EB-5 Investors from Vermont Seeking EB-5 Investment

EB-5 investors from Vermont 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 reVermontd 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 Vermont.

The EB5AN State of Vermont Regional Center

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

The EB5AN Northeast 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 14 counties in the state of Vermont, including the largest cities in the state.

With 44,743 residents, Burlington is Vermont’s most-populated city. Interestingly, it is the least populous city in the 50 U.S. states to be the most populous in its state. Home to the University of Vermont and Champlain College, Burlington is a college town. The city also boasts the state’s largest hospital, largest airport, and became the first U.S. city to run entirely on renewable energy.

Directly adjacent to Burlington, South Burlington is the second-largest city in Vermont with a population of 20,292. It is home to the headquarters of Ben & Jerry’s, a multi-national ice cream brand, and Vermont’s largest shopping mall.

With a population of 15,807, Rutland is the third-largest city in Vermont. The city’s picturesque downtown area is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Known for its beautiful scenery and vibrant art scene, Rutland is the western starting point for the 50-mile, east-west scenic route dubbed the Crossroad of Vermont Byway.

Green Card Benefits for Vermont EB-5 Investors

The direct benefits of making an EB-5 investment in Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Vermont: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census, Vermont has a population of 645,570. Of this, approximately 347,783 people are in the labor force, with 333,135 employed and 14,648 unemployed.

Vermont: General Economic Outlook

Vermont covers an area of 9,616 square miles, with an approximate width of 80 miles and a length of 160 miles. This implies a population density of 70 people per square mile.

The capital of Vermont is Montpelier, while the largest city and largest metropolitan area is Burlington. Vermont’s 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) was $30.55 billion. This implies a per capita GDP of $58,028.

Vermont’s economy is driven by tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture, with tech and food manufacturing sectors becoming more prevalent. Although agriculture has been surpassed as an economic force by the former two industries, it remains important to the state. Dairy production is a traditional mainstay of Vermont’s agriculture. While less than half of its farms are dairy farms, over three-fourths of the state’s farm income comes from dairy products. Vermont is also the top producer of maple syrup in the nation, accounting for about 40% of the total United States maple syrup production. As aforementioned, tourism plays a critical role in Vermont’s economy. From skiing in the winter to hiking in the summer, the state attracts visitors year round. Vacation resorts, lodging, and related services employ thousands of Vermonters to serve these tourists, further solidifying the sector’s importance.