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

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

• 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.
• Virginia has a progressive income tax system , which is generally favorable for lower and middle-income individuals.
• Furthermore, Virginia’s AAA credit rating and competitive tax benefits, attract businesses to set up operations in Virginia, stimulating employment in the state.

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.

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 Virginia may find it easier to invest in projects located within Virginia. Thankfully, EB5AN already has a USCIS-approved regional center in Virginia.

The EB5AN D.C. and Carolinas Regional Center contains select counties within Virginia, including Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Frederick, King George, Madison, Orange, Page, Warren, Westmoreland, and Fauquier. And the state’s important cities, ranging from the populous Alexandria to Falls Church, and Fairfax that often appear in low-crime rankings.

EB-5 Investors Based in Virginia

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

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

Bustling Cities

• Norfolk
• Chesapeake
• Newport News
• Alexandria
• Virginia Beach

It is also home to popular destinations like:

• Mount Vernon
• Historic Jamestowne
• Shenandoah National Park
• Monticello
• Colonial Williamsburg

High Educational Attainment

Virginia boasts a well-educated population, with many residents holding advanced degrees. The state is home to prestigious universities like the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, which contribute to a highly skilled workforce.

This emphasis on education has resulted in the state’s ranking as 10th in educational attainment in the U.S., making it an appealing place for long-term residency.

Functional Public Transport System

Virginia offers a working public transport system, including buses, rail services, and metro options in urban areas like Northern Virginia. The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Amtrak provide efficient connections to Washington, D.C., enhancing commuter convenience.

These transport options reduce traffic congestion and promote sustainability, making it easier for residents to navigate the state and engage in both work and leisure activities.

Virginia: Population and Income Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Virginia has a population of over 7 million people over the age of 16. Approximately 4.6 million of them are in the labor force—of these, 4.3 million are employed, and over 164,600 are unemployed. The Bureau also quotes Virginia’s total population as approximately 8.6 million.

Virginia: General Economic Facts

• Virginia extends across 42,763.5 square miles (land and water), with a population density of 219 people per square mile of land.
• The capital of Virginia is Richmond, chosen for its maritime routes for trade and transportation.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Virginia’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) was $613.7 billion. The main driver of the state’s economy was the services sector, meanwhile, tobacco and chemical products are among the state’s main manufactures.

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

With its organized transport system and quality education, the state of Virginia 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.