EB-5 Set-Aside Categories May See Wait Times as Early as 2026

Here’s What the Latest U.S. Government Data Indicates

 

1️⃣ USCIS I-526E approvals hit a new high in FY2025 Q3
USCIS approved 1,047 I-526E petitions in Q3 FY2025 — the highest since RIA began and about 4× the previous quarter.

➡ Higher approvals = more applicants advancing toward the limited annual visa quota.

 

 

2️⃣ Reserved visas remain capped under U.S. law

EB-5 receives 7.1% of the worldwide employment-based visa limit (minimum 140,000 annually).

Under RIA, 32% of EB-5 visas are allocated to Set-Aside categories:

• 20% Rural
• 10% High-Unemployment
• 2% Infrastructure

➡ This translates into a few thousand reserved visas globally each year, even as demand continues to rise.

 

3️⃣ Long queues already exist in the Unreserved category

From the December 2025 Visa Bulletin:

• China (mainland-born): Final Action Date — 15 July 2016
• India: Final Action Date — 1 July 2021
• All Set-Aside categories remain “Current” for every country.

➡ Unreserved visas have multi-year wait times, while Set-Aside categories are still open — for now.

 

4️⃣ New EB-5 filings surged under RIA

USCIS data through Q3 FY2025 shows:
I-526E filings in FY2025 (first three quarters) already exceed all of FY2024 by ~30%
Analysts estimate 1,700+ new investors entered the program in Q3 alone
➡ More applicants now = stronger competition for a fixed visa supply in future years.

 

🧭 What This Means for Investors

(Especially families with older teens)
Set-Aside categories — especially Rural — still offer a timing advantage, but available space is tightening quickly.
Waiting until 2026+ may place new applicants behind potential future cut-off dates once they are introduced.
Families with children around 14–19 should pay attention to possible wait-time changes that may influence age-based eligibility rules.

 

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Guidance built on USCIS and U.S. Department of State data
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👉 Message us to review your options based on the latest official numbers — while the Set-Aside categories remain Current.

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Data Sources (as of Dec 2025)
USCIS Immigration Data • EB-5 RIA Statute • U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin (Dec 2025) • IIUSA Industry Reports