How Fast Are Rural EB-5 Applications Getting Approved?

For many potential EB-5 investors, the timeline for approval is a critical factor when deciding where to invest. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allows foreign nationals to gain U.S. Green Cards through investment in job-creating projects, has undergone significant changes in recent years. A key takeaway from recent data and investor experiences is that rural EB-5 projects are currently seeing much faster approval times compared to their urban counterparts.

This article explores the current landscape of EB-5 approvals from the perspective of rural project investors. It highlights real-world cases and the strategic advantages these projects offer, especially for investors from countries like India and China who face long wait times under other investment categories.

Understanding the Rural EB-5 Advantage

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) introduced a preferential visa allocation system for certain types of investments, including those made in targeted employment areas (TEAs). This reform created a separate visa pool that allows investors in qualifying projects to benefit from faster processing times and less limited visa availability.

Among these, rural TEA projects receive the largest share of reserved set-aside visas and enjoy the added benefit of priority processing—a key advantage we’ll explore in more detail below.

Unlike urban projects, which now face potential backlogs of 5 to 10 years, rural EB-5 petitions are moving much more quickly through the system. Investor interviews and recent adjudication data show that rural I-526E approvals are being issued in under a year—in as little as 6 to 8 months.

Investor Experiences: Fast Approvals Through Rural Projects

On May 29, 2025, an investor received the first I-526E approval in the Rocky River project in only 6.5 months. This approval, along with strong testimonials from other clients, highlights how EB5AN’s low-risk rural TEA projects can significantly accelerate your path to a Green Card.

Felix’s 8.5-Month Approval

Felix, an Indian EB-5 investor, shared his experience of having his petition approved in only 8.5 months, a remarkable contrast to the usual multi-year wait times for Indian applicants under the unreserved visa category. He attributes this speedy approval to his choice of investing in a strong rural project. Felix’s case exemplifies how rural projects offer a tangible time advantage for investors from countries with significant backlogs.

Daria’s 8-Month Approval

Daria, a German investor, received her I-526E approval in just 8 months through the rural EB-5 project Twin Lakes, Georgia. She emphasized that the rural designation of her investment was crucial to the fast processing. Daria’s case highlights that the rural EB-5 advantage extends beyond just India and China and is available to investors worldwide.

Gurpreet’s 8-Month Approval

Another Indian investor in STEM, Gurpreet, also secured I-526E approval in months by investing in the Twin Lakes Georgia rural project. His experience reiterates the growing trend of Indian investors opting for rural EB-5 projects to benefit from quicker adjudication times.

Additional Benefits: Employment Authorization and Living in the U.S.

EB-5 investors who adjust status concurrently may also receive employment authorization documents (EADs) in a much shorter time frame. For example, investors in EB5AN projects are obtaining EADs in an average of just 4.2 months. This rapid access to EADs allows investors and their families to legally work and live in the U.S. while waiting for their Green Cards.

Why Are Rural Projects Processing Faster?

The notably faster processing times for rural EB-5 projects stem from a combination of legislative changes and operational priorities within USCIS designed to stimulate economic development in less populated areas.

Reserved Visa Pools

As mentioned above, one of the most significant reasons for the accelerated approvals is the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which introduced reserved visa allocations. By setting aside a dedicated portion of the annual EB-5 visas exclusively for these categories, especially reserving 20% of visas for rural areas, the RIA effectively creates a separate and less congested visa queue for rural projects. This reservation drastically reduces wait times and backlog issues that urban EB-5 investors are facing, particularly those from high-demand countries like China and India.

Lower Filing Volumes

Another critical factor is the difference in application volumes. Urban EB-5 projects, especially in major metropolitan areas, attract far more investors, resulting in a crowded pipeline and extended processing delays. In contrast, rural EB-5 projects typically see fewer filings, which means fewer petitions to review and adjudicate. This lower volume helps USCIS process applications more swiftly and efficiently.

USCIS Prioritization

Furthermore, USCIS has shown a clear intent to prioritize rural project adjudications. This strategic focus aligns with broader government goals to stimulate economic growth and job creation in rural and underserved communities. Between February 2023 and January 2025, USCIS adjudicated nearly 24% of rural I-526E petitions, while processing for urban petitions has virtually stalled—only about 1.5% were adjudicated during the same period, with some approvals occurring only through litigation.

This prioritization not only supports development in high-need areas but also benefits investors with significantly faster adjudication times. In fact, EB5AN’s rural projects alone have accounted for roughly 20% of all rural approvals in the past two years, with a noticeable surge in recent months.

What This Means for Potential EB-5 Investors

If you are considering the EB-5 pathway to a U.S. Green Card, investing in a rural EB-5 project offers a significant timing advantage, particularly if you are from India or China, where urban EB-5 backlogs are looming.

The difference between waiting 6 to 8 months versus 5 to 10 years can fundamentally change your immigration planning and life trajectory. Fast approval means quicker access to employment authorization, residency, and family stability.

EB5AN Can Help You Invest in Rural Projects

The current EB-5 landscape clearly favors rural projects when it comes to speed of approval. Investor stories from across the globe show that rural EB-5 petitions are being approved in under a year, with some cases setting record times of just 6.5 months. This fast-track option is primarily due to legislative changes reserving visas for rural investments and USCIS’s prioritization of these cases.

For prospective investors aiming for an efficient and reliable EB-5 process, rural projects represent the safest and smartest choice today. Filing concurrently with a rural EB-5 investment not only shortens the wait time for approval but also opens the door to early work and travel permits, making the journey to permanent residency smoother and faster.

Working with an experienced EB-5 team also ensures that your application is structured correctly, your source of funds is well-documented, and your chosen project aligns with both USCIS guidelines and your long-term immigration goals.

At EB5AN, transparency is of utmost importance to us. EB5AN has helped more than 2,700 families from 70+ countries become lawful permanent residents of the United States. Our expert team has more than a decade of experience and offers clients first-rate, low-risk EB-5 regional center projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate.

If you would like to know more about your EB-5 investment options, book a free call with our expert team today.