EB-5 Investors from Kentucky Seeking EB-5 Investment

EB-5 investors from Kentucky seeking an EB-5 investment should consider the benefits of investing in an EB5AN EB-5 visa project.

Why Do Most EB-5 Investors Use Regional Centers?

EB-5 regional centers streamline the EB-5 investment process for potential EB-5 applicants and make it easier to demonstrate required job creation. Specifically, only regional centers may use the indirect method of calculating jobs through an approved economic methodology. This means that EB-5 investors must show only that their invested funds were spent according to the business plan rather than documenting that full time (W-2) employees were hired and remained employed for at least two full years.

EB5AN maintains multiple USCIS-approved regional centers with broad geographic coverage, enabling it to immediately sponsor strong EB-5 projects across the United States, including Kentucky.

The EB5AN State of Kentucky Regional Center

Potential EB-5 investors may select EB-5 investments located anywhere in the United States. Those living in Kentucky, however, may simply want to invest in projects located within the state, and EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Kentucky.

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center is expected to receive USCIS approval in 2023, at which time it will be licensed to sponsor EB-5 investment projects throughout all 120 counties in the state of Kentucky, including the largest cities in the state.

Home to 633,045 inhabitants, Louisville doubles as Kentucky’s most-populated city and capital. It is best known as the home of Muhammid Ali, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the University of Louisville.

Located within the state’s Bluegrass region, Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky, with a population of 322,570. Due to its annual horse races, horse sales, and being home to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Lexington is often referred to as the “Horse Capital of the World”.

Bowling Green is Kentucky’s third-largest city with 72,294 inhabitants. It is best known as the sole producer of all Chevrolet Corvettes since 1981 and for the Lost River Cavern, a seven-mile cave system that offers boat tours.

Green Card Benefits for Kentucky EB-5 Investors

The direct benefits of making an EB-5 investment in Kentucky include the following:

Residency and Citizenship Benefits

EB-5 is one of the fastest methods to gain permanent residency in the United States for the EB-5 investor, his or her 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 a minimum of 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, without restriction.
- Live anywhere, from the beaches of California and Hawaii to the mountains of Colorado, from a quiet, rural town to the hustle and bustle of New York City.
- Live in states such as Kentucky and Texas with no state income tax.
The EB-5 program does not require a visa sponsor or employer sponsor
Green Card holders do not need an H-1B work visa in order to work.

Travel Benefits

Green Card holders can leave and enter the country without being denied reentry, although some travel restrictions apply.
Green Card holders are free to travel to any part of the United States.
In the event of a political change or significant event in the investor’s home country, the investor and his or her 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.

Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements

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

Investing a minimum of $800,000 for EB-5 investments made in rural or high unemployment areas designated as targeted employment areas (TEAs). Projects outside of TEAs require an investment of $1,050,000, but all of EB5AN’s EB-5 investment projects are located in TEAs and qualify for the lower investment threshold of $800,000.
Creating or preserving at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers that last a minimum of two years.
Investing in a new commercial enterprise or a troubled business.
Maintaining the at-risk status of the investment and using investment funds that have been lawfully sourced.

How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects

EB-5 investors based in Kentucky should evaluate both financial and immigration risk when selecting an EB-5 investment project.

One of the requirements of a successful EB-5 visa investment is that the investment capital must be at risk for the duration of the investment. This is to ensure investors actually invest their capital 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 contrary—EB-5 investors are strongly recommended to conduct thorough due diligence to minimize their exposure to financial and immigration risk.

EB5AN, in collaboration with Klasko Immigration Law Partners, 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

More Information about Kentucky

Kentucky: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census, Kentucky has a population of 4,509,394. Of this, approximately 2,106,986 people are in the labor force, with 1,992,331 employed and 114,655 unemployed.

Kentucky: General Economic Outlook

Kentucky covers an area of 40,408 square miles, with an approximate width of 187 miles and a length of 397 miles. This implies a population density of 114 people per square mile.

Kentucky’s capital is Frankfort, and the state’s largest city and largest metro area is the Louisville region. Kentucky’s 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) was $197.82 billion. This implies a per capita GDP of $52,002.

Until the mid 20th-century, Kentucky was considered an agricultural state. Although other sectors have overtaken agriculture as the state’s primary economic drivers, more than half of Kentucky is still farmland. Principal crops include corn, soybeans, hay, and tobacco; the state is also a top producer of horses, mules, broiler chickens, cattle, and goats. Beyond agriculture, other top industries in Kentucky are auto-manufacturing, energy fuel production, and medical facilities. In fact, manufacturing is the largest contributor to Kentucky’s economy, accounting for nearly one-fifth of its gross product.