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

Do you and your family want to immigrate to Illinois or elsewhere in the United States? Or perhaps you’re an immigrant already living in Illinois, 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 Illinois. If you live in Illinois 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 Illinois 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. 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 Illinois 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 Illinois.

• 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.
• Illinois operates a personal income tax rate of 4.95%, which can be simpler compared to states with progressive income tax brackets. Additionally, Illinois offers competitive tax benefits such as the All Kids Health Insurance and no retirement tax.
• Illinois also offers sales tax exemptions on certain essential items, such as newspapers and machinery used for agriculture.

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 Illinois may find it easier to invest in projects located within Illinois. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Illinois.

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 102 counties within Illinois, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from the historic Springfield to the economic hub of Chicago.

EB-5 Investors Based in Illinois

EB5AN has EB-5 investment projects available to people already living in the United States, including Illinois. 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 Illinois

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

Bustling Cities

• Chicago
• Aurora
• Naperville
• Rockford
• Joliet

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• Millennium Park
• Route 66
• Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Wrigley Field

Illinois is a nice place to live because it offers a balanced mix of urban excitement and rural peacefulness, catering to various lifestyles.

Promising Healthcare System

Illinois offers a comprehensive range of healthcare programs, ensuring residents have access to quality medical services. Programs like All Kids, the Family Case Management Program, and extensive maternal and child health services make Illinois a supportive place for families.

The state is committed to affordable health care for children, women, and underserved populations, ensuring that essential medical services are accessible to everyone. This emphasis on health care makes Illinois a nurturing place to live, particularly for those in need of affordable coverage.

Thriving Agricultural Sector

With some of the most fertile soil in the nation, Illinois is a powerhouse in agriculture, producing vast amounts of corn, soybeans, and wheat. This agricultural abundance not only drives the state’s economy but also provides fresh, local produce to residents.

The richness of the land supports a strong farming community, local markets, and agribusiness opportunities. For those who appreciate rural landscapes and sustainable farming, Illinois’ fertile soil creates a thriving agricultural environment, contributing to a healthy and prosperous lifestyle.

Ethanol Fuel Production

Illinois is a major producer of ethanol fuel, thanks to its thriving agricultural sector, especially in corn production. Ethanol plants across the state play a crucial role in producing biofuels, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and promoting cleaner energy alternatives.

This extensive ethanol production bolsters the state’s economy and supports rural communities with jobs and infrastructure development. For those who value energy innovation and green initiatives, Illinois is a strong contributor to sustainable fuel production.

Illinois: Population and Income Demographics

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Illinois has a population of approximately 10.2 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 6.7 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 6.3 million are employed, and over 313 thousand are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes Illinois’ total population as approximately 12.8 million.

Illinois: General Economic Facts

• Illinois extends across 57898.3 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 231 people per square mile of land.
• The capital of Illinois is Springfield, known for its rich historical significance as the longtime home of Abraham Lincoln.
• Illinois’ 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $895.3 billion. The main driver of the state’s economy was the professional and business services industry, generating a value of $141.0 billion. It was followed by real estate, rental, and leasing ($117.0B) and manufacturing ($110.7B). The information industry grew the most, with a 2024 GDP that was 2.0 times the 2014 GDP.

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

With its robust healthcare system and agricultural wealth, the state of Illinois 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.