The EB-5 category was created by Congress in 1990 and is intended for immigrants seeking to enter the United States in order to invest in a new commercial enterprise that will benefit the US economy.

There are three ways to invest within the EB-5 category: creating a new commercial enterprise, investing in a troubled business, and investing in a Regional Center.

1. Invest in a new commercial enterprise

To qualify you must:

• Invest or be in the process of investing $500,000 to $1,000,000. If your investment is in a designated targeted employment area then the minimum investment requirement is only $500,000.
• Create full-time employment for at least 10 U.S. workers.
• Be involved in the day-to-day management of the new business.

2. Invest in a troubled business

To qualify you must:

• Invest in a business that has existed for at least two years.
• The business must have incurred a net loss for the 12 to 24 month period before you filed your petition.
• The loss for the 12 to 24 month period must be at least equal to 20 percent of the business's net worth before the loss.
• Maintain the number of jobs at no less than the pre-investment level for a period of at least two years.
• Be involved in the day-to-day management of the troubled business.
• The same investment requirements of the new commercial enterprise investment apply to a troubled business investment ($1,000,000 or $500,000 in a targeted employment area).

3. Invest in a Regional Center Pilot Program

To qualify you must:

• Invest $500,000 to a $1,000,000 in a Regional Center designated by USCIS. If the Regional Center is in a designated targeted employment area then the minimum investment requirement is only $500,000.

A majority of immigrant investors prefer to work through officially designated regional centers to obtain a U.S. permanent green card because it presents a much simpler, less expensive and expedited process. There is no requirement to manage daily business operations and employees. You have the freedom to live, work, and retire anywhere in the U.S., regardless of the location of your EB-5 investment.