-2023	Current
Vietnam	South-Eastern Asia	16	09-01-2023	Current
Iran	Southern Asia, The Middle East	17	09-01-2023	Current
Turkey	Western Asia, The Middle East	18	09-01-2023	Current
Germany	Western Europe	19	09-01-2023	Current
Thailand	South-Eastern Asia	20	09-01-2023	Current
United Kingdom	Northern Europe	21	09-01-2023	Current
Tanzania	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	22	09-01-2023	Current
France	Western Europe	23	09-01-2023	Current
South Africa	Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	24	09-01-2023	Current
Italy	Southern Europe	25	09-01-2023	Current
Kenya	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	26	09-01-2023	Current
Myanmar	South-Eastern Asia	27	09-01-2023	Current
Colombia	South America, Latin America	28	09-01-2023	Current
South Korea	Eastern Asia	29	09-01-2023	Current
Uganda	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	30	09-01-2023	Current
Sudan	Northern Africa	31	09-01-2023	Current
Spain	Southern Europe	32	09-01-2023	Current
Argentina	South America, Latin America	33	09-01-2023	Current
Algeria	Northern Africa	34	09-01-2023	Current
Iraq	Western Asia, The Middle East	35	09-01-2023	Current
Afghanistan	South Central Asia, Southern Asia	36	09-01-2023	Current
Poland	Eastern Europe	37	09-01-2023	Current
Canada	Northern America	38	09-01-2023	Current
Morocco	Northern Africa	39	09-01-2023	Current
Saudi Arabia	Western Asia, The Middle East	40	09-01-2023	Current
Ukraine	Eastern Europe	41	09-01-2023	Current
Angola	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	42	09-01-2023	Current
Uzbekistan	Central Asia, South Central Asia	43	09-01-2023	Current
Yemen	Western Asia, The Middle East	44	09-01-2023	Current
Peru	South America, Latin America	45	09-01-2023	Current
Malaysia	South-Eastern Asia	46	09-01-2023	Current
Ghana	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	47	09-01-2023	Current
Mozambique	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	48	09-01-2023	Current
Nepal	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	49	09-01-2023	Current
Madagascar	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	50	09-01-2023	Current
Ivory Coast	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	51	09-01-2023	Current
Venezuela	South America, Latin America	52	09-01-2023	Current
Cameroon	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	53	09-01-2023	Current
Niger	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	54	09-01-2023	Current
Australia	Australia and New Zealand	55	09-01-2023	Current
North Korea	Eastern Asia	56	09-01-2023	Current
Taiwan	Eastern Asia	57	09-01-2023	Current
Mali	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	58	09-01-2023	Current
Burkina Faso	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	59	09-01-2023	Current
Syria	Western Asia, The Middle East	60	09-01-2023	Current
Sri Lanka	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	61	09-01-2023	Current
Malawi	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	62	09-01-2023	Current
Zambia	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	63	09-01-2023	Current
Romania	Eastern Europe	64	09-01-2023	Current
Chile	South America, Latin America	65	09-01-2023	Current
Kazakhstan	Central Asia	66	09-01-2023	Current
Chad	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	67	09-01-2023	Current
Ecuador	South America, Latin America	68	09-01-2023	Current
Somalia	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	69	09-01-2023	Current
Guatemala	Central America, Latin America	70	09-01-2023	Current
Senegal	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	71	09-01-2023	Current
Netherlands	Western Europe	72	09-01-2023	Current
Cambodia	South-Eastern Asia	73	09-01-2023	Current
Zimbabwe	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	74	09-01-2023	Current
Guinea	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	75	09-01-2023	Current
Rwanda	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	76	09-01-2023	Current
Benin	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	77	09-01-2023	Current
Burundi	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	78	09-01-2023	Current
Tunisia	Northern Africa	79	09-01-2023	Current
Bolivia	South America, Latin America	80	09-01-2023	Current
Haiti	Caribbean	81	09-01-2023	Current
Belgium	Western Europe	82	09-01-2023	Current
