How to Get a U.S. Green Card as a Citizen of Taiwan

There are many reasons why Taiwanese citizens are increasingly interested in gaining permanent residency in the United States—a process that is more commonly known as becoming U.S. Green Card holders. Like citizens of many other countries in Asia, citizens from Taiwan are drawn to the United States for its appealing economic and educational opportunities.

In addition, Taiwan has several unique features that make its citizens especially likely to be motivated to apply for a Green Card in the United States. Taiwan has a rapidly growing English-speaking population. In fact, according to a recent report, Taiwan has the largest year-over-year improvement in English language proficiency among all Asian countries. Taiwan’s government also does not place any restrictions on the amount of remittances from the United States, unlike the significant limits imposed by many other countries in the region. Furthermore, national security concerns and the threat of rising political instability in the region continue to be motivating factors for individuals considering immigrating to the United States.

There are several viable pathways for Taiwanese citizens to become U.S. Green Card holders, and even to eventually gain U.S. citizenship. These include marriage visas, family sponsorship visas, the diversity lottery, and immigrant work visas. While every situation is different and individuals are encouraged to do their own research, for many citizens of Taiwan, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program may be the most appealing option because of its unmatched reliability and efficiency.

This article will explore these popular methods of establishing permanent residency in the United States, and why the EB-5 visa program may be the best pathway for you and your family members to become U.S. Green Card holders.

Important Information for Taiwanese Citizens

When it comes to immigration, Taiwanese citizens are able to select “Taiwan” as their home country on all of the U.S. visa forms, and, unlike Chinese citizens, they are eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) administered by the U.S. government, allowing them to travel in the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa.

More importantly, this distinction is significant because for many of the United States visa programs, including employment-based visas, Chinese citizens often face significant backlogs which lead to lengthy delays in visa processing.

Five Options for Taiwanese Citizens to Obtain a Green Card

There are several appealing options for Taiwanese citizens to consider when weighing the best way to obtain a U.S. Green Card depending on their unique situation. These include:

Marriage and Fiancé Visas

The U.S. marriage and fiancé visas are among the most popular options for obtaining a U.S. Green Card. These visas allow foreign nationals to gain entry to the United States to marry their fiancé or join their spouse, if they are already a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. However, there are specific rules associated with these visas that couples must meet in order to be approved. The two primary types of this visa category are:
The K-1 Visa

The K-1 visa is for any foreign national who is engaged to marry a U.S. citizen within 90 days of the foreign national’s entry to the United States. After obtaining a legal marriage certificate, the foreign national is eligible to obtain lawful permanent resident status. In order to do so, the U.S. citizen must file Form I-129F to USCIS and, to provide proof that the marriage is genuine, the couple must be able to show proof that they met in person within the prior two years. Once they have obtained a marriage certificate, the foreign national is eligible to apply for a U.S. Green Card.
The CR-1/IR-1 Visa

The CR-1 and IR-1 visas are for any foreign national who is married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The CR-1 visa, which grants the foreign national conditional permanent residency status, is intended for couples who have been married for under two years. The IR-1 visa, which grants the foreign national permanent residency, is intended for couples who have been married for more than two years. In order to obtain one of these visas, the U.S. citizen must file Form I-130 to USCIS, and the foreign national must schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy to provide additional information. Once they have been approved, the spouse is able to live in the United States as a permanent resident.

Family Sponsorship Visa

A U.S. family sponsorship visa permits foreign nationals who are relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be sponsored for immigration to the United States. Family sponsorship visas require filing Form I-130 to USCIS and, once approved, the foreign national must apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy. There are two main categories of family sponsorship visas:

The Immediate Relative Visa

The immediate relative visa is for close family members of U.S. citizens, including spouses, parents, and children under the age of 21. These types of visas do not have an annual cap and the steps that individuals must take to request one usually does not take very long.

The Family Preference Visa

The family preference visa is for more distant relatives of U.S. citizens, including siblings, children over the age of 21, as well as for certain relatives of U.S. permanent residents. Unlike immediate relative visas, which are intended for spouses, parents, and children under the age of 21, family preference visas do have an annual cap, which can increase processing times.

Diversity Visa Lottery

The Diversity Visa Lottery, often referred to as the U.S. Green Card Lottery, is a program administered by the U.S. State Department that awards about 50,000 U.S. Green Cards each year. The goal of the program is to diversify the pool of U.S. immigrants by awarding Green Cards to foreign nationals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The list of qualifying countries varies from year to year, and citizens of Taiwan are eligible for FY 2026.

