The past three years have seen a historic shift in the EB-5 industry, with both investors and EB-5 regional centers largely turning their attention to rural EB-5 projects. Indeed, the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) transformed the industry by granting unprecedented new benefits for investors who choose rural EB-5 projects.
As a result, a record 4,329 I-526E petitions from rural EB-5 investors were filed between early 2022 and January 2025. Chinese and Indian investors alone filed 3,531 of these rural I-526E petitions.
Since the EB-5 industry had previously focused mostly on urban projects, many firms were slow to adjust to changing USCIS policy and these emerging industry trends.
EB5AN, meanwhile, was one of the first regional centers to recognize the value of rural EB-5 projects. As soon as the RIA introduced benefits for rural projects, we pivoted and began to build a portfolio of institutional-quality rural projects that meet our high standards for immigration and financial safety.
Over three years later, EB5AN now leads the rural EB-5 industry. We have secured over 500 I-526E approvals for our rural investors, a roughly 20% market share of the rural sector, and these approvals are coming even faster as time goes on.
Investors in our rural projects have received I-526E approvals in as little as six months. Some investors have even received their U.S. Green Cards in only nine months.
And even before their I-526E approvals, investors who chose EB5AN have gotten work and travel documents in as little as 33 days, meaning they can enjoy the benefits of working in the U.S. and traveling abroad while awaiting their approvals.
What is more, our rural projects enjoy a USCIS approval rate of 100%. And each EB-5 fund is in good standing and progressing toward repayment.
These accomplishments demonstrate our ability to craft institutional-quality rural EB-5 projects. As we have proven time and again under current EB-5 policy, EB5AN’s rural projects deliver both immigration benefits and financial safety.
In this post, we are proud to present our current portfolio of rural EB-5 projects. With different safety features across our selection—which includes institutional developers, strong sales, repayment guaranties, and even a senior loan—each of these rural projects offers an exceptionally secure path to a U.S. Green Card and a timely repayment.
No matter what your goals and priorities are as an EB-5 investor, you’ll find an EB5AN rural project that suits your needs and risk profile.
“No other regional center approaches our record of success with rural EB-5 projects,” says Sam Silverman, managing partner of EB5AN. “Because we quickly shifted our focus to rural real estate developments, we now offer the strongest portfolio of rural offerings on the market.”
Silverman emphasizes that it is EB5AN’s experience and commitment to investors that has shaped our success: “Sponsoring a financially safe rural project requires significant experience in real estate and a very thorough vetting process. At EB5AN, we sponsor only those rural projects we would feel comfortable investing in ourselves.
“As a result,” Silverman concludes, “our investors can be confident in a fast USCIS approval through priority processing and a timely return on their funds.”
We currently offer the following rural EB-5 projects:
Before discussing our EB-5 projects themselves, we will begin with an overview of the benefits of rural projects. We will then briefly examine the main features of each of EB5AN’s rural projects before shifting to more detailed descriptions for each project. Finally, we will explore the statistics behind EB5AN’s track record of success in the rural EB-5 sector.
Fast USCIS Approvals and Green Cards Through EB5AN’s Rural Projects
A Quick Overview of EB5AN’s Rural Projects
Bay Creek (Senior Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: Exceptional Safety Through an EB-5 Senior Loan
Grand Park (Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: Our Latest Rural Offering
Tamarack Resort (Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: A Top-Selling Upscale Resort
Rocky River (Loan): Kolter’s Tried and True Active-Adult Community Model
Twin Lakes (Loan): Exceptional Financial Success in One of the Best-Selling Rural Projects on the Market
EB5AN: The #1 Regional Center for Rural EB-5 Investors
EB5AN’s Rural Projects Meet EB-5 Investors’ Needs
Fast USCIS Approvals and Green Cards Through EB5AN’s Rural Projects
To help spur investment in areas that need it the most, the RIA established what it calls “targeted employment areas.” These areas fall into two main category: urban (a metropolitical statistical area experiencing 150% of the national unemployment rate) and rural (or areas not located or bordering a metropolitan statistical area and which do not have a population of 20,000 or more as of the most recent decennial census).
