R5 is the EB-5 High Unemployment set-aside category, comprising 10% of the total allocation. This category provides reserved visas for investors in high unemployment area projects.
Current Priority Dates
Current bulletin dates
(R5)Priority Date Trends
Visa Bulletin trends
09/2026
R5
Data provided byCareerEngineUS
Category Advantages
Priority Date Advantages:
- 10% of total EB-5 allocation (~1,000/year)
- Separate queue from main allocation
- Relatively shorter wait than unreserved category
Visa Codes:
- NH: High unemployment area direct investment
- RH: High unemployment area regional center investment
Investment Requirements
Investment Amount:
- High unemployment area investment: $800,000
High Unemployment Area Definition (TEA):
- Area with unemployment rate at least 150% of the national average
- Areas designated as Targeted Employment Areas by state governments
Job Creation:
- Must create at least 10 full-time jobs
- Regional center projects may count indirect employment
Application Process
- Confirm TEA Qualification: Verify project is in qualifying high unemployment area
- Select Project: Direct investment or regional center investment
- Make Investment: Complete the investment
- File I-526E: Submit immigrant petition to USCIS
- Green Card Application: File I-485 for conditional green card
- Remove Conditions: File I-829 after 2 years