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As you might already know, the EB-5 visa program requires an investment in the United States that creates at least ten (10) full time American jobs. Applicants will need to invest at least $900,000.00 (if investing in a “Targeted Employment Area”).
Typically, investors choose to invest through the EB-5 Regional Center program, in a real estate project offered by an approved regional center. These regional centers offer investors benefits such as relaxed job creation requirements and assistance with the EB-5 application process.
Investment in the EB-5 Regional Center program involves a large financial investment, and like any large financial investment, the investor should do their due diligence to make sure they are making a responsible choice when choosing a particular regional center to invest in.
What Resources Are Available to Research a Regional Center?
Visit USCIS
USCIS provides a directory of approved regional centers, visit it here.
Visit the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
According to their website, the BBB’s mission “is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust.”
You can search for regional centers on the BBB’s website, read complaints and comments and check up on a company’s rating in the marketplace.
Visit a Local Department of Buildings Website
Most regional center investments involve development of commercial real estate. If you know the address for the commercial real estate development project, you can usually do a lot of research, for free, by visiting a local department of buildings website. A local department of buildings website will usually provide you with information about who owns a certain parcel of real estate, who is the general contractor for the development project, what permits have been issued and whether there are any violations against the property. Some examples of big cities with comprehensive local department of buildings websites are as follows:
- Atlanta, Georgia,
- Chicago, Illinois,
- Los Angeles, California,
- Miami, Florida,
- New York, New York,
- San Francisco, California,
Communicate with the Regional Center Itself
If a regional center wants to earn your investment into one of its real estate project, they should be willing to go to great lengths to make you feel secure in your investment. This can include:
- Providing details on their track record for success with prior EB-5 visa approvals
- Providing a history of EB-5 visa applicants who have been paid back their investment proceeds after receiving their EB-5 visa
- Explaining their expertise in the EB-5 visa program
- Providing financial transparency so you feel confident the project you are investing in will be built correctly and on time
- Making themselves available to answer all of your other questions and concerns
A reputable regional center will have a complete team of financial, compliance and legal experts ready to help you through the process.
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