EB-5 visa applicants who invest through a Regional Center gain access to a number of important benefits. Direct and indirect jobs can be counted towards the “job creation criteria,” which is a major perk.

One example of direct job creation is an investment that resulted in ten new, permanent jobs for locals over a two-year period. Direct employment creation from the pooled resources of all investors is not the only way to meet the Regional Center program’s job criterion. These positions may be generated either as a result of the Regional Center itself or of outside investment in a commercial firm associated with it.

Hence, proof of the investor’s involvement in the hiring process is not required. The Regional Center is responsible for providing evidence of job generation. In turn, the Regional Centers will hire seasoned economists to conduct economic analysis and provide evidence that a sufficient number of direct and indirect jobs will be produced as a result of the initiative.

Quantity Spent on Capital Investment

Investors seeking an EB-5 visa must put at least $1,050,000 into a project that will result in the creation of 10 full-time jobs for locals. Investing at a minimum of $1,000,000 is waived if the business receiving the funds is located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which includes rural areas and areas with high unemployment. Currently, TEAs are the most common places to find EB-5 investment possibilities.