To get investors to choose these projects, the RIA further established several key benefits associated with such projects.
While the benefits of rural and urban share some overlap, rural has clearly emerged as the more advantageous option for today’s EB-5 investors. Over time, as the extent of these advantages become clearer, investors have increasingly flocked to rural projects to gain their Green Cards.
Lower Investment Amount
First and foremost, investors in both rural and urban TEA projects have a lower investment requirement of $800,000—instead of the standard $1,050,000.
Avoid Backlogs
Every year, a guaranteed proportion of the yearly EB-5 visa supply is set aside for TEA investors: 10% of the yearly EB-5 visa supply is set aside for urban projects and 20% for rural projects.
Because the rural set-aside visa category is still current, Chinese and Indian investors can avoid many months or years of backlogs caused by their country’s high demand for EB-5. Multiple Chinese and Indian investors in our rural projects have received their Green Cards in only months.
Priority processing
One key advantage that sets rural projects apart from their urban counterparts is their priority processing. Under this rule, USCIS must give priority to rural investors’ applications.
As a result, EB-5 investors in rural projects are seeing exceptionally fast approval times for their I-526E petitions. And upon I-526E approval, you will be eligible for your initial Green Card.
As mentioned above, investors in EB5AN’s rural projects have received I-526E approvals in as little as six months, and many have received their U.S. Green Cards, some in only nine months. Furthermore, multiple investors have received work and travel permits only weeks after filing their Form I-526E.
A Quick Overview of EB5AN’s Rural EB-5 Projects
This section provides a brief look at each of our current rural EB-5 offerings.
Bay Creek (Senior Loan)
- Project Description: Bay Creek is a master-planned residential community in Cape Charles, Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. This project is set to deliver 340 residential land lots, 61 homes, and critical water and sewer infrastructure upgrades.
- Secure Senior EB-5 Loan: In a rare opportunity for investors, Bay Creek features a senior EB-5 loan—backed by a first-priority mortgage on project property and divided into individual four-year tranches—complete with I-526E approval refund and job-creation guaranties.
- Bayfront Lifestyle & Infrastructure Upgrades: Homeowners will enjoy two award-winning Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus golf courses, two miles of private beaches, a 350-acre nature preserve, clubhouse enhancements, and modernized water/sewer systems.
- Proven Leadership, Strong Sales, & Robust Job Creation: Bay Creek has sold nearly 300 land lots, is projected to generate 1,371 EB-5–eligible jobs, and uses third-party fund administration by PRXY for full transparency.
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Grand Park (Loan)
- Project Description: Grand Park is an ongoing master-planned, mixed-use rural EB-5 community in Grand County, Colorado, adjacent to Winter Park Resort. This project features apartments, townhomes, single-family homes, lodging units, and commercial space.
- Secure, Investor-Friendly Financing: The $800,000 EB-5 investment is structured as a secured loan—backed by a first-priority deed of trust on 119.44 acres, 100% equity and preferred-unit pledges, and individual four-year tranches. Investors also benefit from completion, I-526E refund, and job-creation guaranties.
- Prime Mountain-Resort Location: Located just over an hour from Denver and right beside Winter Park Resort and Colorado Adventure Park, Grand Park offers investors year-round outdoor amenities—including a private alpine club and ski lodge, a golf course, parks, and extensive trail networks—that underpin strong market demand.
- Proven Team & Robust Job Creation: Developed by a team with over 80 years of combined experience and independently overseen by EB5AN, the project has generated $190M+ in home sales since 2007 and is projected to create 9,442 EB-5–eligible jobs through a flexible, phased delivery approach.
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Tamarack Resort (Loan)
- Project Description: Tamarack Resort is a master-planned, all-seasons community north of Boise, Idaho, offering ski slopes, championship golf, and a full-service marina alongside lodging and residential amenities.
- Secure, Investor-Friendly Financing: Tamarack is structured as a secured loan—backed by a 100% equity pledge and senior mortgages—divided into individual four-year tranches, with I-526E refund and job-creation guaranties.