Jordan	Western Asia, The Middle East	83	09-01-2023	Current
Dominican Republic	Caribbean	84	09-01-2023	Current
Cuba	Caribbean	85	09-01-2023	Current
South Sudan	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	86	09-01-2023	Current
Sweden	Northern Europe	87	09-01-2023	Current
Honduras	Central America, Latin America	88	09-01-2023	Current
Czech Republic	Eastern Europe	89	09-01-2023	Current
Azerbaijan	Western Asia	90	09-01-2023	Current
Greece	Southern Europe	91	09-01-2023	Current
Papua New Guinea	Melanesia	92	09-01-2023	Current
Portugal	Southern Europe	93	09-01-2023	Current
Hungary	Eastern Europe	94	09-01-2023	Current
Tajikistan	Central Asia, South Central Asia	95	09-01-2023	Current
United Arab Emirates	Western Asia, The Middle East	96	09-01-2023	Current
Belarus	Eastern Europe	97	09-01-2023	Current
Israel	Western Asia, The Middle East	98	09-01-2023	Current
Togo	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	99	09-01-2023	Current
Austria	Western Europe	100	09-01-2023	Current
Switzerland	Western Europe	101	09-01-2023	Current
Sierra Leone	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	102	09-01-2023	Current
Laos	South-Eastern Asia	103	09-01-2023	Current
Hong Kong	Eastern Asia	104	09-01-2023	Current
Serbia	Southern Europe	105	09-01-2023	Current
Nicaragua	Central America, Latin America	106	09-01-2023	Current
Libya	Northern Africa	107	09-01-2023	Current
Paraguay	South America, Latin America	108	09-01-2023	Current
Kyrgyzstan	Central Asia, South Central Asia	109	09-01-2023	Current
Bulgaria	Eastern Europe	110	09-01-2023	Current
Turkmenistan	Central Asia, South Central Asia	111	09-01-2023	Current
El Salvador	Central America, Latin America	112	09-01-2023	Current
Republic of the Congo	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	113	09-01-2023	Current
Singapore	South-Eastern Asia	114	09-01-2023	Current
Denmark	Northern Europe	115	09-01-2023	Current
Slovakia	Eastern Europe	116	09-01-2023	Current
Central African Republic	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	117	09-01-2023	Current
Finland	Northern Europe	118	09-01-2023	Current
Norway	Northern Europe	119	09-01-2023	Current
Liberia	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	120	09-01-2023	Current
Palestine	Western Asia, The Middle East	121	09-01-2023	Current
Lebanon	Western Asia, The Middle East	122	09-01-2023	Current
New Zealand	Australia and New Zealand	123	09-01-2023	Current
Ireland	Northern Europe	125	09-01-2023	Current
Mauritania	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	126	09-01-2023	Current
Oman	Western Asia, The Middle East	127	09-01-2023	Current
Panama	Central America, Latin America	128	09-01-2023	Current
Kuwait	Western Asia, The Middle East	129	09-01-2023	Current
Croatia	Southern Europe	130	09-01-2023	Current
Eritrea	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	131	09-01-2023	Current
Georgia	Western Asia	132	09-01-2023	Current
Mongolia	Eastern Asia	133	09-01-2023	Current
Moldova	Eastern Europe	134	09-01-2023	Current
Uruguay	South America, Latin America	135	09-01-2023	Current
Puerto Rico	Caribbean	136	09-01-2023	Current
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Southern Europe	137	09-01-2023	Current
Albania	Southern Europe	138	09-01-2023	Current
Jamaica	Caribbean	139	09-01-2023	Current
Armenia	Western Asia	140	09-01-2023	Current
Gambia	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	141	09-01-2023	Current
Lithuania	Northern Europe	142	09-01-2023	Current
Qatar	Western Asia, The Middle East	143	09-01-2023	Current
Botswana	Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	144	09-01-2023	Current
Namibia	Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	145	09-01-2023	Current
Gabon	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	146	09-01-2023	Current
Lesotho	Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	147	09-01-2023	Current
Slovenia	Southern Europe	149	09-01-2023	Current
North Macedonia	Southern Europe	150	09-01-2023	Current
Latvia	Northern Europe	151	09-01-2023	Current
Equatorial Guinea	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	152	09-01-2023	Current
Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean	153	09-01-2023	Current
Bahrain	Western Asia, The Middle East	154	09-01-2023	Current
Timor-Leste	South-Eastern Asia	155	09-01-2023	Current
