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

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

• 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.
• Missouri offers property tax credit to eligible seniors and individuals who are 100 percent disabled.
• In addition to this, the state does not charge any estate or inheritance tax.
• Also, companies in Missouri may qualify for the business incentives such as the Business Use Incentives for Large-scale Development and Business Facility Headquarters Tax Credit Programs.

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

The EB5AN Midwest Regional Center contains 114 counties within Missouri, including the state’s largest cities, ranging from the historic Ste. Genevieve to the economic hub of Kansas City.

EB-5 Investors Based in Missouri

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

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

Bustling Cities

• Kansas City
• St. Louis
• Springfield
• Columbia
• Independence
• Lee’s Summit

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• Gateway Arch
• Silver Dollar City
• Missouri Botanical Garden
• Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
• National World War I Museum and Memorial

Thriving Manufacturing Sector

Missouri has a robust manufacturing sector that plays a key role in its economy, providing numerous job opportunities. It is the top producer of mined lead, essential for car batteries, which supports both local and national industries. Additionally, the state produces significant amounts of lime used in steel manufacturing, further solidifying its industrial base. This thriving sector not only drives economic growth but also fosters community stability.

Affordable Cost of Living

Missouri boasts a lower cost of living compared to many other states, making it accessible for families and individuals alike. Out of all U.S. states, Missouri ranks 41st for cost of living and 38th for median home prices.

This affordability attracts newcomers and helps create a sense of community. With more disposable income, residents can enjoy local amenities and recreational activities.

Missouri: Population and Income Demographics

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the time of writing, Missouri has a population of approximately 5 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 3.2 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 3 million are employed, and over 109 thousand are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes Missouri’s total population as approximately 6.2 million.

Missouri: General Economic Facts

• Missouri extends across 69,688.2 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 89.5 people per square mile of land.
• Jefferson City was chosen as the capital of Missouri for its historical significance and central location.
• Missouri’s 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $353,307 billion. The main drivers of the state’s economy were the professional and business services industry, it was followed by real estate, rental, and leasing and manufacturing.
• Other top contributors to the state’s economy include the healthcare and commercial banking industries.

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

With its natural beauty and affordable cost of living, the state of Missouri 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.