Criteria to Consider Before Selecting an EB-5 Project Investment

Here are a few important criteria to consider when conducting due diligence and selecting an EB-5 project investment.

Developer and Regional Center Reputation and Track Records

How much experience with the EB-5 Program do the project developer and regional center have? What are their track records? How many I-526 petition and I-829 petition filings, approvals, and denials does the regional center have? Are they well-known within the EB-5 industry?

Job Creation

Each EB-5 investor must be credited with the creation of 10 jobs for U.S. workers in order to fulfill EB-5 Program requirements and obtain an unconditional green card. What is the job creation methodology? Is there a job creation buffer? Have jobs already been created or will they be created within the required time frame?

Sufficient Funding 

Does the project have bridge loans and additional equity sources in additional to a senior loan? Can they complete the project even if they fall short with EB-5 capital?

Return on Investment

What is the return on investment and is it a competitive rate? With the increase in the minimum investment amount and the lower demand for EB-5, prospective investors may be able to command higher returns on investments. However, they may also want to consider taking on a slightly lower return on investment if it means that they can invest in a regional center with a strong track record and reputation.

Return of Investment

What is the track record of the developer and regional center? Have they returned capital to EB-5 investors in earlier projects? How many previous projects have there been and have they seen these previous projects through to completion? What does the project’s financials show?

Once any EB-5 prospective investor has narrowed down their search for an EB-5 project, they must take the time to conduct thorough due diligence to find the project that meets their needs and increases their chances of fulfilling all their immigration goals.