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

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

• 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.
• Idaho, a right-to-work state offers employment benefits to residents such as up to 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance stipend for persons who are laid off through no fault of their own.
• Additionally, Idaho residents are not charged inheritance or estate taxes for death.

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

The EB5AN Rocky Mountain Regional Center contains 44 counties within Idaho, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from the historic Idaho City to the economic hub of Boise.

EB-5 Investors Based in Idaho

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

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 Idaho

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

Growing Cities

• Boise
• Idaho Falls
• Meridian
• Nampa
• Caldwell

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• Idaho Falls
• Craters of the Moon National Monument
• Idaho Potato Museum
• Shoshone Falls
• Coeur d’Alene Lake

Idaho may not be the most popular state in the U.S. but it is definitely a favorable place to reside in the U.S.

Vibrant Agriculture and Aquaculture Industries

Idaho boasts a strong agricultural industry, being the top U.S. producer of potatoes. Other major crops include hay, sugar beets, wheat, barley, and dairy farming. Its thriving aquaculture industry, especially rainbow trout farming, further boosts the state’s economy. This combination creates steady employment opportunities and access to fresh food which sustains local communities.

Rich in Natural Resources and Minerals

Known as the “Gem State,” Idaho is rich in valuable minerals including rare gems like star garnets, fire opals, and beryls. Mining has been a key part of Idaho’s economy, attracting industries and hobbyist miners alike. These natural resources offer economic growth and unique opportunities for residents.

Stunning Natural Beauty

Idaho’s diverse landscapes include mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests, offering endless outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and fishing. Iconic sites such as Shoshone Falls, Sawtooth Mountains, and Craters of the Moon showcase the state’s wild, unspoiled beauty. Idaho’s scenic wonders make it a paradise for nature lovers.

Affordable Cost of Living

The cost of living in Idaho is lower than most of the states in the U.S.. This allows residents to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without the financial strain seen in larger, more expensive states.

Idaho: Population and Income Demographics

According to the most recent data from U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Idaho has a population of approximately 1.6 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 1 million of them are in the labor force—of these, roughly 970,000 are employed, and around 30,000 are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes Idaho’s total population as approximately 1.96 million.

Idaho: General Economic Facts

• Idaho extends across 83,546.5 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 22 people per square mile of land.
• The capital of Idaho is Boise, situated along the Boise River and the Oregon Trail, which made it a key location for trade and transportation.
• Idaho’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $99.6 billion. The main driver of the state’s economy were real estate, rental, and leasing industries, generating a value of $15.4 billion. They were followed by professional and business services ($12.9B) and government ($11.1B). The information industry grew the most, with a 2024 GDP that was 2.3 times the 2014 GDP.

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

With its agricultural wealth and mineral resources, the state of Idaho 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.