How To Find a USCIS-Approved EB5 Regional Center
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) organization established the EB5 program to enhance foreign investment and immigration outcomes. Immigrants under the program can obtain a United States green card by making a qualifying investment in a commercial enterprise.
You can also participate in the program by investing in a USCIS-approved EB5 regional center. Here is more on EB5 regional centers and how to find an approved center:
What Is an EB5 Regional Center?
An EB5 regional center is an entity designated by the USCIS to sponsor capital investment and create jobs within the U.S. The USCIS often chooses commercial businesses in areas with high unemployment rates or rural regions as EB5 centers.
Once you select a regional center to invest in, you wire funds to the regional center fund. The EB5 center then loans the funds to one of its investment projects, supervises the project, and reports to the USCIS on its progress.
Although green card applicants can invest in non-regional-center projects, most prefer investing in regional centers. This is because EB5 centers offer more flexibility in meeting EB5 program requirements.
Applicants also have reduced managerial responsibilities when they invest in a project run by an EB5 center. The USCIS allows you to count all direct and indirect jobs your regional center investment creates as part of the minimum job creation requirement.
Finding an Approved EB5 Center
Choosing the right center makes it easier to meet USCIS’s requirements. You may also be able to get a return on your investment if you choose a profitable EB5 center. Here are some tips for finding a USCIS-approved EB5 center:
Do Your Due Diligence
Research approved regional centers on the USCIS website and create a shortlist of the centers you want to invest in. Evaluate the management teams of the prospective centers, considering their backgrounds and experience with the EB5 program.
Research how many EB5 projects the regional center has done and check their performance. Check how many immigrants have gained residency status by investing through each EB5 center. A well-established regional center with a proven track record is a more reliable investment option.
Check Regional Center Locations
The location of an EB5 center determines the minimal investment amount the USCIS requires from each immigrant investor. Investing via an EB5 center in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) costs less. This is because the USCIS designates these areas as high-unemployment regions. Immigrant investors must invest at least $800,000 in a TEA, while it costs $1.05 million to invest in a non-TEA regional center.
Research the economic conditions, market trends, and potential risks associated with a regional center’s location before investing. Consider infrastructure development and the area’s growth potential when determining where to invest and which projects might be successful.
Review Project Documentation
EB5 centers sponsor multiple projects, so it helps to know what you want to invest in to narrow down your options. Check which EB5 centers have funded projects you are considering, and review their project documentation. Check these projects’ business plans, economic analysis, and job creation projections.
It also helps to understand each project’s expected returns and potential risks. Select a regional center with well-documented projects. This makes it easier to determine how your funds will be used.
Ask for Financial Documentation
A reputable regional center should be transparent about how it handles investors’ funds. The regional center should provide comprehensive documentation on how they intend to use your investment funds. Ask for fee schedules and documentation on the project’s financial structure, potential returns on investment, and any other expenses.
Seek Independent Professional Advice
Consult an unbiased independent professional, like an immigration lawyer, for insight into a regional center. Have your immigration lawyer review any documentation you get from an EB5 center before investing in it. Consult financial and due diligence advisors to help vet potential EB5 centers. With the advice and assistance of these professionals, you can confidently choose an EB5 center that caters to your interests.
Find the Right EB5 Center
Finding the right USCIS-approved EB5 regional center requires thorough research and professional consultation. Before selecting an EB5 center, check its status on the USCIS website and review its track record. Evaluate project documentation and determine whether the regional center’s location and available projects align with your investment interests.
Choose a reputable EB5 center that has completed several successful projects to improve your chances of an EB5 visa approval. Contact a regional center today to learn more about how they assist EB5 investors throughout the project and visa program.