Estonia	Northern Europe	156	09-01-2023	Current
Mauritius	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	157	09-01-2023	Current
Cyprus	Eastern Europe, The Middle East	158	09-01-2023	Current
Eswatini	Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	159	09-01-2023	Current
Djibouti	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	160	09-01-2023	Current
Reunion	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	161	09-01-2023	Current
Fiji	Melanesia	162	09-01-2023	Current
Comoros	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	163	09-01-2023	Current
Guyana	South America, Latin America	164	09-01-2023	Current
Bhutan	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	165	09-01-2023	Current
Solomon Islands	Melanesia	166	09-01-2023	Current
Macau	Eastern Asia	167	09-01-2023	Current
Luxembourg	Western Europe	168	09-01-2023	Current
Montenegro	Southern Europe	169	09-01-2023	Current
Suriname	South America, Latin America	170	09-01-2023	Current
Cape Verde	Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	171	09-01-2023	Current
Western Sahara	Northern Africa	172	09-01-2023	Current
Malta	Southern Europe	173	09-01-2023	Current
Maldives	Southern Asia, South Central Asia	174	09-01-2023	Current
Brunei	South-Eastern Asia	175	09-01-2023	Current
Bahamas	Caribbean	176	09-01-2023	Current
Belize	Central America, Latin America	177	09-01-2023	Current
Guadeloupe	Caribbean, Latin America	178	09-01-2023	Current
Iceland	Northern Europe	179	09-01-2023	Current
Martinique	Caribbean, Latin America	180	09-01-2023	Current
Mayotte	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	181	09-01-2023	Current
Vanuatu	Melanesia	182	09-01-2023	Current
French Guiana	South America, Latin America	183	09-01-2023	Current
French Polynesia	Polynesia	184	09-01-2023	Current
New Caledonia	Melanesia	185	09-01-2023	Current
Barbados	Caribbean	186	09-01-2023	Current
Sao Tome and Principe	Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	187	09-01-2023	Current
Samoa	Polynesia	188	09-01-2023	Current
Curacao	Caribbean	189	09-01-2023	Current
Saint Lucia	Caribbean	190	09-01-2023	Current
Guam	Micronesia	191	09-01-2023	Current
Kiribati	Micronesia	192	09-01-2023	Current
Grenada	Caribbean	193	09-01-2023	Current
Micronesia	Micronesia	194	09-01-2023	Current
Jersey	Northern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa	195	09-01-2023	Current
Tonga	Polynesia	196	09-01-2023	Current
Seychelles	Eastern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa	197	09-01-2023	Current
Aruba	Caribbean	198	09-01-2023	Current
Antigua and Barbuda	Caribbean	201	09-01-2023	Current
Isle of Man	Northern Europe	202	09-01-2023	Current
Andorra	Southern Europe	203	09-01-2023	Current
Dominica	Caribbean	204	09-01-2023	Current
Cayman Islands	Caribbean	205	09-01-2023	Current
Bermuda	Northern America	206	09-01-2023	Current
Guernsey	Northern Europe	207	09-01-2023	Current
Greenland	Northern America	208	09-01-2023	Current
Faroe Islands	Northern Europe	209	09-01-2023	Current
Northern Mariana Islands	Micronesia	210	09-01-2023	Current
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Caribbean	211	09-01-2023	Current
Turks and Caicos Islands	Caribbean	212	09-01-2023	Current
Sint Maarten	Caribbean	213	09-01-2023	Current
American Samoa	Polynesia	214	09-01-2023	Current
Marshall Islands	Micronesia	215	09-01-2023	Current
Liechtenstein	Western Europe	216	09-01-2023	Current
Monaco	Western Europe	217	09-01-2023	Current
San Marino	Southern Europe	218	09-01-2023	Current
Gibraltar	Southern Europe	219	09-01-2023	Current
Saint Martin	Caribbean, Latin America	220	09-01-2023	Current
British Virgin Islands	Caribbean	221	09-01-2023	Current
Palau	Micronesia	222	09-01-2023	Current
Cook Islands	Polynesia	223	09-01-2023	Current
Anguilla	Caribbean	224	09-01-2023	Current
Nauru	Micronesia	225	09-01-2023	Current
Wallis and Futuna	Polynesia	226	09-01-2023	Current
Tuvalu	Polynesia	227	09-01-2023	Current
Saint Barthelemy	Caribbean, Latin America	228	09-01-2023	Current
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Northern America	229	09-01-2023	Current
Montserrat	Caribbean	230	09-01-2023	Current
Falkland Islands	South America, Latin America	231	09-01-2023	Current
Niue	Polynesia	232	09-01-2023	Current
Tokelau	Polynesia	233	09-01-2023	Current
Vatican City	Southern Europe	234	09-01-2023	Current

