Mandi Law Group advises EB-5 investors on regional center and direct investment options, the $800,000 and $1,050,000 minimum thresholds, targeted employment area qualification, and the I-526E and I-829 filing sequence toward conditional and then permanent residence.
It focuses on EB-5 immigrant investor mechanics, since EB-5 leads directly to a green card while E-2 does not, a distinction that changes which category fits an investor's actual goal.
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EB-5 is a green card category, not a temporary visa, and that changes what has to be proven. An investor generally needs to invest $1,050,000 in a new commercial enterprise, or $800,000 if the investment is in a targeted employment area — a rural area or one with high unemployment — and that investment has to create at least ten full-time jobs for U.S. workers. Most investors today file through a USCIS-designated regional center, which allows job creation to be counted indirectly, though direct EB-5 investment into an investor's own business remains an option for those willing to create the jobs on-site.
The process runs through two main filings: the I-526E petition, which proves the investment and job-creation plan, followed by conditional permanent residence, and then the I-829 petition filed near the end of the two-year conditional period to remove conditions once the job creation has actually occurred. Each stage has its own evidentiary demands, including source-of-funds documentation for the I-526E and proof of sustained job creation for the I-829, and problems at either stage can delay or derail the path to a permanent green card.
22 Century Hill Dr # 101, Latham, NY 12110. Call or request a consultation for New York City matters, employer strategy, and case planning.
We read the file first — I-526E, DS-160, and I-829, and the evidence behind them — and flag what is missing, inconsistent, or likely to draw a question while there is still time to fix it. A gap caught before filing costs far less to close than the same gap raised in a Request for Evidence months later.
Degree, job duties, nationality, and current status narrow the realistic options quickly. TN is limited to Canadian and Mexican citizens, E-3 to Australians, and H-1B runs through a lottery. For investment-based visa selection, evidence planning, and long-term immigration strategy, that means deciding what to file, in what order, and what the record has to show before anything is submitted.
Filing windows, response deadlines, and expiration dates are calendared for the whole matter, and you hear about what is due before it is due rather than after.
A Request for Evidence is a specific question, not a request for more paper. We identify the issue USCIS raised, gather only the evidence that answers it, and file inside the deadline on the notice. Denials get read line by line before anything is refiled.
What we charge for an investor visa case depends on which category fits the role, whether labor certification is required, and how much of the evidence the employer already keeps on file. You get the number at the consultation, in writing, with government filing fees listed separately so you can see what is a legal fee and what goes to the agency. Payment plans are available.
Our team works in English, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, and Swahili, and arranges interpreters for other languages. Consultations are by phone, by video, or in person at 22 Century Hill Dr #101 in Latham, our only New York office. Questions between filings go to the attorney handling the matter.
The standard minimum is $1,050,000, reduced to $800,000 if the investment is in a targeted employment area, generally a rural area or an area with unemployment at least 150% of the national average.
A regional center investment allows job creation to be counted indirectly, including jobs created through the broader economic activity the investment supports. Direct investment into an investor's own new commercial enterprise requires the ten jobs to be created directly by that business.
Once the I-526E is approved and a visa number is available, the investor and eligible family members receive conditional permanent residence for two years. Near the end of that period, an I-829 petition is filed to prove the investment and job-creation requirements were actually met and to remove the conditions.
USCIS requires the investor to trace the lawful source of the invested funds, including income, sale of property, gifts, and loans, with supporting records. Gaps or inconsistencies in that documentation are one of the most common reasons I-526E petitions receive requests for evidence or denials.
Yes. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can generally be included as derivative beneficiaries on the same EB-5 petition, obtaining conditional and then permanent residence alongside the principal investor without a separate investment or job-creation requirement of their own. Their status remains tied to the principal investor's case through the I-829 stage.
No. EB-5 eligibility depends on the specific investment, its documentation, and the job-creation methodology, all of which require individualized review before funds are committed.
Helpful government resources for work visa planning and employment-based immigration:
Reaching out doesn't commit you to anything. Here is exactly what happens when you contact Mandi Law Group.
Reach out by phone or through our contact form. Your first conversation is confidential, with no obligation to hire us.
Bring your documents and any notices you've received. We review your situation and explain your options in plain language.
You'll get a written fee quote before any work begins. Many matters are billed as a flat fee, and payment plans are available.
Once you decide to move forward and sign a retainer agreement, we begin working on your case immediately.
Call (518) 698-0347 or request a consultation. We will look at investment-based visa selection, evidence planning, and long-term immigration strategy, tell you what the realistic options are, and quote the fee before any work starts.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes and not legal advice. Immigration law is fact specific and outcome dependent. Consult a licensed attorney about your individual situation.