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

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

• 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.
• Arkansas is a state with right-to-work laws. In addition, the state does not tax social security income, making it a tax-friendly state for retirees who rely on Social Security income.

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

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 75 counties within Arkansas, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from the charming riverfront town of Batesville to the dynamic capital and cultural center of Little Rock.

EB-5 Investors Based in Arkansas

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

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 Arkansas

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

Bustling Cities

• Fayetteville
• Little Rock
• Fort Smith
• Springdale
• Jonesboro

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
• Hot Springs National Park
• The Ozark Mountains
• Walmart Museum
• Buffalo National River

Arkansas may not be as widely known as some other states, but the following are other compelling reasons why the state may be a great place to reside.

Affordable Cost of Living

Arkansas has one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S., ranking second among all states. It’s significantly cheaper to live in Arkansas compared to the national average, meaning your money goes further here than in most other states. Housing, utilities, transportation, and groceries are more affordable compared to the national average. This allows individuals and families to enjoy a good quality of life without excessive financial strain.

Natural Beauty and Outdoor Recreation

Arkansas’ official nickname is “The Natural State” because of its vast natural beauty, including mountains, rivers, lakes, and parks. Popular outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping. Areas like the Ozark Mountains, Buffalo National River, and Hot Springs National Park attract nature lovers and provide a peaceful environment for those seeking a balance between work and recreation.

Arkansas: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas has a population of approximately 2.5 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 1.46 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 1.40 million are employed, and about 55 thousand are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes Arkansas’s total population as approximately 3 million.

Arkansas General Economic Facts

• Arkansas extends across 53,165 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 58.2 people per square mile of land.
• The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock, the state’s political, economic, and cultural hub.
• Arkansas’ 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $148.2 billion.
• The manufacturing industry contributed the most to Arkansas’s GDP in 2024, generating a value of $21.9 billion. It was followed by professional and business services ($20.2B) and government ($16.9B).
• The professional and business services industry grew the most, with a 2024 GDP that was 1.7 times the 2014 GDP.

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

With its stunning geography and affordable cost of living, the state of Arkansas 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.