United States
North America · informational research only · no verified delivery partner published
The U.S. does not sell a 'second passport.' Immigrant visas are category-based (employment, family, investment EB-5, diversity). EB-5 is the closest to investment-based immigration and carries substantial capital and conditionality requirements.
Investor route
EB-5 (conditional green card → permanent)
CBI status
No purchasable citizenship
Naturalization
Generally 5 years of lawful permanent residence (3 if via qualifying marriage)
Per-capita caps
Apply — expect country-specific wait times
Overview
U.S. immigrant (green card) visas are allocated across categories: family, employment, investors (EB-5) and the diversity visa lottery. There is no general purchase-citizenship route.
EB-5 requires a qualifying investment (generally $800,000+ in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 nationally, plus business/job-creation conditions) and is subject to per-country per-capita caps and wait times.
We publish the EB-5 route as a reviewed program because it is the route most commonly confused with 'buying a U.S. passport.' It is legally a conditional investor green card, not an instant passport.
1 draft route record in United States
Physical presence note
EB-5 investors typically maintain significant ties and may spend limited time in the U.S. during the conditional period, but a green card requires maintaining residence; long absences can affect status. See the program page.
PR & naturalization
EB-5 grants a conditional green card (2 years), which converts to permanent (5-year) residence. Naturalization generally after ~5 years of permanent residence (subject to absence and physical-presence rules).
Tax note
U.S. citizenship and permanent residency create U.S. federal tax obligations worldwide; refer to a qualified tax adviser. Tax advice is given only by a qualified tax professional.
Documents note
Typical: passports, source-of-funds and tax records, business plan, criminal background, medical exam (I-693). A licensed U.S. immigration attorney issues the case-specific final checklist.
Frequently asked
Can I buy a U.S. passport?
No. The closest is EB-5, which grants a conditional then permanent green card if investment and job-creation conditions are met; citizenship follows a later naturalization application.