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

EB-5 investors who reside in Atlanta, Georgia interested in making an EB-5 investment should consider investing in an EB5AN EB-5 visa project. Upon project success, investors receive U.S. permanent residency and a wide variety of other Green Card benefits.

From Benhill to North Buckhead, the city of Atlanta enjoys total geographic coverage from the EB5AN Southeast Regional Center.

Why Most EB-5 Investors Use Regional Centers

One of the main requirements of the EB-5 program is that the investment project generates enough employment. To receive U.S. permanent residency, each EB-5 investor must prove that their investment led to the creation or preservation of at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. Moreover, these job positions must be maintained for at least two years.

EB-5 visa applicants who opt for the direct 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 towards the program requirement, whereas direct EB-5 investments may only count 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 Atlanta, Georgia.

The EB5AN Southeast Regional Center

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

Our EB5AN Southeast Regional Center provides complete coverage of the entire state of Georgia, including Fulton County and Atlanta. Qualifying foreign nationals seeking U.S. permanent residency can choose an EB-5 investment project under our EB5AN Southeast Regional Center or another EB5AN-owned regional center to obtain a Green Card through the EB-5 program.

Green Card Benefits for Atlanta EB-5 Investors

Atlanta-based EB-5 investors who make a successful EB-5 investment 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 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, Social Security, and other welfare programs.
Green Card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after maintaining established permanent residency in the country for five years.

Employment Benefits

Green Card holders are free to live and work anywhere in the United States, without restriction.
- Live anywhere, from the pristine beaches of Georgia and Hawaii to the towering 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.
EB-5 visa applicants do not need to be sponsored by an American employee or entity.
Green Card holders do not need an H-1B visa in order to work in 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.

Travel Benefits

Green Card holders can leave and enter the United States without being denied reentry, although 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.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

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

Invest the required minimum investment amount. Standard projects require an investment of $1,050,000, while 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 that last for at least two years.
Investing in a qualifying new commercial enterprise or a troubled business.
Maintaining the at-risk status of the investment and using lawfully-sourced investment funds.

How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects

EB-5 investors based in Atlanta and the surrounding areas in Georgia should thoroughly evaluate both financial and immigration risk when selecting an EB-5 investment project.

One of the requirements of a successful EB-5 investment is that the investment capital must be at risk for the lifetime of the investment. This regulation serves to ensure investors actually invest their capital into the U.S. economy 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 opposite—EB-5 investors are strongly recommended 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 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

EB-5 Investment in Atlanta

Atlanta: Population and Income Demographics

As the capital of Georgia, Atlanta covers an area of 136.31 square miles and houses 498,715 residents according to the 2020 U.S. census. This ranks Atlanta as the most populous city in Georgia and renders a population density of roughly 3,685 people per square mile. Additionally, Atlanta has a long term average unemployment rate of 7.08% and a median household income of $69,164.

Because of Atlanta’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 Atlanta would help create new full-time jobs, reduce Atlanta’s unemployment rate, and inject investment capital into the local economy.

The Culture and Economy of Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is often noted for its lack of Southern culture, which can be attributed to a large population of migrants and immigrants who have settled in the metropolitan area. This has established Atlanta as the cultural and economic hub of an increasingly multicultural region. Furthermore, Atlanta is a well-known hub for film and television, theater, and music. The city is a national leader for motion picture and television production; is one of few U.S. cities with permanent, professional, and resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines; and has played a major role in the development of various music genres.

With a GDP of $385 billion, the Atlanta metropolitan area’s economy is the 11th-largest in the United States and the 22nd-largest in the world. Atlanta claims the nation’s 3rd-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies and is home to the global headquarters of corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Delta Air Lines. On top of that, Atlanta sees the EB-5 Regional Center Program as a fantastic chance to boost the U.S. economy and to facilitate the immigration process for foreign investors who want to enrich our country.