What Is the EB-5 Program?

The EB-5 program, also known as the Immigrant Investor Program, was established in 1990 by Congress to stimulate the US economy through job creation via capital investment from immigrant investors. In return for their investment, eligible foreign investors and their families are able to gain lawful, permanent residency in the U.S.

What Is Required from EB-5 Investors?

There are four key requirements of all EB-5 investors.

(1) An investor must invest $800,000 into a USCIS-approved project located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). For projects outside of TEA, the threshold investment amount is $1.05 million. 

(2) The investor’s capital-investment must create at least 10 qualified US jobs. 

(3)  Investors must prove their capital comes from legal sources and the pathways for the movement of the funds determined as legal. 

(4)  The capital investment must comply with “at risk” requirement.

What Are Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) and Rural Areas?

A Targeted Employment Area (TEA) is a rural area or an area that, at the time of investment, has a high unemployment rate. A Rural Area is a region outside of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and outside of any city or town with a population of at least 20,000 or more based on the most recent decennial census of the United States.  A high unemployment area has an unemployment rate of at least 150% of the U.S. national average.

What Benefits Will Investors Receive?

Investors, their spouses and children under the age of 21 at the time of petition, may qualify to become legal permanent residents in United States. The investors may also receive an annual return on their investment.