- World-Class All-Season Amenities & Prime Location: Spread across 1,100 skiable acres with 50 runs, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a 200-slip marina on Lake Cascade, Tamarack combines year-round recreation with proximity to Boise’s growing market.
- Proven Developer & Performance Track Record: Developed by MMG Equity Partners with deep resort-sector expertise, Tamarack has sold over 90% of its condos at an average price of $1M, has generated 2,441 EB-5–eligible jobs to date, and is independently overseen by EB5AN for added investor protection.
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Rocky River (Loan)
- Project Description: Rocky River is a 1,120-unit, age-restricted 55+ active-adult single-family home community in Locust, North Carolina, located about 45 minutes from Charlotte.
- Secure, Investor-Friendly Financing: The $800,000 EB-5 investment is structured as a secured loan backed by an EB-5 repayment guaranty from a well-capitalized Kolter parent company, divided into individual five-year tranches, and includes I-526E approval refund and job-creation guaranties.
- Active-Adult Lifestyle & Strategic Location: As part of the award-winning Cresswind program, Rocky River offers resort-style amenities—including a clubhouse, a wellness center, and walking trails—and Charlotte-area accessibility, catering to affluent retirees seeking community and convenience.
- Proven Developer & Robust Job Creation: Developed by Kolter Homes—which boasts over 27,000 units delivered and 20+ successful EB-5 projects—and overseen by EB5AN with PRXY fund administration, Rocky River is projected to generate approximately 7,020 EB-5–eligible jobs, far exceeding program requirements.
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Twin Lakes (Loan)
- Project Description: Twin Lakes Georgia is an award-winning single-family home community in Hoschton, Georgia, and will feature 1,300 residences. Twin Lakes was honored as the 2023 55+ Housing Community of the Year at the OBIE Awards.
- Secure, Investor-Friendly EB-5 Loan: Twin Lakes is structured as a secured loan backed by a Kolter parent company repayment guaranty, split into individual five-year tranches, and reinforced with I-526E approval refund and job-creation guaranties.
- Demonstrated Market Success & Immigration Confidence: With over 780 homes sold to date, multiple USCIS Form I-956F exemplar approvals, and more than 200 I-526E petition approvals—including a seven-month turnaround—investors benefit from proven performance and faster processing.
- Proven Developer & Independent Oversight: Developed by The Kolter Group—which has 25+ years in business, 27,000 units delivered, and $29B in cumulative project value—and overseen by EB5AN with PRXY third-party fund administration, Twin Lakes delivers a very safe risk profile.
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Bay Creek (Senior Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: Exceptional Safety Through an EB-5 Senior Loan
Bay Creek is a master-planned residential community in Cape Charles, Virginia, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, just 45 minutes from Norfolk International Airport. The project will expand existing water and sewer infrastructure, sell 340 residential land lots, and build 61 homes, all while enhancing Bay Creek’s signature amenities: two Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus championship golf courses, an upgraded clubhouse, two miles of private beaches, and a 350-acre nature preserve. New recreational features are also planned to enrich the Bay Creek lifestyle year-round.
The EB-5 investment is structured as a secured senior loan, backed by a first-priority mortgage on project property, with each investor’s tranche carrying its own four-year term. Investors receive a construction-completion guaranty to ensure timely build-out of EB-5–funded portions, an I-526E approval refund guaranty that accelerates repayment if USCIS denies their petition, and a job-creation guaranty confirming that all EB-5 proceeds go toward qualified project costs.
Bay Creek’s phased development approach reduces risk by matching construction to market demand, a strategy that under prior ownership drove nearly 300 lot sales and steady home closings. The project is expected to generate approximately 1,371 EB-5–eligible jobs—well above the threshold required per investor—and ongoing revenues from lot and home sales support a clear repayment pathway.
Led by Bobby Masters, whose nearly 40-year career spans more than 15 master-planned communities and over 30,000 homes, Bay Creek combines strong sales momentum, proven operational performance, and robust financial protections for EB-5 investors.
