Learn more about the benefits EB-5 investment participants in Oregon can enjoy when they choose to partner with the EB5AN State of Oregon Regional Center on a program-approved EB-5 project.
Most EB-5 Investors Choose Regional Center Projects
There are two ways qualified investors can participate in an EB-5 investment: by investing directly in an EB-5 project or by partnering with one of the many EB-5 Regional Centers across the country on a qualified project. Data shows that most EB-5 investors choose regional center projects. This is primarily because of two reasons.
First, working with an EB-5 regional center helps streamline the investment process. A regional center brings years of experience and (when working with the right regional center) a track record of success to the investment table. Second, it is easier to meet the job creation requirement when participating in a regional center project. Due to regional centers’ ability to utilize the indirect method of calculating jobs, an EB-5 investor is only required to demonstrate that their invested capital was spent according to business plans instead of providing documentation that full-time W-2 employees were employed for at least two years.
For access to EB-5 projects across a broad geographic area, EB-5 investors should consider partnership with EB5AN. EB5AN maintains multiple regional centers approved by USCIS and have the capabilities to sponsor strong EB-5 projects around the country immediately, including in Oregon.
The EB5AN State of Oregon Regional Center
While prospective investors in the EB-5 program are able to choose program-approved projects located anywhere in the U.S., participants already living in Oregon who prefer investing in projects close to home have that option through the USCIS-approved EB5AN State of Oregon Regional Center.
In fact, our regional center provides access to investments across all 36 counties in the state, including its two largest cities: Portland and Salem.
Portland, known as “the City of Roses,” is Oregon’s largest metropolitan area and is famous for its microbreweries, unparalleled beauty, and long-standing eco-friendly approach to urban planning. The state capitol of Oregon, Salem is centered in the Willamette Valley and is one of the United States’ notable wine regions.
Green Card Benefits for Oregon EB-5 Investors
There are four general categories of direct green card benefits Oregonians can access upon successful EB-5 investment. They are related to residency and citizenship, employment, education, and travel in the U.S.
Benefits of U.S. Residency and Citizenship
- The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is one of the most direct paths to U.S. permanent residency for investors and their qualified family members.
- After five years of established U.S. permanent residency, green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship.
- Retirees who hold a U.S. green card can access pensions earned in the United States and overseas. Some also qualify for social welfare programs such as Medicare.
Employment Benefits in the United States
- Anyone holding a green card is free to work and live in any location around the country.
- EB-5 program participants are not required to have an employer or visa sponsor.
- Green card holders are not required to maintain an H-1B work visa to work.
Benefits Related to Education
- U.S. green card holders may access public elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools for free.
- Green card holders qualify for in-state tuition savings, scholarships, and other financial aid options at public universities and colleges.
- Permanent residency status also allows them to work while studying, intern, and apply for post-graduate employment.
- These benefits can also improve the chance of U.S. university admission by up to 350%.
Foreign and Domestic Travel Benefits
- Every green card holder is eligible to travel anywhere within the United States.
- Although there are some travel restrictions, green card holders may leave and enter the U.S. without denial of reentry.
- Should an EB-5 investor and their family members face political change or any other significant event in their home country, they are granted immediate entry into the United States.
The Five Basic Requirements for Every EB-5 Investment
No matter where a program-approved project is located, there are five basic requirements every EB-5 investment must meet in order to be considered successful. They are:
- Minimum Investment Amounts. Projects located outside of designated targeted employment areas (TEAs) require a minimum investment of $1.05 million. All EB5AN projects, however, qualify for a lower minimum investment ($800,000) because they are located within TEAs.
- Lawfully-Sourced Funding. EB-5 investors are required to provide evidence that all capital funding was sourced lawfully.
- Program-Approved Investments. Each qualified EB-5 investment participant must invest capital into either a new commercial enterprise or a troubled business.
- Job Creation Requirements. Every successful EB-5 investment can demonstrate that it has created or preserved a minimum of 10 full-time employment positions for U.S. workers for a minimum of 2 years.
- At-Risk Status. All EB-5 investment capital must maintain an at-risk status for the entire investment period.
Selecting the Right EB-5 Investment Project
Every EB-5 investment participant from Oregon is advised to evaluate the financial and immigration risks of each project they are considering. In collaboration with Klasko Immigration Law Partners, EB5AN has designed an EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Tool which is now available to EB-5 investors.
This robust digital tool provides easy-to-use guidance through the initial stages of conducting the proper due diligence in vetting EB-5 investment projects, which can help minimize exposure to both financial and immigration risk.
For example, one EB-5 visa requirement is that all investment capital must remain at-risk throughout the investment period. Note that “at-risk” does not mean investing in “risky” projects. It means that an investor’s capital maintains a status in which there is a possibility of both loss and gain. This rule is designed to protect the integrity of the program where investors in the EB-5 program are not simply “buying” a U.S. green card, but actually investing in the U.S. economy.
Conducting thorough due diligence when selecting the right EB-5 investment project can minimize the risks associated with investing in the U.S. economy through this program. Learn more by clicking the link below and downloading the questionnaire.
EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Questionnaire
Assess Whether Oregon Is the Place for Your EB-5 Investment
According to U.S. Census data, the state of Oregon has a population of approximately 3.1 million people who are 16 years old or above. Generally speaking, around 2 million of those 16 years or older are currently a part of the state’s labor force. 1.7 million of them are employed and 220,000 million are unemployed.
Oregon covers an area of 98,381 square miles and is approximately 400 miles wide and 360 miles long. These estimations imply a population density of 40.9 people per square mile, making Oregon the 39th-most densely populated state in the United States.
Learn more about the demographics of Oregon’s population and income and the state’s general economic outlook below.
Oregon’s Population and Income Demographics
The General Economic Outlook in Oregon
An overview of the state’s GDP, unemployment, and consumption statistics can provide broad-stroke picture of the general economic outlook in Oregon.
- Oregon’s state capital is Salem and its largest city is Portland. The Portland metro area is also considered the largest metropolitan area in the state.
- Gross domestic product (GDP) for Oregon in 2010 reached $174 billion, implying a per capital GDP of $43,519 and a 4.42% compound annual growth rate between 2000 and 2010.
- By GDP, Oregon ranks as the 25th -largest economy in the United States.
In 2015, the average unemployment rate in Oregon hovered around 5.7% and monthly unemployment rates over the last quarter of 2015 showed steady decline: October at 5.4%, November at 5.3%, and December at 5.2%.
One primary driver for economic growth in Oregon is consumer spending on goods and services, or personal consumption expenditure. The state’s personal consumption expenditure grew from $130 billion to $150 billion between 2012 and 2014. In just a year (between 2013 and 2014) personal consumption expenditure increased by a total of 7.1%.
How EB-5 Investors Are Tapping into Oregon-based Projects
Oregon EB-5 investors are tapping into the state’s program-approved projects through EB5AN. By contacting the EB5AN directly, they can inquire about the projects sponsored by an EB5AN EB-5 regional center that are currently open to resident investors.
EB-5 investors from the following Oregon cities (and others) can reach out to learn more about the EB-5 investment process.
Every foreign national located in Oregon who is considering EB-5 investment participation is welcome to talk with the team at EB5AN for advice. Simply click here to schedule a call and find out more about the EB-5 investment opportunities available near you.
