An EB-5 Regional Center is an agency, organization or entity that has been approved by the USCIS. It focuses on a specific geographic area within the United States and seeks to promote economic growth through increased producticity, job creation, increased domestic investment and increased export.

Being able to speak English is not required. You may use the help of a translator to read our information or contact us for additional information.

Qualified foreign investors can sponsor their immediate family (spouse and children under 21 years of age). Immediate family members receive conditional permanent residency after approval of I-526. Conditions can be removed after two years.

In the last decade of the 20th century, Congress created a special immigration program to boost the United States economy by having immigrant investors create jobs. Each year 10,000 EB-5 immigrant visas become available, with 3,000 reserved specifically for foreign nationals to invest in Regional Centers specified by the USCIS having economic growth proposals. Click here for more information.

Investments of as little as $800,000 must be in “targeted employment areas”, which most regional centers include. Otherwise an investment of $1,050,000 is required outside of “targeted employment areas”.

A geographical area within the United States that has experienced an unemployment rate of 150% of the nationwide average qualifies. Each individual state has the right to designate their “targeted employment area(s)” (TEA).

10 permanent jobs must be created directly or indirectly by each EB-5 investor to get a Green Card.

Like all investments, Regional Centers are subject to risk and have little or no operating history, and under law are not allowed to guarantee profit or promise the return of investor’s capital. There is no guarantee to the investor that their petition will be granted, or that they will receive an immigrant visa or lawful permanent residency status unconditionally. The EB-5 program, its laws, regulations and its interpretations may change at any time.

Anyone that can show the resources to invest the required amount into the United States economy, prove this amount was gained lawfully and meet general requirements can apply to the EB-5 program.

The investor, their unmarried children under the age of 21 and their spouse may apply for a Green Card through the EB-5 program.

Under the regulations of the U.S.C.I.S, it must be documented that the amount invested was gained lawfully. This requirement means that assets were lawfully obtained from business, salary, investments, sales of property, loans, gifts, inheritance or other legal means.

Any money gifted to the investor must be shown as an actual transaction, and not an informal loan where the money is expected to be paid back.

The total time can vary greatly. I-526 petitions take approximately 6 to 12 months to receive approval. Those residing in the United States may then wait an additional 6 months for their residency status to change. Those residing outside of the United States should apply for an immigrant visa, which can take another 6 months. After approval of the visa, the investor and family will receive green cards within several weeks after arriving in the United States.

After approval of your I-526 petition and EB-5 immigrant visa, you received a conditional Green Card which is valid for 2 years. Starting 90 days before the end of the 2 year conditional Green Card, EB-5 participants should file a I-829 petition to remove the conditional status. After filing an I-829, your temporary residency will be extended. After approval of the I-829, conditional status is removed from the Green Card, and the investor, spouse and children under 21 years of age can reside in the United States permanently.

The investor must prove that the investment has not been removed, and the required jobs have been created.

Before filing the I-526, the appropriate total amount of $800,000 or $1,050,000 must be transferred to the project.

Green Card holders are free to travel outside of the United States as long as they maintain a permanent residence in the United States and have not been outside of the United States for more than six months, and after a 6 month absence, there is a rebuttable presumption that the person abandoned their residency