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.
Best Western Premier Hotel St. Croix (Equity)
– 2.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Real estate backed direct EB-5 investment project
- Upscale waterfront hotel in prime location, directly adjacent to major airport
- 120-key full-service hotel with food and beverage offerings
- 43rd and newest location of the Best Western Premier brand
- Established, high-end hotel brand with limited competitors in St. Croix
- Will create 75 EB-5 jobs; 15 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- Only 5 EB-5 investor slots; high job cushion
- 2.0% preferred return and a clear exit strategy that complies with EB-5 program rules
Mermaid Inn Restaurant Times Square (Equity)
– 2.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Owned and operated by the Alicart Restaurant Group, one of the largest restaurant operators in the U.S. with 9 restaurants and $100M+ in revenue including Carmine’s and Virgil’s BBQ in Times Square
- 1,000+ Google and Yelp online reviews
- Will create a total of 94 jobs, 15.7 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- Diversified EB-5 investment location in the heart of NYC—Times Square
- 4th Mermaid Inn location in New York City
- Only 6 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
Villa Azur Restaurant & Lounge, Las Vegas (Equity)
– 3.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Established high-end brand with global presence
- Ranked as a top outdoor dining experience with hundreds of positive reviews
- Will create a total of 80 EB-5 jobs; 16 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- 3.0% preferred return and a clear exit strategy that complies with EB-5 program rules
- Highly trafficked, popular location on the Las Vegas Strip
- Rapidly expanding brand, with new locations opening in Las Vegas, Nevada and Dallas, Texas
- Only 5 EB-5 investor slots with a high job cushion
Sra. Martinez Restaurant (Equity)
– 3.0% Return – $500K Direct Investment – File I-526 Today
DIRECT EB-5 PROJECT: INVEST AND FILE YOUR I-526 TODAY
- Owned by Michelle Bernstein, a world-renowned and James Beard Award winning chef
- Proven business model; re-opening of a successful and iconic Latin restaurant concept
- Will create a total of 71 jobs; 17.8 jobs for each EB-5 investor
- Below market lease secured with 2-years of free rent
- Prime location adjacent to high-traffic pedestrian mall in downtown Coral Gables, Florida
- Only 4 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
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