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CY46tuLSM1BJVg-_QGI88Lf_lDeuYCOtKz0yNOQH0Q0/edit?usp=sharing

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/green-card-waiting-time-by-country

The Green Card Waitlist Explained

"Priority Dates" and "Application Dates" and how do they Interact?

Many individuals apply for green cards yearly, leading to wait times for months or even years for most categories. To better manage applicants' expectations and facilitate smoother processing, the U.S. Department of State employs a waitlist system for Green Card Waiting Time by Country centered around two key dates: the priority date and the application date.

Priority date
Signifies the applicant's position in the virtual line. The priority date is given to the applicant when the USCIS accepts their initial immigrant petition.
Application date
Symbolizes the virtual waiting line itself. The application date, typically a past date and varies eb5 processing time for each country and eligibility class (like India F3), progressively advances as applications are processed. The U.S. Department of State issues a monthly visa bulletin detailing the current application dates for each category and country of origin.

The coordination of priority dates and application dates is essential. When the application date progresses enough to match or surpass an applicant's priority date, it signals that the applicant has reached the front of the virtual queue. At this point, an immigrant visa number becomes available, and the applicant can submit further documentation to USCIS, specifically to the Department of State's National Visa Center, to continue their application process.

The information below represents the application dates for each EB-5 waiting time by country and category as of November 2023. However, these dates are subject to monthly changes. Those interested are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin page for the latest updates.

Green Card Backlogs: January 2025 Visa Bulletin Update

Understanding Green Card backlogs is essential for applicants navigating the U.S. immigration system. The latest January 2025 Visa Bulletin provides updated priority dates and visa availability across various categories and countries. This section outlines the current backlogs for family-based and employment-based Green Cards, reflecting the most recent changes.

Family-Based Green Card Backlogs

Family-based Green Cards are divided into several categories (F-1, F-2A, F-2B, F-3, F-4), each with specific priority dates based on the applicant's relationship to a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder and their country of origin.

Category	Applicants	General Priority Date	China (Mainland)	India	Mexico	Philippines	Vietnam
F-1: Unmarried Children (21 and Older) of U.S. Citizens	General	01-Sep-2017	01-Sep-2017	01-Sep-2017	01-Apr-2005	01-Apr-2015	01-Sep-2017
F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (under 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders	General	01-Sep-2023	01-Sep-2023	01-Sep-2023	01-Sep-2023	01-Sep-2023	01-Sep-2023
F-2B: Unmarried Children (21 or Older) of U.S. Green Card Holders	General	01-Jan-2017	01-Jan-2017	01-Jan-2017	01-Aug-2004	01-Oct-2013	01-Jan-2017
F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens	General	01-Mar-2010	01-Mar-2010	01-Mar-2010	15-Jun-2001	08-Nov-2003	01-Mar-2010
F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens	General	01-Mar-2008	01-Mar-2008	22-Feb-2006	14-Apr-2001	01-Mar-2008	01-Mar-2008

Employment-Based Green Card Backlogs

Employment-based Green Cards are categorized into EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5, each with specific eligibility criteria and priority dates based on the applicant's country of origin.

