*This information is not an offer of securities, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities. Offers of securities for this investment will be made solely by Confidential Private Offering Memorandum for this Offering (the “Offering Memorandum”) to qualified individuals.
*Offerings of the securities for this investment are made solely pursuant to the terms of the Offering Memorandum, which includes a detailed description of the terms of the offering, the Project and the risks of investment in the Offering. Investors must review the entire Offering Memorandum before making any investment decision to invest in this Project, and must rely solely upon the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum with regard to their decision to invest in this Project. Any information provided outside of the Offering Memorandum should not be relied upon in making any investment decision, including the summary information provided for convenience on this website.
*Prior to the sale of any security to any investor currently living in the U.S. or visiting the U.S., the issuer will require such investors in the offering to provide information necessary to verify that such investors qualify as an accredited investor, as required under SEC Rule 506(c).
*Past I-526 petition processing times for this Project do not guarantee that USCIS will adjudicate any specific I-526 petitions for this Project within any specific period of time. Prospective investors must consult with their personal immigration attorney to understand fully the requirements, risks and processing requirements for any investment in an EB-5 project.
*An investment in this Project involves a high degree of risk of loss of the investment, as described in further detail in the Offering Memorandum. Investors should not invest in this Project unless they can bear the potential for the loss of some or all of their investment. There can be no assurance that any investor in this Project will receive approval of their I-526 petition or the return of their investment in this Project. Investors must review the Offering Memorandum to obtain further information regarding the risks of investment.
*A small number of applicants had a rejected I-526 due to administrative error unrelated to the project
*EB5Fast.com is the property of Odlum Equestrian Manager, LLC
CONTACT US
EB-5 is a United States immigrant investor program that offers citizens of other countries the opportunity to seek permanent U.S. residency through an investment that creates jobs in the U.S.
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Who Should Invest in an EB 5 Regional Center?
The EB 5 visa program was created under the Immigration Act of 1990 which allowed foreign investors to fund businesses within the United States. In exchange for a minimum number of funds invested and jobs created, these investors were allowed to apply for condition residency, and later, naturalized citizenship.
Economic clusters with large numbers of businesses quickly established themselves on the USCIS’ radar and the USCIS began designating “regional center” status to these entities which provided additional incentives to investors.
Regional centers have many benefits, but they might not be the right choice for your investment.
In this article, you will learn about EB 5 regional centers, how they benefit investors, and who should invest in one. EB 5 Fast is dedicated to helping immigrant investors learn about the EB 5 visa program by providing easy-to-understand information all in one place.
What is the EB 5 Visa Program?
The EB 5 visa program was created to help bolster the United States economy in times of need as a part of the Immigration Act of 1990. (1) This program allowed foreign investors to invest funds garnered through lawful means into the United States economy; specifically into individual businesses, and in turn, they were provided with a path to citizenship.
“Each year, 10,000 EB 5 visas are issued to immigrants who can invest […] into the U.S. economy and also meet other immigration requirements of the program.”
- SGM Law Group
The EB 5 visa program was originally established as a temporary program; however, the program was much more successful than expected, consistently generating foreign investment funding to businesses in need. The program has been operational ever since, and so long as it remains beneficial to the United States economy, it is expected to remain in place.
Who Can Invest in the EB 5 Program
Any individual with enough funds can invest in the EB 5 visa program. The individual must be able to prove that these funds were acquired legally, showing supporting documentation that they have a lawful right to the investment amount.
These investors must show proof of the lawful funds in the first petition to the USCIS. Funds may be acquired through a variety of means, and do not need to be obtained from a single source.
Lawful, valid sources of funds for investing in the EB 5 visa program include:
- A gift from another individual
- Tangible assets
- Income from a real estate sale
- Inheritance
- Divorce or other legal proceedings
- Employment salaries
Investors may pool their funds from more than one source to come up with the required funding amount, however, all sources must be verifiable as lawfully acquired. The path of the investment must also be verified, so it is important to gather all of this documentation prior to applying for an EB 5 investment.
Benefits of Investing in the EB 5 Visa Program
Many of the benefits that attract foreign investors revolve around the United States’ quality of living or standard of education. For some, investing in the United States economy may be the easiest path for individuals seeking a way out of poor living conditions in their home country.
The American dream provides a lot of opportunities to foreign investors. Once citizenship is achieved, a new world of job and educational opportunities open to them and their family. Higher education facilities become less expensive and more accessible, and investors are able to pursue their dream careers as demand soars for highly skilled industries.
Additionally, the EB 5 visa program is one of the few programs that supply family visas, meaning investors can use their single investment to request that their immediate qualifying family members receive a green card as well. Qualifying family members include a spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years of age.
What is an EB-5 Regional Center?
An EB 5 regional center is an entity designated by the USCIS as an economic cluster providing benefits to the local region. The USCIS requires these centers to apply for official designation before seeking foreign investment funds through the EB 5 visa program as a way of ensuring all guidelines are met and regional centers correctly follow the EB 5 visa process. (2)
“Approval of an EB 5 regional center application does not in any way: Constitute USCIS endorsement of the activities of that regional center; Guarantee compliance with U.S. securities laws; or Minimize or eliminate risk to the investor.”
