EB-5 Investors from Athens, Georgia Seeking EB-5 Investment

Prospective EB-5 investors living in Athens, Georgia should consider investing in an EB5AN EB-5 visa project. A successful investment project will grant an investor and their immediate family members U.S. permanent residency and other Green Card benefits.

From Cedar Creek to Bel Air Heights, the city of Athens enjoys complete geographic coverage from our EB5AN Southeast Regional Center.

Why Most EB-5 Investors Use Regional Centers

All successful EB-5 investment projects must generate enough employment. To receive U.S. permanent residency, each EB-5 investor must demonstrate that their investment created or preserved at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. In addition, these job positions must be maintained for the duration of the investment.

Foreign nationals who choose the direct EB-5 investment model are responsible for demonstrating their investment’s job creation. On the other hand, EB-5 regional centers may use the indirect method of job calculation through an approved economic methodology. This means that EB-5 investments sponsored by regional centers may count direct and indirect jobs to meet the job creation requirement, whereas direct EB-5 investments may count only direct job positions. In other words, regional center EB-5 investors must show only that their invested capital was spent according to the business plan rather than documenting that enough W-2 employees were hired.

In short, EB-5 regional centers streamline the EB-5 investment process for investors and make it easier to demonstrate employment generation.

EB5AN owns and operates multiple USCIS-approved regional centers with broad geographic coverage, allowing it to immediately sponsor strong EB-5 projects in cities across the United States, including Athens, Georgia.

The EB5AN Southeast Regional Center

Prospective EB-5 investors may choose EB5 projects located anywhere in the United States. However, those living in Athens may instead wish to invest in projects located within the state, and EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center that covers Athens.

Fortunately for foreign nationals living in Georgia, our EB5AN Southeast Regional Center provides complete coverage of the entire state, including Clarke County and Athens. Foreign nationals who meet EB-5 eligibility criteria can choose an EB-5 investment project under our EB5AN Southeast Regional Center to obtain U.S. permanent residency through the EB-5 program.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

All successful EB-5 investors must satisfy the following requirements:

Invest the required minimum investment amount. Standard projects require an investment of $1,050,000, whereas projects located in areas designated as targeted employment areas (TEAs) require a reduced amount of $800,000.
Fortunately, all of EB5AN’s EB-5 investment projects are located in TEAs and qualify for the lower investment threshold of $800,000.
Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
These job positions must last for at least two years.
Investing in a qualifying new commercial enterprise or a troubled business.
Maintaining the investment’s at-risk status and using lawfully-sourced investment capital.

Green Card Benefits for Athens EB-5 Investors

Upon project success, Athens-based EB-5 investors will receive the following Green Card benefits:

Citizenship and Residency Benefits

The EB-5 visa offers one of the fastest pathways to U.S. permanent residency. An EB-5 investor, their spouse, and their unmarried children under 21 years of age are all eligible for an EB-5 Green Card.
Green Card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship after maintaining permanent residency in the country for five years. However, additional conditions do apply.
Retired Green Card holders can access their pensions earned abroad as well as in the United States. They may also qualify for social welfare programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.

Employment Benefits

Green Card holders are permitted to live and work anywhere in the United States, without restriction.
- Live anywhere, from the stunning coastlines of California and Hawaii to the beautiful mountains of Colorado; from a quiet, rural town to the hustle and bustle of a big city.
- Live in states such as Florida or Texas with no state income tax.
There is no visa or employer sponsorship requirement for EB-5 applicants.
Green Card holders do not need an H-1B visa to find employment in the United States.

Travel Benefits

Green Card holders can freely leave and reenter the United States. However, some travel restrictions apply.
Green Card holders may travel to any part of the United States.
In the event of a political change or significant event in the investor’s home nation, the investor and their 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.

How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects

EB-5 investors based in Athens and the surrounding areas in Georgia are advised to thoroughly evaluate financial and immigration risk when selecting an EB-5 investment project. Doing so helps match investors with their ideal project and increases the likelihood of success.

In every successful EB-5 investment project the investment capital must be at risk for the lifetime of the investment. This requirement serves to ensure investors actually invest their funds into the U.S. economy and are not simply “buying” their way to U.S. permanent residency.

Contrary to what its name may suggest, the “at risk” requirement does not mean that EB-5 investors must invest in “risky” projects. EB-5 investors are strongly advised to conduct thorough due diligence to minimize their exposure to financial and immigration risk.

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

Download our EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Questionnaire

EB-5 Investment in Athens

Athens: Population and Income Demographics

The city of Athens spans over 118 square miles, housing 127,315 inhabitants with a population density of approximately 1,094 people per square mile. These figures render it the sixth-most populated city in Georgia. Moreover, Athens has a long term average unemployment rate of 4.68% and a median household income of $43,466.

Because of Athens’s population, an EB-5 investment with EB5AN in the city could help catalyze significant change in the surrounding community. A new EB-5 investment in Athens would help create new full-time jobs, reduce Athens’s unemployment rate, and inject investment capital into the local economy.

The Culture and Economy of Athens, Georgia

Located 70 miles from downtown Atlanta, Athens is a satellite city of Georgia’s capital. Home to the state’s flagship public university — the University of Georgia — Athens is dominated by a college town culture. The presence of a major university and its student body has helped cultivate a vibrant art and music scene. In fact, Athens played an important role in the early evolution of alternative rock and new wave, with numerous bands and national acts rising to prominence from the city’s musical environment. The city is also known as the site of Georgia’s official state art museum, which features a growing collection of over 17,000 works.

As the site of the University of Georgia, it is no surprise that educational services have a dominant role in Athens’ economy. Other major sectors include healthcare (particularly pharmaceuticals), biotechnology, retail trade, and tourism. On top of that, Athens sees the EB-5 Regional Center Program as a fantastic way to boost the U.S. economy and to facilitate the immigration process for foreign investors who wish to enrich our country.