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

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

• 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.
• South Carolina adopts a graduated income tax system with rates ranging from 0% to 6%, depending on your income, making it suitable for residents and investors.
• The state imposes a 5% corporate income tax, one of the lowest corporate income tax rates in the Southeast. Companies can also utilize the numerous tax credits available to eliminate tax liability for up to 15 years.
• South Carolina does not tax social security benefits, estates, or inheritance and has appealing property tax exemptions to ease the burden on residents and investors.

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.
• The South Carolina Tuition Grant Program relieves the cost of higher education by providing need-based tuition grants to eligible residents to attend private universities and colleges in the state.

EB5AN’s D.C. and Carolinas Regional Center

Although EB-5 investors can make their EB-5 investment in projects located anywhere in the United States, those in South Carolina may find it easier to invest in projects located within South Carolina. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in South Carolina.

The EB5AN’s D.C. and Carolinas Regional Center contains 46 counties within South Carolina, including Charleston, a notable economic hub in the U.S., and Columbia, the state’s capital.

EB-5 Investors Based in South Carolina

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

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

Bustling Cities

South Carolina has the following main cities:

• Charleston
• Columbia
• Greenville
• Rock Hill
• Myrtle Beach

It is also home to the following attractions:

• Charleston City Market
• Brookgreen Gardens
• Fort Sumter National Monument
• Boone Hall Plantation
• Broadway at the Beach

Thriving Business Environment

The South Carolina government has established multiple initiatives to stimulate foreign investment and further strengthen the economy. For example, the Enterprise Zone Act provides tax relief and support for job creation and capital investment.

South Carolina is also home to manufacturing plants for notable companies like BMW, Boeing, Sonoco, Michelin, and ScanSource. The diversity in industrial presence makes it a perfect destination for job seekers across various sectors.

Affordable Cost of Living

Residents in South Carolina enjoy a high quality of life and pay less than residents in other states in the U.S. South Carolina ranks 44th among 50 U.S. states for cost of living, making it one of the most affordable states to live in.

The lower cost of housing, transportation, and healthcare makes South Carolina attractive for job seekers and investors. For example, the median home price in South Carolina is $ 288,816, which is much more affordable than the national median price of $ 381,287.

Rich Historical and Cultural Attractions

South Carolina has a rich historical and cultural background, with cities like Charleston notable for their historic sites and landmarks. From Drayton Hall to Middleton Place, there’s a story to every architectural edifice.

Residents can also immerse themselves in nature without having to travel miles. From the beaches of Myrtle Beach to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina offers diverse natural attractions, making it an appealing place to live for those who appreciate outdoor activities like hiking, boating, and golfing.

South Carolina: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina has a population of approximately 4.37 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 2.67 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 2.52 million are employed, and 112,785 are unemployed.

As of 2025, South Carolina’s population was approximately 5.5 million, with steady growth driven by domestic migration, affordable living, economic opportunities, and a pleasant climate. Many of the residents are either White (non-Hispanic), Black, or African American (non-Hispanic).

South Carolina: General Economic Facts

• South Carolina extends across 32,015.1 miles (land and water), with an average population density of 170 people per square mile of land. It is the 40th largest state by area.
• South Carolina is bordered by North Carolina and Georgia.
• The capital of South Carolina is Columbia.
• In 2024, South Carolina’s gross domestic product was $278,032 billion. The main drivers of the state’s economy are manufacturing, trade, real estate, aerospace, finance, and insurance.

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

With its bustling cities, low cost of living, thriving business environment, and rich historical attractions, the state of South Carolina 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.