- USCIS.gov
These centers, once designated, are permitted by the USCIS to provide certain benefits to investors as a way of incentivizing them to invest in the United States economy, such as job creation buffers and indirect investment jobs. Because of the peace of mind and legal assistance regional centers provide for investors, they now provide an estimated 95% of all investment funds through the EB 5 visa program.
Who Should Invest in an EB 5 Regional Center?
For individuals with money to invest, the EB 5 visa program is an ideal way to gain United States citizenship for themselves, as well as their immediate qualifying family members. The benefits that come with citizenship in the United States help investors pursue their American dream, gain access to higher education institutions, as well as job opportunities for themselves and their families.
There are, however, two types of EB 5 investments that must be carefully considered: direct investment in a business, and regional center investments.
Who should invest in a regional center?
Regional centers are the best path forward for investors who are more concerned with their end-goal of receiving a green card for themselves and immediate qualifying family members. A regional center can provide job cushion incentives to investors, allowing them to claim indirect job creation as a result of their investment.
For investors who are interested in becoming actively involved with an entrepreneurial enterprise, whether that business is pre-existing or brand new, a regional center will not be a good fit. Those individuals should consider direct investment in a pre-existing or new commercial enterprise, as they will be required to be directly involved in the daily operation of the business and must directly create jobs with the investment funds.
References
- SGM Law Group, EB-5 Regional Centers, https://www.immi-usa.com/eb5-regional-centers/
- USCIS.gov, Approved EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centers, https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers/approved-eb-5-immigrant-investor-regional-centers
How Many EB 5 Regional Centers Are There?
According to the USCIS’ list of approved centers, 673 centers are operating in the United States as of January 7th, 2021.
The USCIS keeps a public count of how many centers they approve, as well as the information the regional center has input on their application for regional center designation. This list is provided with entities listed by what state they operate in, so investors may narrow their search to specific geographical regions.
An individual who should invest in an EB 5 regional center is advised to spend time here researching their center of choice, doing their due diligence, ensuring the center is official through the USCIS before investing any money into the project.
Additionally, the USCIS keeps a list of regional center terminations which can help find whether a designated regional center’s approved status has been revoked.
For any concerns about how to choose a regional center, it is best to consult an immigration lawyer who will understand your specific situation, including desired industry and total investment budget. Often, immigration lawyers will be able to provide recommendations for centers based on previous clients’ experiences as well.
What Do Regional Centers Do?
Regional centers are known as economic clusters where new businesses congregate with tourist attractions, local activities, and provide accommodations. These centers may be public or private entities, and their primary goal is to promote economic growth in a localized region, which may be for a city, a state, or region of the United States.
These entities are designated by the USCIS as approved centers and must abide by certain rules and guidelines to remain approved. Many centers also provide immigrant investors with assistance through the EB 5 visa process, giving investors access to immigration lawyers, business advisors, and other related services.
Additionally, investors funding a project through an EB 5 center can meet the USCIS requirements through indirect job creation, rather than direct. This allows regional centers to overshoot the necessary jobs created, providing investors with a job cushion and extra peace of mind.
While centers were approved two years after the EB 5 visa program was established, it took several years for new centers to develop and gain designated USCIS status. Today, an estimated 95% of all EB 5 foreign investments are made through these centers, making them the most popular option for investors seeking citizenship.
Most Successful EB 5 Regional Centers
One important factor in considering who should invest in an EB 5 regional center is whether the center is reputable and provides the right investment opportunities for you. If you have decided to invest in a regional center, there are several things you should consider before investing:
- Is the regional center reputable?
- Do they have a current form I-924, and are they listed on the USCIS’ approved regional center’s list?
- What are their success rates and estimated timelines until you can apply for a green card?
- Do they come highly recommended by other investors?
- How many estimated jobs can they report for your investment?
With over 900 approved EB 5 regional centers, it can be overwhelming for investors to choose one to invest in at first glance. Fortunately, this list is significantly narrowed down once you remove those that are not taking on new investors – typically only a fraction of those regional centers will be requesting investments at any time. From there, you can narrow your search by reputation and whether they have investment opportunities of interest.
EB 5 Fast can help you find the right regional center and provide assistance throughout the EB-5 process. Partnered with the Tryon International Equestrian Center, investors have peace of mind knowing their investment is in a prime economic cluster between several major international airports, with every popular business type on the premises.
Ways You Can Invest in the EB 5 Visa Program: Regional Center or Direct Investment?
There are two main ways an individual would invest in the EB 5 visa program: direct investment in a pre-existing or new corporate enterprise, or through a regional center.
The original direct investment path has since been abandoned by many investors. Regional centers have become the preferred method of investment because they provide benefits to the investor such as legal assistance, business plan advice, and indirect job creation buffers.
Highly skilled individuals may choose to invest in the EB 5 visa program as a direct investment, as they will be required to help manage and operate the business daily.