Long before an EB-5 investor enters the picture, developers seek out regional centers to sponsor their projects and raise money.

The projects must be for profit, they must create a certain number of jobs, and they must keep their EB-5 investor’s money at risk for a two-year period to fulfill the EB-5 Program requirements.

Depending on the country they’re marketing to, a regional center may work with migration agents to find them investors for the project, they may market directly to investors by holding seminars in a targeted country, or they may advertise in the U.S. to immigrants on temporary visas.

These three methods all have the same goal: find accredited investors who want to invest $500,000 in U.S. new commercial enterprises in order to attain green cards for their families.

Interested foreign investors must then invest $500,000 to the regional center plus anywhere between $55,000 – $75,000 in fees.

The investor’s funds are transferred into an escrow account which will be issued by the bank and released into the project.

While the developer uses the funds to complete the project the EB-5 investor files their second petition Form I-829. This is to prove that they sustained their investment, that the investment remained at-risk, and that the requisite number of jobs were created or will be created. Upon approval the EB-5 investor attains unconditional permanent residency or green card status.

The developer will then return the investor’s money and with modest interest.

For more information about the process or EB-5 financing, send us a message.