Do you and your family want to immigrate to Colorado or elsewhere in the United States? Or perhaps you’re an immigrant already living in Colorado, 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 Colorado. If you live in Colorado 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 Colorado is through a regional center. This article explains everything you need to know about this process.
What Is the EB-5 Program?
Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements
What Is a Regional Center?
- Indirect Job Creation Counts Toward Your Total Job Creation
- Faster Form I-526E Approval for Rural TEA Projects
- Passive Management
Why Invest in a Regional Center?
EB5AN Rocky Mountain Regional Center
EB-5 Investors Based in Colorado
How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects in Colorado
Reasons to Immigrate to Colorado
Colorado: Population and Income Demographics
EB-5 Investment: Your Gateway to Permanent Residency in the U.S., Including Colorado
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 Targeted Employment Area? |
A TEA is a part of the United States that is either a rural TEA or a high-unemployment TEA:
There are several benefits to investing in EB-5 projects located in a TEA, including:
EB5AN offers several projects located in rural TEAs. |
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 Colorado 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 Colorado.
- 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.
- Colorado’s income tax rate of 4.40% is lower than that of many states with progressive tax systems.
| 💡 What Is an H-1B Visa? |
| An H-1B visa is a work visa that allows foreign workers to come to the U.S. for a limited period to work in a specialist field. An employer must sponsor an H-1B visa; it is not an immigration visa. |
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 Rocky Mountain Regional Center
Although EB-5 investors can make their EB-5 investment in projects located anywhere in the United States, those in Colorado may find it easier to invest in projects located within Colorado. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Colorado.
The EB5AN Rocky Mountain Regional Center contains 64 counties within Colorado, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from Denver to Colorado Springs.
EB-5 Investors Based in Colorado
EB5AN has EB-5 investment projects available to people already living in the United States, including Colorado. 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 in Colorado
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 at least two years. 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 Colorado
There are many reasons to choose to live in Colorado and invest there.
Cultured Cities
Colorado has the following main cities:
- Denver
- Colorado Springs
- Aurora
- Fort Collins
- Lakewood
- Thornton
It is also home to the following attractions:
- Garden of the Gods
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Denver Botanic Gardens
- Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain
Healthcare and Social Services
Colorado has some of the best healthcare systems in the country, with access to cutting-edge medical facilities. It ranks high in preventive care and is home to several highly rated hospitals, including the University of Colorado Hospital, which is consistently ranked among the top in the U.S.. Additionally, Colorado’s focus on healthy lifestyles, with access to outdoor activities and lower smoking rates, contributes to a healthier population overall.
Economic Opportunities
Colorado’s economy is thriving, driven by a mix of traditional and emerging industries, making it an appealing location for immigrants seeking economic opportunities. Colorado is particularly known for its advanced industries, with strong job markets in IT, finance, and healthcare. For instance, the state is a hub for startups and tech companies, offering abundant opportunities for skilled workers in aerospace, biochemistry, clean energy, advanced technology.
Quality of Life and Education
Beyond economic opportunities, Colorado offers a high quality of life, making it attractive to families and retirees alike. Colorado is home to several top-tier public and private universities, such as the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University. EB-5 investors and other immigrants can take advantage of in-state tuition rates and financial aid for their children if they hold permanent residency.
The state’s access to natural beauty, including the Rocky Mountains and a plethora of outdoor recreational activities like hiking, skiing, and biking, contributes to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Colorado: Population and Income Demographics
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado has a population of approximately 4.8 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 3.32 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 3.15 million are employed, and 124,336 are unemployed.
The total population of the state is around 5.77 million. And over the last 15 years, the state has experienced a 15.7% increase in new residents. Talk about growing in popularity!
Colorado: General Economic Facts
- Colorado extends across 104,067.4 miles (land and water), with a total population density of about 52.6 people per square mile of land. It is the 8th largest state by area.
- Colorado is bordered by Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kansas.
- The capital of Colorado is Denver, which is one of its largest cities and economic hubs.
- Colorado’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $445.3 billion. The main drivers of Colorado’s economy include technology, aerospace, agriculture, tourism, and clean energy.
EB-5 Investment: Your Gateway to Permanent Residency in the U.S., Including Colorado
With its beautiful scenery and top-tier health and social services, the state of Colorado 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 permanent residency or 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.