EB5AN’s Grand Park (Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: Our Latest Rural Offering
Grand Park is a large, master-planned community in the Fraser Valley of Grand County, Colorado, just over an hour from Denver and right next to Winter Park Resort. When finished, it will offer more than 3,600 homes—from apartments and townhomes to single-family houses—over 700 lodging units and 100,000 square feet of shops and offices.
Built on roughly 1,665 entitled acres, the project will roll out in phases so that construction keeps pace with market demand, a proven approach the developer has used here for nearly 20 years.
The EB-5 investment is set up as a secured, four-year loan for each investor. It’s backed by a lien on 119.44 acres of land, a full equity pledge in the project company, and preferred units in its subsidiaries. Investors also receive a completion guarantee that ensures the EB-5–funded portions are finished on time, a refund guarantee if USCIS denies their I-526E petition, and a job guarantee of at least 10 qualifying positions per investor. To keep everything transparent and compliant, a third-party administrator tracks every draw and expense throughout the project.
Since construction started, Grand Park has already created over 150 EB-5–eligible jobs and is on track to reach more than 1,518 by the end of 2026—and nearly 9,442 jobs by the time the project is complete. The development team brings over 80 years of combined real estate experience and has closed more than 260 home sales totaling $190 million since 2007, with over 30% of those sales coming in the last two years.
Tamarack Resort (Loan) Rural EB-5 Project: A Top-Selling Upscale Resort
Tamarack Resort is a master‑planned, four‑season community north of Boise, Idaho, near Lake Cascade. It offers 1,100 skiable acres with 50 runs, an 18‑hole championship golf course, and a full‑service, 200‑slip marina—making it the only resort in America to combine skiing, golfing, and lake activities in one destination.
Developed by MMG Equity Partners, the project has sold 116 of its 128 condominium units at an average price above $1 million, showing clear market demand.
EB‑5 investors in Tamarack Resort fund a secured, four‑year loan that’s backed by a pledge of 100 percent equity in the project company and senior mortgages on the resort’s land. Each investor’s funds sit in an individual tranche with its own four‑year term, so they know exactly when to expect repayment. The project also offers an I‑526E refund guaranty to return funds quickly if USCIS denies an investor’s petition and a job creation guaranty promising that all EB‑5 money goes toward qualified project costs.
Since construction started, Tamarack Resort has already created more than 2,441 EB‑5–eligible jobs—well above the 2,000 jobs needed for the project’s 200 investors. Because the resort is already generating revenue from condo sales and ongoing operations, loan repayment isn’t tied to a single big sale or refinancing event.
Backed by a developer with deep experience in resort markets, Tamarack offers EB‑5 investors a transparent, lower‑risk way to support a well‑established destination in a stunning mountain and lakefront setting.
Rocky River (Loan): Kolter’s Tried and True Active-Adult Community Model
Rocky River is a master-planned, age-restricted community of 1,120 single-family homes in Locust, North Carolina, about 45 minutes from Charlotte. Developed by Kolter Homes under the Cresswind brand, this 55+ active-adult neighborhood offers thoughtfully designed residences alongside resort-style amenities, from a clubhouse and walking trails to fitness and social spaces built for an engaged lifestyle.
EB-5 investors fund Rocky River through a secured loan backed by a repayment guaranty from Kolter’s well-capitalized parent company. Each investor’s $800,000 sits in its own five-year tranche, giving clear start and end dates for repayment. Because Rocky River sits in a rural TEA, investors qualify at the lower threshold, enjoy priority I-526E processing and access to the 20% rural visa set-aside.
Built on a proven Cresswind model—a brand that encompasses 13 prior communities and over 5,500 homes delivered—Rocky River’s development is expected to generate roughly 7,020 EB-5–eligible jobs, far exceeding the 1,000-job requirement for the maximum number of investors.
Backed by Kolter’s 25-year track record of completing more than 100 residential projects and never missing a loan repayment, Rocky River pairs strong sales momentum with independent regional center oversight, an I-526E approval refund guaranty, and a job-creation guaranty to reduce risk and support a clear path to repayment and residency.
