Heavy backlog in unreserved EB-5. Rural set-aside is the fastest path for Chinese investors as of 2026.

Moderate retrogression in unreserved. Rural set-aside has been current or near-current for most of 2025-2026.

All other countries — typically current in all categories.

If your spouse was born in a different country, you may charge to their country to skip a backlog.

Country chargeability and visa backlogs

TL;DR

Your country of birth (not citizenship) determines your EB-5 visa wait. China and India have historical backlogs; rural set-aside dramatically shortens them.

EB-5 visa numbers are allocated per country of birth. When one country exceeds 7% of annual EB-5 visa issuance, USCIS imposes a per-country cap and creates a backlog ("retrogression"). The Reform Act's set-asides operate as separate queues that move independently of the unreserved EB-5 category.

•China: Heavy backlog in unreserved EB-5. Rural set-aside is the fastest path for Chinese investors as of 2026.
•India: Moderate retrogression in unreserved. Rural set-aside has been current or near-current for most of 2025-2026.
•Vietnam: Small backlog in some months.
•Rest of World (ROW): All other countries — typically current in all categories.
•Cross-chargeability: If your spouse was born in a different country, you may charge to their country to skip a backlog.

Country chargeability is set when you file. Earlier filing locks in the earliest priority date.

How Beyond handles this

Beyond Paradise 1 is a Rural TEA project — the set-aside category that has consistently moved fastest for investors from retrogressed countries.

Want a personalized EB-5 roadmap based on your profile?

Build my profile