The EB5 Regional Center May Be Structured in More than One Way

If you're interested in obtaining a Green Card under the EB5 program, you may invest $1 million in your own business that is required to create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. However, you also have the option of investing $500,000 in a Regional Center, an established project in an economically distressed area that is expected to provide at least 10 full-time jobs.

The Typical EB5 Regional Center

When developers establish a Regional Center, they can count direct and indirect employment toward the 10 job requirement. They may also have individual projects within a Regional Center pre-approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Regional Center certification simplifies the process of finding investors and makes it easier for investors to find the right Regional Center.

When an Existing Regional Center Sponsors a Project

Sometimes, an existing Regional Center will sponsor a project to attract people who want to pursue EB5 immigration. This eliminates the time and cost of developing a new Regional Center, and developers can still pursue pre-approval of their new project by USCIS. Another advantage of this approach is that existing Regional Centers may already have a marketing plan and be ready to develop quickly once investment capital is in place.

Pooled Investment and the EB5 Program

Some EB5 projects pool investment from individual EB5 immigration petitions, and they may choose this approach to avoid the expense of obtaining Regional Center certification. With this scenario, EB5 petitions can be filed as soon as investors are identified. The main disadvantage to pooled investment programs is that 10 full-time jobs must be created for each EB5 investor, and pre-approval by USCIS is not available.

Sound Complicated? Help Is Available

At Executive Visas, we're committed to assisting EB5 investors in finding the best possible investment of their capital in the US economy. The EB5 process is complex, and many investors choose to work with EB5 consultants like those at Executive Visas to ensure that all procedures are followed, all deadlines are met, and the best possible investment is made by the person seeking an EB5 Green Card.