How EB-5 Rural Investments Can Benefit You and the U.S. Economy
The EB-5 visa program is a unique opportunity for foreign investors who want to immigrate to the U.S. and become permanent residents. By investing in a U.S. business and creating jobs for U.S. workers, they can obtain a green card and enjoy the benefits of living and working in the U.S. However, not all EB-5 investments are the same. Some EB-5 investments are more advantageous and rewarding than others, especially those that are located in rural areas.
EB-5 rural investment is a special type of investment under the EB-5 visa program, which focuses on projects that are located in rural areas, which are defined as areas outside of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and with a population of 20,000 or less. EB-5 rural investment offers many benefits for both investors and communities. For investors, EB-5 rural investment can help them achieve their immigration and financial goals faster and easier. For example, EB-5 rural investment can help investors:
• Obtain a green card faster. EB-5 rural investment qualifies for priority processing by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which means that the applications are processed faster than other types of EB-5 investment. According to the [USCIS], the goal is to process priority qualifying petitions within 120 days, compared to 240 days for non-priority petitions. Moreover, EB-5 rural investment also qualifies for set-aside visas, which means that 20% of the annual EB-5 visa allocation is reserved for rural projects. This can help investors avoid the visa backlog that affects some countries, such as China and India.
• Invest less money. EB-5 rural investment qualifies for the reduced minimum investment amount of $800,000, compared to the standard minimum of $1,050,000. This can help investors save money and diversify their portfolio. The investment amount is also adjusted every five years based on inflation, which means that it can increase in the future.
• Support economic development. EB-5 rural investment can help investors contribute to the economic growth and social welfare of the rural communities where they invest. By investing in rural projects, investors can help create or preserve jobs, stimulate local spending, and improve infrastructure and services. This can also help investors build a positive reputation and relationship with the community and the government.
For communities, EB-5 rural investment can help them revitalize their local economies and improve their quality of life. Many rural areas in the U.S. face challenges such as population decline, unemployment, poverty, and lack of access to health care and education. EB-5 rural investment can help address these challenges by bringing in foreign capital, creating or preserving jobs, and providing vital services. Some examples of successful EB-5 rural projects include:
• A solar farm in Vermont that generated 20 megawatts of clean energy and created 100 jobs.
• A hospital in Texas that expanded its facilities and services and created 250 jobs.
• A dairy farm in South Dakota that increased its production and exports and created 150 jobs.
EB-5 rural investment is a win-win for investors and communities. By investing in a rural project, investors can immigrate to the U.S. and boost rural economies. If you are interested in EB-5 rural investment, you can contact us for more information and guidance. We have helped hundreds of investors achieve their American dream through the EB-5 visa program. What are you waiting for? Start your EB-5 journey today!
What is EB-5 Rural Investment and How Does It Work?
The EB-5 visa program is a special immigration program that allows foreign investors to obtain a green card and become lawful permanent residents of the U.S. by investing in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. and creating or preserving at least 10 full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. The EB-5 visa program was created in 1990 by the U.S. Congress to stimulate the U.S. economy and attract foreign capital.
There are two ways to invest in the EB-5 visa program: direct investment or regional center investment. Direct investment means that the investor invests in their own business or a business that they have an active role in managing. Regional center investment means that the investor invests in a project that is affiliated with a regional center, which is a federally approved entity that connects foreign investors with developers in need of funding. Regional centers can pool the investments of multiple investors and count indirect and induced jobs towards the job creation requirement.
The minimum investment amount for the EB-5 visa program is $1,050,000. However, the investment amount can be reduced to $800,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA), which is either a rural area or an area with high unemployment rate. The investment amount is adjusted every five years based on inflation.
EB-5 rural investment is a type of regional center investment that is made in a rural area. A rural area is defined as an area outside of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and with a population of 20,000 or less. EB-5 rural investment projects are usually located in industries such as renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, or tourism. EB-5 rural investment projects are designed to create or preserve jobs and stimulate economic development in rural communities.
EB-5 rural investment works as follows:
• The investor chooses a regional center that has a rural project that meets their investment goals and the EB-5 visa program requirements.
• The investor signs an investment agreement with the regional center and transfers the required amount of $800,000 to the project account.
• The regional center files a petition with the USCIS on behalf of the investor, which is called Form I-924, Application for Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program. The petition must include evidence that the project is located in a rural area and that it will create or preserve at least 10 jobs per investor.
• The investor files a petition with the USCIS on their own behalf, which is called Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor. The petition must include evidence that the investor has made the investment, that the investment meets the EB-5 visa program requirements, and that the investment will create or preserve at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers.
• If the petitions are approved, the investor and their spouse and unmarried children under 21 are eligible to apply for a conditional green card, which is valid for two years. The investor can apply for an adjustment of status if they are already in the U.S. on a valid visa, or for an immigrant visa if they are outside the U.S.
• Within 90 days before the expiration of the conditional green card, the investor must file another petition with the USCIS, which is called Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status. The petition must include evidence that the investor has maintained their investment, that the investment has met the job creation requirement, and that the investor has complied with the rules and regulations of the EB-5 visa program.
• If the petition is approved, the investor and their family members receive their permanent green card, which is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. The investor and their family members are also eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of permanent residency.
EB-5 rural investment(for example https://www.eb5energy.com/) is a great way to immigrate to the U.S. and support rural development. By investing in a rural project, the investor can enjoy the benefits of a reduced investment amount, a faster processing time, and a set-aside visa allocation. The investor can also help create or preserve jobs and improve the quality of life in rural communities.