EB-1: Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, Multinational Executives and Managers

Category	Priority Date
General	Current
China (Mainland)	01-Aug-2022
India	01-Jul-2019
Central America	Current
Mexico	Current
Philippines	Current

EB-2: Advanced Degree Holders and Exceptional Ability

Category	Priority Date
General	01-Jan-2023
China (Mainland)	01-Jan-2020
India	05-May-2012
Central America	01-Jan-2023
Mexico	01-Jan-2023
Philippines	01-Jan-2023

EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers

Subcategory	Category	Priority Date
EB-3(A&B)	Skilled Workers, Professionals	01-Jan-2023
EB-3(A&B)	China (Mainland)	01-Sep-2020
EB-3(A&B)	India	01-Aug-2012
EB-3(A&B)	Central America	01-Jan-2023
EB-3(A&B)	Mexico	01-Feb-2023
EB-3(A&B)	Philippines	01-Jan-2023
EB-3(C)	Unskilled Workers	15-Dec-2020
EB-3(C)	China (Mainland)	01-Jun-2017
EB-3(C)	India	01-Aug-2012
EB-3(C)	Central America	15-Dec-2020
EB-3(C)	Mexico	15-Dec-2020
EB-3(C)	Philippines	15-May-2020

EB-4: Special Immigrants

Category	Priority Date
General	01-Mar-2019
China (Mainland)	01-Mar-2019
India	01-Mar-2019
Central America	01-Mar-2019
Mexico	01-Mar-2019
Philippines	01-Mar-2019
Vietnam	01-Mar-2019

EB-5: Immigrant Investors

Category	Priority Date
General	Current
China (Mainland)	01-Jan-2017
India	01-Apr-2022
Central America	Current
Mexico	Current
Philippines	Current
Vietnam	Current

Key Updates from January 2025 Visa Bulletin

F-1 Category: Priority dates remain unchanged, with significant backlogs for China, India, and the Philippines.
F-2A Category: All regions, including China and India, are current as of September 2023, indicating no additional backlog.
F-2B, F-3, and F-4 Categories: Continued backlogs, especially for China and India, reflecting high demand.
EB-1 and EB-2 Categories: Priority dates for China and India show gradual improvements, but significant wait times persist for EB-1 India applicants.
EB-3 Category: Unskilled workers from China and India face substantial backlogs, while other regions are progressing.
EB-5 Category: Backlogs for China and India continue, with Vietnam now current, reflecting no wait times for Vietnamese investors.

Understanding Priority Dates

Each Green Card applicant is assigned a priority date when their initial immigrant petition is filed. This date determines their place in the visa queue. As new visa numbers become available, priority dates advance, allowing applicants to move forward in the process.

Managing Backlogs

Given the high demand across various categories and countries, applicants should:

Monitor the Visa Bulletin
Regularly check the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for updates on priority dates and visa availability.
Plan Strategically
Align investment and immigration strategies based on current and projected priority dates.
Consult Professionals
Engage with immigration attorneys to navigate complex backlogs and optimize application processes.
Stay Informed on Legislative Changes
Be aware of any policy adjustments that may impact visa allocations and processing times.

EB-5 Quota Limits

According to the EB-5 Processing Time Estimates annually, 7.1% of the 140,000 immigrant visas are allocated to the EB-5 category.

Within this quota, 3,000 visas are reserved explicitly for investors in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) and another 3,000 for those investing through regional centers. In total, there are 10,000 EB-5 visas available each year, which includes visas for the investors' family members.

Other EB-5 Program Considerations

EB5 Visa Categories and Minimum Investment

The EB-5 immigrant investor category has next subcategories and minimum investments required:

Investment Category	Description	Minimum Investment
C5	Direct investment In areas not designated as Targeted Employment Areas.	$1,800,000
T5	Direct investment In areas designated as Targeted Employment Areas.	$800,000
R5	Investment through the Regional Center In areas not designated as Targeted Employment Areas.	$1 million
I5	Investment through the Regional Center In areas designated as Targeted Employment Areas.	$900,000 to $1,050,000

Table 4: EB5 Visa Minimum Investment

Latest Updates on EB-5 Processing Time By Country - 2024

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program remains a popular avenue for obtaining U.S. permanent residency. In 2024, processing times have evolved due to legislative changes and enhanced operational efficiencies. This update provides the most recent insights into EB-5 visa wait times by country, legislative impacts, and resource allocation strategies.

Processing Times and Trends

In fiscal year 2024, over 5,500 EB-5 visas were issued, reflecting a notable increase from the previous year. Chinese and Vietnamese investors continue to dominate in visa issuances, although backlogs persist, particularly for Chinese applicants.

Legislative Impacts

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 has significantly streamlined processing standards, improving transparency and accountability within the program. These reforms have contributed to more predictable timelines and reduced processing delays for applicants.