Applicants must submit the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form and provide proof that they meet certain work and education requirements. Selected applicants are chosen at random, and are then allowed to apply for a U.S. Green Card. However, it is important to note that there is an enormous amount of competition for the Diversity Visa Lottery, and that even if an individual is able to apply for and be selected for a visa, the number of winners often exceeds the pre-determined quota. Therefore, the Diversity Visa Lottery is generally not considered a reliable method for foreign nationals from most countries to become U.S. Green Card holders.

Immigrant Work Visas

Immigrant work visas allow foreign nationals to live and work in the United States while allowing applicants to apply for a U.S. Green Card. These types of visas, which usually require employer sponsorship, are separated into several sub-categories called employment-based preference categories, which are related to the applicant’s level of education, skills, and type of job. For each of the sub-categories or preference categories, the Green Card application process usually includes receiving employer sponsorship, undergoing consular processing, and providing additional information to USCIS. Because demand for these types of visas usually exceeds the allocated annual quotas, wait times can be lengthy. The preference categories of immigrant work visas include:

EB-1 Visas

The EB-1 visa preference category is for foreign nationals with high skill levels in fields like higher education, business, or athletics. This category usually includes professors, scientists, and other types of researchers.

EB-2 Visas

The EB-2 visa preference category is intended for professionals with advanced degrees in specific fields. This type of visa generally requires that the foreign national have a job offer from their employers in the United States.

EB-3 Visas

The EB-3 visa preference category is for foreign nationals who are considered skilled or unskilled workers, and require a permanent job offer from a U.S.-based company and labor certification. However, EB-3 visas are subject to an annual quota of 40,000 visas, which generally leads to very lengthy delays.

EB-4 Visas

The EB-4 visa preference category is only for foreign nationals with special status, including religious workers, employees of international organizations, and other specific groups.

The EB-5 Visa

Compared to the other common visa options, the EB-5 visa has many unique advantages that may make it the most appealing option for Taiwanese citizens, depending on their situation.

The EB-5 visa program was created in 1990 with the goal of creating foreign investment in the U.S. economy. The program has long been considered one of the most efficient and reliable ways to obtain a U.S. Green Card. An EB-5 visa allows foreign nationals from any country, along with their spouse and unmarried children, to live and work in the United States throughout the entire Green Card application process. The program requires a capital investment that will create 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.

There are strategies that prospective EB-5 investors can take to significantly reduce financial and immigration risk, while also speeding up the timeline of becoming Green Card holders. These include:
Investing in a Targeted Employment Area

By investing in a targeted employment area (TEA), EB-5 investors can reduce their minimum investment amount from $1,050,000 to just $800,000. TEA investors also benefit from faster processing times because United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) dedicates about one-third of available EB-5 visas as “set-aside visas” specifically for projects located in TEAs. These set-aside visas can dramatically speed up the process of obtaining a Green Card in the United States.

Investing Through a Regional Center

In addition, EB-5 investors can significantly reduce risk by investing through a regional center. A regional center is an entity designated by USCIS to combine and manage capital from several EB-5 investors. Regional centers can submit an exemplar petition for a project they manage. Once an exemplar petition is approved, the project’s business structure and job creation methodology have been pre-reviewed by USCIS, which may help streamline the adjudication process for individual investors.

Regional center investors are also able to count indirect and induced jobs toward the total of 10 full-time jobs they are required to create. This can make meeting one of the EB-5 visa program’s most important requirements much more straightforward.

Because of these advantages, and the extremely low financial risk that this option provides, the vast majority of EB-5 investors choose to make their investment through a regional center.

Learn more about EB5AN’s regional center network and how it is one of the most effective ways to obtain a Green Card in the United States.

Immigrate From Taiwan to the United States and Get a Green Card With EB5AN

With Taiwan’s median wealth higher than that of other developed countries in East Asia, Taiwanese citizens are uniquely positioned to benefit from all that a U.S. Green Card has to offer.

An EB-5 visa offers an efficient way for Taiwanese individuals to obtain U.S. permanent residence with minimal risk. Regardless of the immigration route one takes, it is highly recommended that prospective Green Card holders do their research, gather as much information as possible, and seek guidance from a licensed immigration attorney. If choosing the EB-5 visa option, individuals should also seek advice and information from an experienced EB-5 program professional.

EB5AN’s expert team has more than a decade of experience, and offers clients first-rate, low-risk TEA projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate to date. EB5AN has helped more than 2,300 families from 70+ countries navigate the U.S. Green Card process.

To begin your family’s journey toward becoming U.S. Green Card holders or for more information about the EB-5 visa application process, schedule a free meeting with EB5AN today.