EB-5 Investors from Maine Seeking EB-5 Investment

EB-5 investors from Maine seeking an EB-5 investment should consider the benefits of investing in an EB5AN EB-5 visa project.

Why Do Most EB-5 Investors Use Regional Centers?

EB-5 regional centers streamline the EB-5 investment process for potential EB-5 applicants and make it easier to demonstrate required job creation. Specifically, only regional centers may use the indirect method of calculating jobs through an approved economic methodology. This means that EB-5 investors must show only that their invested funds were spent according to the business plan rather than documenting that full time (W-2) employees were hired and remained employed for at least two full years.

EB5AN maintains multiple USCIS-approved regional centers with broad geographic coverage, enabling it to immediately sponsor strong EB-5 projects across the United States, including Maine.

The EB5AN State of Maine Regional Center

Potential EB-5 investors may select EB-5 investments located anywhere in the United States. Those living in Maine, however, may simply want to invest in projects located within the state, and EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Maine.

The EB5AN Northeast Regional Center is expected to receive USCIS approval in 2023, at which time it will be licensed to sponsor EB-5 investment projects throughout all 16 counties in the state of Maine, including the largest cities in the state.

Maine’s largest city, Portland, has a population of 68,408. Home to the second-largest tonnage seaport in New England, the marine industry is key to Portland’s economy. The city is also known for its 19th-century architecture and vibrant nightlife, making the service sector and tourism crucial as well.

Home to 37,121 inhabitants, Lewiston is the second-most populous city in Maine. Lewiston has a tremendous impact upon Maine’s diversity, religious variety, commerce, education, and economic power. It is also well-known for its overall low cost of living, substantial access to medical care, and a low violent-crime rate.

The city of Bangor has a population of 31,753, making it the third-largest settlement in Maine. Originally established as a major center for lumber and shipbuilding, Bangor’s economy has since progressed to rely on service and retail, healthcare, and education.

Green Card Benefits for Maine EB-5 Investors

The direct benefits of making an EB-5 investment in Maine include the following:

Residency and Citizenship Benefits

EB-5 is one of the fastest methods to gain permanent residency in the United States for the EB-5 investor, his or her 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 a minimum of 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, without restriction.
- Live anywhere, from the beaches of California and Hawaii to the mountains of Colorado, from a quiet, rural town to the hustle and bustle of New York City.
- Live in states such as Maine and Texas with no state income tax.
The EB-5 program does not require a visa sponsor or employer sponsor
Green Card holders do not need an H-1B work visa in order to work.

Travel Benefits

Green Card holders can leave and enter the country without being denied reentry, although some travel restrictions apply.
Green Card holders are free to travel to any part of the United States.
In the event of a political change or significant event in the investor’s home country, the investor and his or her family can immediately gain entry to 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 improves the likelihood of U.S. university admission by as much as 350%.
- Green Card holders qualify for in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships.
- Permanent residents can also work while studying, complete internships, and apply for postgraduate positions.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

The primary EB-5 investment requirements can be summarized as follows:

Investing a minimum of $800,000 for EB-5 investments made in rural or high unemployment areas designated as targeted employment areas (TEAs). Projects outside of TEAs require an investment of $1,050,000, but all of EB5AN’s EB-5 investment projects are located in TEAs and qualify for the lower investment threshold of $800,000.
Creating or preserving at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers that last a minimum of two years.
Investing in a new commercial enterprise or a troubled business.
Maintaining the at-risk status of the investment and using investment funds that have been lawfully sourced.

How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects

EB-5 investors based in Maine should evaluate both financial and immigration risk when selecting an EB-5 investment project.

One of the requirements of a successful EB-5 visa investment is that the investment capital must be at risk for the duration of the investment. This is to ensure investors actually invest their capital and are not simply “buying” a U.S. Green Card.

“At risk” does not mean that EB-5 investors are required to invest in “risky” projects. Quite the contrary—EB-5 investors are strongly recommended to conduct thorough due diligence to minimize their exposure to financial and immigration risk.

EB5AN, in collaboration with Klasko Immigration Law Partners, has developed an EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Tool for EB-5 investors. This highly functional, easy-to-use tool guides investors through the initial diligence of EB-5 projects from both financial and immigration risk perspectives.

Download our EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Questionnaire

More Information about Maine

Maine: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census, Maine has a population of 1,372,247. Of this, approximately 706,911 people are in the labor force, with 672,480 employed and 34,431 unemployed.

Maine: General Economic Outlook

Maine covers an area of 35,385 square miles, with an approximate width of 205 miles and a length of 320 miles. This implies a population density of 43.8 people per square mile, making Maine one of the least-densely populated states.

The capital of Maine is Augusta, and the state’s largest city and largest metro area is Portland. Maine’s 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) was $63.59 billion. This implies a per capita GDP of $55,425.

Boasting over 3,400 miles of coastline, it’s no surprise that commercial fishing is a key component of Maine’s economy. While lobstering and groundfishing have long dominated the fishing sector, the harvest of oysters and seaweed is on the rise. Other primary agricultural outputs include poultry, eggs, dairy products, cattle, apples, potatoes, maple syrup, and maple sugar. Maine is also a top U.S. producer of blueberries and accounts for roughly 99% of all low-bush (wild) blueberries grown in the nation. Tourism and recreation play a major and rapidly growing role in Maine’s economy as well. Noted for its rocky coastlines and pristine forests, the state has become a popular destination for sport hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, boating, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.