EB-5 Regional Centers for Canadians

Under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Canadians who invest at least USD $1.05 million into a job-creating business south of the border can qualify for a US Green Card allowing them to live and work anywhere in the United States. In accordance with 2024 EB-5 Program regulations, a qualifying business must be a new commercial enterprise, and the immigrant investor's capital investment must create at least ten full-time jobs for American workers.

Most Canadians who participate in the United States investor immigration program invest in an EB-5 Regional Center, which can make meeting the program's investment and job creation requirements significantly easier. Almost all EB-5 Regional Center projects are located in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs), which are rural regions or areas with above average unemployment. The minimum investment required is only USD $800,000 when the EB-5 project being funded is located in a TEA.

What is an EB-5 Regional Center?

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines an EB-5 Regional Center as a public or private economic unit that is "involved with the promotion of economic growth, including increased export sales, improved regional productivity, job creation, or increased domestic capital investment." USCIS approved Immigrant Investor Regional Centers operate an investment fund explicitly for the benefit of EB-5 investors - investing their funds in specific job-creating projects while managing the EB-5 approval process on their behalf.

The EB-5 Regional Center investment option differs from the direct investment option in that the investor is not required to engage in active management of a new commercial enterprise. Regional Center investments are managed by professionals who assure that program requirements are satisfied, while the enterprises themselves are managed by corporate officers or other personnel hired for that purpose. Like an EB-5 direct investor, a Regional Center investor must create at least ten full-time jobs for qualified US workers. Unlike a direct investor, however, the employment created by an investment in a Regional Center can be direct or indirect. A Regional Center investment is a good option for investors who want to become permanent residents of the United States without creating and managing their own business. Regional Center investors are not required to live in the area where the Regional Center is located. USCIS has approved more than 800 EB-5 Regional Centers across the United States.

In order to qualify for a US Investor Visa, an EB-5 candidate's investment capital must be fully at risk. This means that a bad investment could result in an EB-5 investor losing some or all of their capital investment. Consequently, it is important for prospective participants to do extensive research and due diligence before investing in an EB-5 Regional Center. A qualified US immigration attorney can help with this process.

EB-5 Investment Opportunities

Disclaimer: We are not a business or financial advisor and do not offer any advice regarding the choosing of an EB-5 project, the rate of return, security, timing of return, or any other financial or tax aspects of your investment.

There are many EB-5 projects that may be of interest to Canadian investors, ranging from hotel developments to scientific research centers. For more information about available projects, please phone us or request a call back via our website.

Interested in learning more about EB-5 Regional Centers? Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.