Twin Lakes (Loan): Exceptional Financial Success in One of the Best-Selling Rural Projects on the Market
Twin Lakes Georgia is a single‑family home community in Hoschton, Georgia, adjacent to lakes and open green space. To date, over 700 of the planned 1,300 homes have sold, and the project earned the 2023 55+ Housing Community of the Year award at the OBIE Awards.
Developed by The Kolter Group—one of the top 20 U.S. private homebuilders, with more than $29 billion in completed projects—Twin Lakes offers resort‑style living in a tight‑knit community setting.
This project’s EB‑5 capital funds a secured, five‑year senior loan held at Third Coast Bank, backed by a repayment guaranty from Kolter’s well‑capitalized parent company. Each investor’s $800,000 sits in its own tranche, so repayment timing is clear and independent. Investors also benefit from a job creation guaranty ensuring sufficient project spending to meet EB‑5 requirements and an I‑526E approval refund guaranty for prompt repayment if USCIS denies an investor’s petition.
USCIS has granted multiple Form I‑956F exemplar approvals for our various funds in Twin Lakes—confirming the project’s loan structure, job‑creation methodology, and rural designation—and the project has recorded over 200 I‑526E approvals across its EB‑5 offerings, including a petitioner who received approval just seven months after filing.
With a seasoned developer that has never missed a loan repayment, strong sales momentum and thousands of qualifying EB‑5 jobs already created, Twin Lakes stands out as a low‑risk path to residency and investment return.
EB5AN: The #1 Regional Center for Rural EB-5 Investors
As you can see from our rural EB-5 portfolio, we prioritize our investors’ safety. Their success is our success, and we carefully structure each project to maximize our investor’s’ chances of a fast approval and timely repayment.
Thanks to these high standards of both USCIS compliance and financial strength, we are proud to report the following statistics for our rural EB-5 projects:
EB5AN Dominates the Rural EB-5 Market
- Since April 2022, more than 1,000 investors have chosen EB5AN’s rural EB-5 projects.
- EB5AN accounted for roughly 20% of all rural I-526E approvals in 2023 (159 of 778) and 2024 (42 of 198).
I-526E Approval Performance
- Over 500 of our investors have already secured I-526E approvals for rural TEA investments.
- Approval times for EB5AN’s rural I-526E filings have steadily gotten faster:
- 8.5% processed in 4–8 months
- 70.9% in 8–12 months
- 20.6% in over 12 months
- Nearly all recent rural I-526E petitions in EB5AN projects are now adjudicated in under one year.
USCIS Compliance
- Our projects have generated over 10,000 qualifying EB-5 jobs to date.
- In compliance milestones, EB5AN has achieved 18 Form I-956F approvals since the RIA took effect, a number that leads the industry.
- Over the past 12 months, EB5AN’s average I-956F processing time was just 3.5 months—less than half the 8.5-month USCIS average.
- The quickest EB5AN I-956F approval took only 1.6 months, and the last 14 approvals all beat the standard processing time.
EB5AN’s Rural Projects Meet EB-5 Investors’ Needs
Each EB-5 investor has their own risk profile and set of priorities—some investors prize the added security of a senior loan, while others focus on I‑526E refund and job‐creation guaranties or the comfort of a first‐priority mortgage. By offering projects like Bay Creek’s senior loan structure alongside loan‑backed opportunities at Grand Park, Tamarack Resort, Rocky River, and Twin Lakes, EB5AN ensures there’s a rural project for every investor’s goals.
Whether you prioritize fastest processing, stronger repayment protections, or the reassurance of institutional‑quality underwriting, our rural projects will satisfy your goals. Our rigorous vetting, independent oversight, and developer partnerships mean you choose more than just a Green Card—you choose the precise balance of immigration speed and financial safety that matches your needs.
With over 500 rural I‑526E approvals and a flawless USCIS approval rate, EB5AN’s diverse rural portfolio stands as the most compelling way to secure your Green Card and protect your capital.
For more information on how to get started on a rural EB-5 investment, schedule a free consultation.
