What every prospective investor should read before evaluating any offering.
Last updated: August 2026Reviewed by: EB5SETU Editorial TeamScheduled review: February 2027
EB-5 investments carry real risk. Before evaluating any specific offering, understand that EB-5 investments can involve:
- Possible total loss of capital
- No guaranteed green card
- No guaranteed repayment or return
- Construction and completion risk
- Cost overruns
- Financing and refinancing risk
- Operating and market risk
- Job-creation risk
- I-956F and I-526E adjudication risk
- Visa retrogression
- Illiquidity and transfer restrictions
- Sustainment and redeployment risk
- Related-party conflicts
- Securities-law and regulatory changes
- Tax consequences
The SEC has warned investors to be cautious of promises of guaranteed visas, guaranteed returns, government “approval” of an investment, or undisclosed conflicts of interest in EB-5 offerings. No legitimate offering can promise these outcomes.
Every risk listed here should be discussed in detail — for a specific offering — with your own independent legal, immigration, tax, and financial advisors, and confirmed against that project's actual offering documents.
Sources
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, immigration, tax, or investment advice. It does not describe the terms of any specific offering. EB-5 law, USCIS policy, and Visa Bulletin availability change over time — confirm current requirements with USCIS, the U.S. Department of State, and your own independent immigration, securities, and tax advisors before making any decision.