Do you and your family want to immigrate to Michigan or elsewhere in the United States? Or perhaps you’re an immigrant already living in Michigan, 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 Michigan. If you live in Michigan 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 Michigan is through a regional center. This article explains everything you need to know about this process.
What Is the EB-5 Program?
Primary EB-5 Investment Requirements
What Is a Regional Center?
- Indirect Job Creation Counts Toward Your Total Job Creation
- Faster Form I-526E Approval for Rural TEA Projects
- Passive Management
Why Invest in a Regional Center?
EB5AN’s Midwest Regional Center
EB-5 Investors Based in Michigan
How to Evaluate EB-5 Investment Projects
Reasons to Immigrate to Michigan
Michigan: Population and Income Demographics
EB-5 Investment: Your Gateway to Permanent Residency in the U.S., Including Michigan
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 for a minimum of two years. 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 Targeted Employment Area? |
A TEA is a part of the United States that is either a rural TEA or a high-unemployment TEA:
There are several benefits to investing in EB-5 projects located in a TEA, including:
EB5AN offers several projects located in rural TEAs. |
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 Michigan 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 Michigan.
- 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.
- Michigan has a flat income tax rate of 4.25% for 2024, applied equally to all residents regardless of income level. This is slightly higher than the temporary rate reduction of 4.05% for 2023.
- The state sales tax in Michigan is 6%, and unlike some other states, there are no additional local sales taxes. Essential items such as groceries and prescription drugs are exempt, while other items like clothing and motor vehicles are subject to the sales tax.
| 💡 What Is an H-1B Visa? |
| An H-1B visa is a work visa that allows foreign workers to come to the U.S. for a limited period to work in a specialist field. An employer must sponsor an H-1B visa; it is not an immigration visa. |
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 Midwest Regional Center
Although EB-5 investors can make their EB-5 investment in projects located anywhere in the United States, those in Michigan may find it easier to invest in projects located within Michigan. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Michigan.
The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 83 counties within Michigan, including Lansing, the state’s capital and home to the historic State Capitol Building, and Detroit, the most populous city in the midwestern state.
EB-5 Investors Based in Michigan
EB5AN has EB-5 investment projects available to people already living in the United States, including Michigan. 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
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 the duration of the investment. 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 Michigan
There are many reasons to choose to live in Michigan and invest there.
Bustling Cities
Michigan has the following main cities:
- Detroit
- Lansing
- Grand Rapids
- Warren City
- Sterling Heights
- Ann Arbor
It is also home to the following attractions:
- Saugatuck Dune Rides
- Henry Ford American Museum of Innovation
- Motown Museum
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Greenfield Village
Affordable Cost of Living
Michigan is known for its relatively low cost of living compared to other states, especially for housing. The median home price in Michigan is approximately $290,200, which is below the national median of $462,206 in 2025.
This makes homeownership more accessible, particularly in cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids, where housing costs are well below the national average. Lower costs extend beyond housing, with cost of living also being more affordable with Michigan ranking 32nd out of all U.S. states.
Diverse Economy
Michigan has a diverse economy, with job opportunities in sectors like automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. The state is home to major automotive companies like Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, making it a global hub for the auto industry. In 2023, the state recorded its lowest unemployment rate in 20 years and has been investing heavily in renewable energy and tech industries.
Cultural and Urban Development
Michigan’s urban areas, particularly Detroit, have undergone significant revitalization in recent years. Detroit, once known for its economic downturn, is now experiencing a cultural and economic transformation. The city is home to a vibrant arts scene, world-class museums such as the Detroit Institute of Arts, and a growing food and entertainment sector. Grand Rapids is another city gaining attention for its craft beer industry and arts festivals.
These cities offer a mix of historic charm and modern innovation, making Michigan’s urban centers attractive for young professionals and families alike.
Michigan: Population and Income Demographics
According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Michigan has a population of approximately 8.18 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 5.05 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 4.82 million are employed, and 225,300 are unemployed.
Michigan is home to approximately 10.03 million residents and saw a population increase of almost 4000 new residents between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023.
Michigan: General Economic Facts
- Michigan extends across 96,688 miles (land and water), with an average population density of 178 people per square mile of land. It is the 22nd largest state by area.
- Michigan is bordered by Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- The capital of Michigan is Lansing, the birthplace of Oldsmobile.
- Michigan’s 2022 gross domestic product (GDP) was $566.033 billion. The main drivers of the state’s economy include automotive, agriculture, and manufacturing.
EB-5 Investment: Your Gateway to Permanent Residency in the U.S., Including Michigan
With its bustling cities and leading automative industry, the state of Michigan 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 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.
