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

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

• 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.
• A major advantage of living and working in Delaware is the absence of state sales tax, allowing residents to save significantly on purchases, especially on high-ticket items.
• Delaware has a personal income tax rate of 2.20% to 5.55% for income under $60,000, and 6.60% for income of $60,000 or over.

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 D.C. and Carolinas Regional Center

Although EB-5 investors can make their EB-5 investment in projects located anywhere in the United States, those in Delaware may find it easier to invest in projects located within Delaware. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Delaware.

The EB5AN D.C. and Carolinas Regional Center contains 3 counties within Delaware, which covers the entire state of Delaware.

EB-5 Investors Based in Delaware

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

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 Delaware

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

Cultured Cities

Delaware has the following main cities:

• Wilmington
• Dover
• Newark
• Middletown
• Bear
• Glasgow

It is also home to the following attractions:

• Rehoboth Beach
• Bethany BeachDover
• Nemours Estate
• Air Mobility Command Museum
• Cape Henlopen State Park

Proximity to Major Markets

Delaware’s central location on the East Coast provides easy access to major economic hubs like Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Investors with businesses or interests in these cities can benefit from Delaware’s advantageous tax policies while staying close to these larger markets.

Recreational and Outdoor Activities

Delaware boasts stunning coastal towns like Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach, which attract both locals and tourists. The state also offers numerous parks and wildlife areas, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, from hiking and fishing to kayaking.

Delaware is also rich in history and culture, with numerous museums, historic estates, and cultural festivals year-round. Cities like Wilmington offer a mix of historic charm and modern amenities.

Delaware: Population and Income Demographics

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Delaware has a population of approximately 846,414 people over the age of 16. Approximately 526,000 of them are in the labor force—of these, about 504,000 are employed, and around 18,000 are unemployed.

Delaware’s population is ethnically diverse, with significant communities of African American, Hispanic, and Asian residents. As of 2022, the population was composed of approximately 22.5% African American and 10.3% Hispanic residents, which reflects the state’s growing diversity.

Delaware: General Economic Facts

• Delaware extends across 2488.1 square miles (land and water), with a total population density of 508 people per square mile of land. It has a total population of approximately 1 million and is the 49th largest state by area.
• Delaware is bordered by Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with the Delaware River to the east, providing vital access to major trade routes and neighboring metropolitan areas.
• The capital of Delaware is Dover, which is one of its most populated cities.
• Delaware’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $79.7 billion. The main drivers of Delaware’s economy include finance and insurance industries, contributing the most to Delaware’s GDP in 2024, generating a value of $17.6 billion. They were followed by real estate, rental, and leasing ($15.1B) and professional and business services ($10.0B). The manufacturing industry grew the most, with a 2024 GDP that was 1.6 times the 2014 GDP.

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

With its proximity to major markets and peaceful cities, the state of Delaware 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.