EB-5 Investors from Wisconsin Seeking EB-5 Investment

EB-5 investors from Wisconsin 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 remained 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 Wisconsin.

The EB5AN State of Wisconsin Regional Center

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

The EB5AN Midwest 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 72 counties in the state of Wisconsin, including the largest cities in the state.

With a population of 577,222, Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee was heavily influenced by German immigrants during the 19th century and continues to be a center for German-American culture. It is perhaps best known for its brewing industry, rich history, and Summerfest, an annual music festival that once held the title of “The World’s Largest Music Festival”.

Wisconsin’s capital and second-largest city is Madison, which is home to 269,840 people. Named for American Founding Father and President James Madison, the city is known for the domed Wisconsin State Capitol, extensive network of parks and bike trails, and museums. Additionally, as of 2022, it is the fastest-growing city in the state.

With a population of 107,395, Green Bay is the third-largest city in Wisconsin and the third-largest city on Lake Michigan. Green Bay is perhaps best known for its National Football League team, the Green Bay Packers.

Green Card Benefits for Wisconsin EB-5 Investors

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

Wisconsin: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census, Wisconsin has a population of 5,895,908. Of this, approximately 3,101,184 people are in the labor force, with 2,991,136 employed and 110,048 unemployed.

Wisconsin: General Economic Outlook

Wisconsin covers an area of 65,498.37 square miles, with an approximate width of 260 miles and a length of 311 miles. This implies a population density of 108.8 people per square mile.

Wisconsin’s capital city is Madison, while its largest city and largest metropolitan area is Milwaukee. Wisconsin’s 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) was $306.47 billion. This implies a per capita GDP of $62,065.

The economy of Wisconsin is driven by manufacturing, agriculture, health care, and tourism. The state is agriculturally significant as it produces about a quarter of America’s cheese, leading the nation in cheese production. Wisconsin is also among the top producing states for milk and butter. The manufacturing sector is very large and diversified, with special focus on commercial food processing, transportation, and capital equipment. According to the Department of Tourism, tourism is the third-largest industry in Wisconsin. Popular state attractions and events include the House on the Rock, Circus World Museum, the Dells of the Wisconsin River, Summerfest, and the EAA Oshkosh Airshow.