How Do Direct and Regional Center EB-5 Investments Differ?
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, a permanent federal program established in 1990, allows foreign investors to pursue U.S. residency by investing in a project that creates jobs for American workers. In 1992, Congress created the Regional Center Program to simplify the investment process and thus attract more investors to stimulate economic growth. Unlike the Direct EB-5 program, the Regional Center Program is a temporary program that is reauthorized periodically, usually annually. These two EB-5 investment options are referred to as direct and indirect EB-5 investments, with direct investments referring to investments in projects that are not sponsored by a regional center.
Whatever the type of EB-5 investment an EB-5 visa applicant chooses, the basic EB-5 requirements remain the same: they must invest the minimum required amount to create 10 full-time jobs for American workers. The minimum investment amounts remain the same for both types of investors. The most significant differences between the two models are the types of jobs that count toward the job creation total, the role the regional center plays in the EB-5 visa process, and the way each model is structured.
Click here to learn more about the differences between direct and regional center EB-5 investments.
German Doner Kebab Chain (Equity)
– 2.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- 80+ locations in 7 countries; extensive U.S. and Canada growth plan
- 1,000+ Google and Yelp online reviews and 50+ articles
- Will create a total of 98 jobs, 14 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- Diversified EB-5 franchise investment across 7 locations
- First unit of the EB-5 group already open; remaining 6 units opening in March 2022
- Only 7 EB-5 investor slots with a high job cushion
- 2.0% preferred return and a clear exit strategy that complies with EB-5 program rules
MGM Mandalay Bay Las Vegas Restaurant and Speakeasy
– 3.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Located in the MGM Mandalay Bay, walking distance to Allegiant Stadium
- Bacon Bitch branded restaurant and Shh branded speakeasy
- Multiple locations already open in south Florida
- 1,000+ Google and Yelp online reviews and 50+ articles
- Will create a total of 128 jobs, 25.6 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- Only 5 EB-5 investor slots with a high job cushion
- 3.0% preferred return and a clear exit strategy that complies with EB-5 program rules
El Cielo Restaurant (Equity)
– 2.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Michelin Star Award restaurant with outstanding reviews
- Proven business model managed by world-renowned chef
- Will create a total of 45 jobs; 15 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- 1,000+ Google and Tripadvisor online reviews
- Already operational with ability to expand, imminent job creation
- Diversified investment opportunity with other successful locations
- Only 3 EB-5 investor slots with a high job cushion
- 2.0% preferred return and a clear exit strategy that complies with EB-5 program rules
Saltaire St. Petersburg Phase II (Loan) – $500K Regional Center Investment
– Wait for Regional Center Program Reauthorization to File I-526
REGIONAL CENTER EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND WAIT TO FILE YOUR
I-526 UNTIL THE REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM IS REAUTHROIZED
- 35-story luxury condominium development in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida
- 90% of condominium units already sold out
- 30+ EB-5 investors have already joined the project
- 21.1 jobs created for each EB-5 investor
- Phase II of USCIS I-924 exemplar approved project
- Construction is underway
- Senior loan agreement with Wells Fargo Bank
- Appraisal valuation report from CBRE Group
- I-526 refund guaranty
- Construction completion guaranty
- I-526 refund guaranty
- Loan repayment guaranty
- USCIS and attorney fee refund guaranty
- Sister project ONE St. Petersburg, 3 blocks away, is 100% sold out
- 12th EB-5 project by EB5AN and the Kolter Group
Twin Lakes Georgia (Equity) – $500K Regional Center Investment
– Wait for Regional Center Program Reauthorization to File I-526
REGIONAL CENTER EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND WAIT TO FILE YOUR
I-526 UNTIL THE REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM IS REAUTHROIZED
- 1,300 single-family home community development
- Equity investment with 5.0% preferred return
- All required EB-5 jobs already created
- 721 jobs created for each EB-5 investor
- Construction is underway; 200+ homes already sold
- Senior loan agreement with Wells Fargo Bank
- Multiple EB-5 investor guaranties
- 13th EB-5 project by EB5AN and Kolter Group
