EB-5 Investors from Hawaii Seeking EB-5 Investment

EB-5 investors from Hawaii considering making an EB-5 investment should investigate the benefits of working with the EB5 Affiliate Network (EB5AN).

Why Do EB-5 Investors Use Regional Centers?

EB-5 regional centers make the EB-5 investment process go smoother and have reduced job creation requirements. Only regional centers can use the indirect method of calculating jobs. This means that EB-5 investors who invest through a regional center must only show that their invested funds were spent in accordance with the business plan in lieu of documenting that full time employees were hired and then employed for two full years.

EB5AN has multiple USCIS-approved regional centers that give it broad geographic coverage. This network enables EB5AN to immediately sponsor EB-5 projects anywhere in the United States, including Hawaii.

The EB5AN State of Hawaii Regional Center

Potential EB-5 investors can invest in EB-5 projects located anywhere in the U.S. Those living in Hawaii, however, might find it easier to invest in projects located within the state.

The EB5 Affiliate Network State of Hawaii Regional Center covers all counties in Hawaii, including the largest cities in the state. Honolulu, located on the most-visited island in Hawaii, Oahu, offers tourists a number of reasons to visit, from the historic ‘Iolani Palace to the legendary Waikiki Beach. Hilo, known as the “Orchid Capital of the World”, offers tourists breathtaking views with attractions like the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and Akaka Falls State Park.

More Information about Hawaii

Hawaii: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census, Hawaii has a population of approximately 1.1 million people over the age of 16. Of this, approximately 729,000 million people are in the labor force, with 640,000 employed and 49,000 unemployed.

Hawaii: General Economic Outlook

Hawaii covers an area of 10,931 square miles, with a length of 1,522 miles. This implies a population density of 218.6 people per square mile, which makes Hawaii the 13th-most densely populated state in the United States.

Hawaii’s capital and largest city is Honolulu with the largest metro area being the Oahu metropolitan area. The state’s gross domestic product or GDP was $67 billion in 2010, thus implying a compound annual growth rate of 4.90% from 2000 to 2010 with a per capita GDP of $43,615. This makes Hawaii the 38th-largest economy in the United States according to GDP.

Since becoming a state in 1959, tourism has become the largest industry in Hawaii and contributed to 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in 1997. Hawaii’s gross output was $47 billion for 2003. Hawaiian exports include both food and clothing although these industries play a relatively small role in the Hawaiian economy due to the shipping distance to viable markets. The state’s food exports include livestock, sugarcane, coffee, macadamia nuts, pineapples, and honey.

Green Card Benefits for Hawaii EB-5 Investors

The benefits of an EB-5 investment in Hawaii include the following:

Residency and Citizenship Benefits

The EB-5 visa is one of the fastest methods to achieve permanent residency in the United States. The EB-5 investor, their unmarried children under 21 years, and his or her spouse can all qualify for this status.
Retired green card holders are also able to access their pensions they earned abroad. Retired green card holders may also qualify for social welfare programs like Medicare.
After a minimum of five years of established permanent residency in the United States, green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship.

Travel Benefits

Although some travel restrictions apply, green card holders can enter and leave the country without being denied reentry.
Green card holders can travel throughout the United States.
If a political change or significant event occurs in the investor’s home country, both the investor and his or her family can gain entry to the United States immediately.

Education Benefits

Green card holders can access public elementary, middle, and high schools as well as potentially receive lower-cost in-state tuition at public universities.
U.S. residency additionally improves the chance of U.S. university admission by up to 350%.
- Green card holders can qualify for financial aid, in-state tuition, and scholarships
- Permanent residents can work while studying, apply for postgraduate positions, and complete internships.

Employment Benefits

Green card holders can live and work in the United States, without restriction. They can live anywhere, including in states without a state income tax.
The EB-5 program also does not require a visa or employer sponsor and green card holders are not required to hold an H-1B work visa to work.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

The primary EB-5 investment requirements are:

A minimum EB-5 investment of $900,000 for projects in rural or high unemployment areas that are classified as targeted employment areas (TEAs). These projects require an investment of $1,800,000, while all of EB5AN’s EB-5 investment projects are located in TEAs and therefore qualify for the reduced investment threshold of $900,000.
EB-5 investors are also required to create or preserve a minimum of 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. These 10 jobs must last a minimum of two years.
Investors must maintain their investment’s at-risk status using investment funds that have been lawfully sourced.
Investors must make their investment in a troubled business or a new commercial enterprise.

How Can Investors Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects?

EB-5 investors based in Hawaii ought to evaluate financial and immigration risks when selecting a project for EB-5 investment.

A significant requirement to obtain an EB-5 visa is that for the duration of the investment, the investment capital is at risk. This requirement was made to ensure that investors cannot simply “buy” a U.S. green card but are instead actually investing their capital.

This “at risk” designation does not imply that EB-5 investors must invest in “risky” projects. In fact, EB-5 investors are encouraged to conduct thorough due diligence in order to minimize their exposure to immigration and financial risk.

EB5AN, working with Klasko Immigration Law Partners, has created an EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Tool for EB-5 investors to use. This easy-to-use, highly functional tool helps investors conduct initial diligence of EB-5 projects.

Download our EB-5 Project Risk Assessment Questionnaire