EB-5, Gold Card or Buying Property: Which One Gets You a Green Card?

Buying property in the United States, at any price, does not give you a visa or a green card. The routes that can are the EB-5 investor program ($800,000 or $1,050,000 invested in a job-creating business), the Gold Card (a $1 million payment to the U.S. government, launched in December 2025), and, for some nationalities, the E-2 treaty investor visa, which is renewable but is not a green card. Each has real risks, and a green card makes you a U.S. taxpayer on your income from everywhere.

What a green card costs beyond the check

• Worldwide taxation. Once you are a U.S. tax resident, the U.S. taxes your income from every country, not just from the U.S.
• Reporting. Foreign accounts, companies and trusts must be reported every year, with heavy penalties for mistakes.
• Leaving is not free. Giving up long-term residency later can trigger an exit tax.

Plan the tax side with an advisor before you plan the visa.

Why buying property alone does not work

Owners can visit their property on a regular visitor visa, within the limits of that visa. Spending too many days in the U.S. can make you a U.S. tax resident even without a green card. The property itself creates no immigration benefit.

EB-5: invest and create jobs

• Amount. $800,000 in a targeted employment area (rural or high-unemployment), or $1,050,000 elsewhere, set by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.
• Jobs. The investment must create at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.
• At risk. The money must be at risk. Returns, and even the return of capital, are not guaranteed.
• Process. A petition, a two-year conditional green card, then a second petition to remove conditions.
• Regional centers. The regional center program is authorized through September 30, 2027.

Buying a condo to rent out does not qualify.

The Gold Card: a payment, not an investment

• Created by executive order on September 19, 2025, and opened to applicants in December 2025.
• Requires a $1 million gift to the U.S. government plus a $15,000 processing fee. The money is not invested and does not come back.
• It leads to a green card through existing employment-based categories.
• Uptake has been slow: in April 2026, the Commerce Secretary said one card had been approved.
• Because it was created by executive order, its future depends on courts and on future administrations.

The E-2 visa: run a business you invest in

Citizens of treaty countries can get a renewable visa by investing a substantial amount in a U.S. business they actively run. Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador and Chile are treaty countries. Brazil is not, although Brazilians with a second nationality, such as Italian or Portuguese, may qualify through it. The E-2 does not lead to a green card on its own.

Which one fits

• You want a home or a dollar investment, not residency: buy the property; no visa is needed to own it.
• You want permanent residency and accept capital at risk: EB-5.
• You want residency and can give up $1 million: the Gold Card, with its legal uncertainty.
• You want to live in the U.S. running a business: E-2, if your nationality qualifies.

How we look at it

We keep the two decisions separate. A property should make sense as an investment with no visa attached; a visa should be chosen with an immigration lawyer. Mixing them is how families overpay for both. Read also U.S. estate tax for foreign nationals, or request a private briefing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a green card by buying a $1 million home?

No. Property purchases do not qualify for EB-5 or any other residency program.

Is EB-5 better than the Gold Card?

EB-5 keeps your capital invested, at risk, and is set by law. The Gold Card is a non-refundable payment created by executive order. Which is better depends on your goals and risk tolerance.

Can a foreigner buy property in the U.S. without a visa?

Yes. Foreigners can buy and own U.S. real estate. The visa only governs how long you can stay.

Important: This article is general education, current as of October 2026. It is not immigration, tax or legal advice, and these programs change often. Talk to a licensed U.S. immigration lawyer and your tax advisors before acting. Infinity⁹ (Infinity Capital Asset Management, LLC) is an Exempt Reporting Adviser with the SEC, CRD# 330526; it is not a law firm and does not sponsor EB-5 projects. Nothing here is an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Sources

• EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022: regional center program through Sept. 30, 2027
• CBS News: only one Gold Card approved so far
• U.S. Department of State: treaty countries