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

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

• 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.
• Minnesota’s income tax system is progressive, with rates ranging from 5.35% to 9.85%.
• The lowest tax rate applies to incomes up to approximately $23,165, while the highest rate of 9.85% applies to incomes over $160,725.
• Minnesota levies a state sales tax of 6.875%, with local sales taxes bringing the average combined rate to about 8.12% in 2024. However, many essential items, such as groceries, are exempt from sales tax.

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.
• For state employees, the Minnesota Advantage Health Plan includes a travel benefit to cover travel expenses within the U.S. when medically necessary services are not available within 100 miles of their permanent residence. This helps state employees access in-network providers for specialized treatments or procedures without incurring high travel costs.

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 Minnesota may find it easier to invest in projects located within Minnesota. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Minnesota.

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 87 counties within Minnesota, including Saint Paul, the state’s capital, and Minneapolis, the most populous city in the state known for having one of the most extensive public parks in the U.S.

EB-5 Investors Based in Minnesota

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

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

Cultured Cities

Minnesota has the following main cities:

• Minneapolis
• Saint Paul
• Duluth
• Rochester
• Bloomington
• Brooklyn Park

It is also home to the following attractions:

• Mall of America
• North Shore Scenic Drive
• Minnehaha Park
• Gooseberry Falls State Park
• Guthrie Theatre

Economic Opportunities

Minnesota has a robust economy with low unemployment rates and a diversified industrial base, including healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. The state’s unemployment rate remains lower than the national average, sitting at 3.6% in August 2025.

Major companies headquartered in Minnesota, like Target and Best Buy, offer plentiful job opportunities. Additionally, the state is ranked 12th in the U.S. for economic opportunities, making it an excellent place for career growth and entrepreneurship.

Outdoor Recreation

Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minnesota offers year-round outdoor activities, making it ideal for nature enthusiasts. Residents can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, and biking during the warmer months, as well as snowmobiling, skiing, and ice fishing during the winter.

The state has 64 state parks and the renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Events like the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the Twin Cities Marathon add to the state’s vibrant community and outdoor culture.

Top-Notch Education System

Minnesota is a leader in education, with initiatives aimed at improving access and quality. For instance, the “World’s Best Workforce” program focuses on ensuring that all children receive a solid education by preparing them for school, and closing the achievement gap. The state also offers the Minnesota State Grant Program, which provides financial aid to low- and middle-income students pursuing higher education.

There are also higher education opportunities, with the University of Minnesota offering prestigious research programs and a vast network of community colleges under the Minnesota State system. These colleges provide affordable and accessible education to residents, with 270,000 students enrolled.

Moreover, Minnesota offers specialized programs like PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options), allowing high school students to earn college credits at no cost.

Minnesota: Population and Income Demographics

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Minnesota has a population of approximately 4.61 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 3.14 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 3.04 million are employed, and 95,655 are unemployed.

According to new estimates, Minnesota is one of 11 states that experienced a population decline in 2022 but bounced back in 2023. After a temporary decrease of nearly 4,000 residents in 2022, Minnesota gained 23,615 people in 2023, bringing the total population to approximately 5.73 million.

Minnesota: General Economic Facts

• Minnesota extends across 86,916.5 miles (land and water), with an average population density of 71.7 people per square mile of land. It is the 14th largest state by area.
• Minnesota is bordered by Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• Minnesota’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $398.397 billion. The main drivers of the state’s economy include finance, agriculture, and manufacturing.

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

With its cultured cities, economic opportunities, and scenic views, the state of Minnesota 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.