EB-5 Regional Centers
About EB-5 and the Regional Center Program
In 1990, the U.S. Congress created the fifth employment-based preference category (EB-5) for qualified foreign entrepreneurs seeking to invest in a business that will benefit the U.S. economy and create or save at least 10 full-time jobs. The basic amount required to invest is $1 million, although that amount is reduced to $500,000 if the investment is made in a rural or high unemployment area. Of the approximately 10,000 EB-5 green cards available each year, 3,000 are reserved for foreign nationals who invest through a Regional Center.
A Regional Center is a private enterprise or corporation or a regional governmental agency with a targeted investment program within a specific region. The Regional Center Investment Program allocates 3,000 green cards each year for people who invest in designated Regional Centers. The program does not require that the foreign investor’s enterprise itself directly employ 10 U.S. workers. Instead, it is enough if 10 or more jobs will be created directly or indirectly as a result of the investment. As a result, he Regional Center Investment Program aids foreign investors by directing and professionally managing their investment in the designated business and geographic focus of their Regional Center.
Current Regional Centers
An updated list of approved EB-5 Regional Centers can be found at USCIS’ website below:
Immigrant Investor Regional Centers (external link)
As of the date of this article, there are 75 approved Regional Centers and there are approximately 50 Regional Center applications pending for review at USCIS California Service Center.
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