EB-5 Regional Center: Gain Permanent Residency by Investment in the United States, Including North Dakota

Do you and your family want to immigrate to North Dakota or elsewhere in the United States? Or perhaps you’re an immigrant already living in North Dakota, and you want to gain permanent U.S. residency? One of the best ways to achieve this is through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which enables you to obtain a U.S. Green Card by investing in the country’s economy.

Although you can invest anywhere in the United States, there are certain benefits to investing in North Dakota. If you live in North Dakota or plan on moving there, you might also wish to invest in a project located close to home.

Just like in other parts of the United States, the easiest way to make an EB-5 investment in North Dakota is through a regional center. This article explains everything you need to know about this process.

What Is the EB-5 Program?

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is a program that allows foreign investors to gain permanent residency in the U.S. by investing in a new commercial enterprise (NCE). If, after two years, you are able to prove that your investment has generated and maintained 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers, you can apply for an unconditional Green Card.

Read our article on the steps you need to take to obtain an EB-5 visa to learn more about the application procedure.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

Investments made under the EB-5 program are required to meet certain criteria. These include:

• ✔️ Investing a minimum of $1,050,000 in a project or business venture, or a minimum of $800,000 in an infrastructure project, or in a project or business venture located in a targeted employment area (TEA). All of EB5AN’s projects are located in TEAs and therefore qualify for the lower investment amount.
• ✔️ Creating at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers and sustaining these jobs for a minimum of two years. Those who invest through a regional center can count indirect and induced jobs towards job creation. We discuss this in greater detail later in this article.
• ✔️ Investing in a new commercial enterprise.
• ✔️ Maintaining the at-risk status of the investment and using lawfully sourced investment funds.

What Is a Regional Center?

EB-5 regional centers streamline the EB-5 investment process for potential EB-5 applicants. Investing through a regional center has several benefits:

Indirect Job Creation Counts Toward Your Total Job Creation

Investments that aren’t made through a regional center can only count full-time jobs created by their project—direct jobs—toward the required total of 10. If you invest through a regional center, however, full-time jobs generated because of your project—indirect jobs—also count.

Faster Form I-526E Approval for Rural TEA Projects

Once you have invested, you can apply to the EB-5 program by completing Form I-526E. This form requires you to provide details of the project you are investing in. A rural TEA project qualifies for priority processing, meaning your application will likely be processed faster.

Passive Management

Project managers acting for or on behalf of the NCE or the job-creating entity that owns and develops the project handle most of the business and fund management on behalf of investors. This is great if you want to avoid the hassle of managing a business yourself.

Why Invest in a Regional Center?

Potential EB-5 investors may select EB-5 investments located anywhere in the United States. However, opting for an EB-5 investment in North Dakota offers several advantages:

Residency benefits are granted to all direct and indirect (via a regional center) EB-5 investors, irrespective of where in the United States the project is located; however, certain advantages apply to investing and living in North Dakota.

• The EB-5 program is one of the fastest ways to gain U.S. permanent residency for the EB-5 investor, their spouse, and their unmarried children under 21 years of age.
• Retired Green Card holders can access their pensions earned abroad and in the United States. They may also qualify for Medicare and other social welfare programs.
• Green Card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of established permanent residency in the United States.

Employment Benefits

• Green Card holders are free to live and work anywhere in the United States.
• The EB-5 program does not require a visa sponsor (like a family member) or an employer sponsor.
• Green Card holders do not need an H-1B work visa to work.
• According to a report by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 2025, North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the US, which signifies great economic prosperity.
• Also, since the 2021 tax year, the state stopped taxing social security benefits.

Travel Benefits

• Green Card holders can leave and enter the country without being denied reentry. However, some travel restrictions apply.
• A bona fide resident and Green Card holder is free to travel to any part of the United States.

Education Benefits

• Green Card holders have free access to public elementary, middle, and high schools and lower-cost in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
• U.S. residency significantly improves the likelihood of admission to U.S. universities.
• Green Card holders may qualify for financial aid and scholarships.
• Permanent residents can work while studying, complete internships, and apply for postgraduate positions.

EB5AN’s Midwest Regional Center

Although EB-5 investors can make their EB-5 investment in projects located anywhere in the United States, those in North Dakota may find it easier to invest in projects located within North Dakota. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in North Dakota.

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 53 counties within North Dakota, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from the historic Pembina to the economic hub of Fargo.

EB-5 Investors Based in North Dakota

EB5AN has EB-5 investment projects available to people already living in the United States, including North Dakota. The EB-5 program is the best way to obtain U.S. permanent residency by investment.

If you are a foreign national considering an EB-5 investment, EB5AN can help you. Schedule a call to learn more about currently available EB-5 investment opportunities and join other bona fide residents who have immigrated through the EB-5 program.

How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects

EB-5 investors should evaluate financial and immigration risks when selecting an EB-5 investment project.

EB-5 visa investment capital must be at risk for the duration of the investment. This regulation ensures that investors invest their capital and are not simply “buying” a U.S. Green Card.

This “at-risk” requirement does not mean that EB-5 investors are obligated to invest in “risky” projects, but rather that there must be a chance of loss. Instead, EB-5 investors are recommended to conduct due diligence to minimize their exposure to financial and immigration risk.

Reasons to Immigrate to North Dakota

There are many reasons to choose to live in North Dakota and invest there.

Bustling Cities

• Dickinson
• Grand Forks
• Minot
• Bismarck
• Fargo

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• The Dakota Zoo
• Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• The Enchanted Highway

Affordable Cost of Living

A 2024 Forbes report shows that North Dakota boasts a yearly cost of living of $35,707, making it an attractive option for families and individuals.

The cost of living in North Dakota is significantly lower than the national average, leading it to rank 38th among 50 U.S. states. Housing prices are also lower than the national average, allowing residents to find quality homes within their budget, therefore North Dakota ranks 36th in this department. Meanwhile, utilities are also less than the national average. This affordability enhances overall quality of life, making it easier for residents to save and invest in their futures.

Large Lignite Reserves

North Dakota is home to some of the largest lignite reserves in the United States, supporting a robust energy sector. Lignite is primarily used for electricity generation, providing reliable and affordable power for residents and businesses.

The lignite industry also creates jobs and stimulates economic growth in rural communities. Additionally, ongoing research and innovation in sustainable energy practices position North Dakota as a forward-thinking leader in the energy landscape.

North Dakota: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, North Dakota has a population of approximately 637,108 people over the age of 16. Approximately 435,870 of them are in the labor force—of these, 419,172 are employed, and 8,000 are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes North Dakota’s total population as approximately 780,000.

North Dakota: General Economic Facts

• North Dakota extends across 70,679.3 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 11 people per square mile of land.
• The capital of North Dakota is Bismarck, chosen for its strategic location along the Missouri River, which made it more accessible for transportation and trade.
• North Dakota’s 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $60.2 billion. The main driver of the state’s economy was oil drilling and gas extraction, contributing a whopping $27.8 billion to the state’s GDP total.
• Other top contributors to the state’s economy include commercial banking and farm supplies wholesaling.

EB-5 Investment: Your Gateway to Permanent Residency in the U.S., Including North Dakota

With its affordable living costs and overflowing mineral resources, the state of North Dakota is a great place to live. Investing in the U.S. economy under the EB-5 program is an easy way for foreign nationals to gain permanent U.S. residency status.

Best of all, if you gain citizenship under the EB-5 program, you will be able to live, work and travel anywhere in the United States. Book a free consultation today to find out how EB5AN can help you achieve this.