Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) hold a significant role in the EB-5 process, offering investors several advantages, including a reduced minimum investment requirement of $800,000 compared to the standard $1,050,000. These advantages are rooted in the core principles of the EB-5 program, which is designed to stimulate economic growth and job creation. The program’s sponsors aimed to incentivize investment and development in areas that are in dire need of capital injection.
Types of TEA Projects: Understanding the nuances of a TEA and selecting the right project type can significantly impact your EB-5 journey, affecting both your investment amount and the speed at which you can achieve your goal of U.S. residency. A TEA encompasses various project types, each with its unique characteristics and benefits:
Infrastructure Projects: Infrastructure projects, while theoretically eligible for TEA designation, currently face a lack of clarity from the USCIS regarding what constitutes an infrastructure project. However, if designated as such, they can access a 2% set-aside of EB-5 visas.
High-Unemployment Areas: High-unemployment TEAs are defined as areas located in census tracts experiencing more than 1.5 times the national unemployment average. They receive a substantial 10% set-aside of EB-5 visas. This category also encompasses urban projects situated in less popular or gentrifying areas. Recent post-RIA regulations have introduced challenges in identifying a suitable high-unemployment TEA, as the ability to gerrymander census tracts to connect distant high-unemployment numbers to lower-unemployment tracts has been restricted. Now, high-unemployment TEAs can only use adjacent census tracts to the project location.
Rural Areas: A Rural TEA is located outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) or a town with a population of fewer than 20,000 residents. These areas benefit from a substantial 20% set-aside of EB-5 visas. Moreover, rural projects enjoy priority processing, making them the fastest path to residency in the EB-5 program.
Non-TEA Investments: For those investors who choose non-TEA projects, the standard minimum investment requirement of $1,050,000 applies. Non-TEA investments do not have set-aside visas. These projects are often situated in more affluent and upscale parts of town.
Exploring the Advantages of Rural TEA Investments in Texas
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), passed in March 2022, has ushered in a new era of priority processing for those opting for rural projects. Under the RIA, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has designated a dedicated team of adjudicators exclusively for processing rural EB-5 petitions. The primary objective, as outlined in the RIA, is to approve rural project investors within a streamlined timeframe of 120 days. While this target hasn’t been consistently met yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the current processing times for priority cases have seen a significant reduction compared to the past decade. In a remarkable milestone for the industry, some rural EB-5 petitions have been approved in as little as 4 months. This noteworthy development signifies a smoother and faster processing experience for rural project investors and provides valuable insights into the USCIS’s post-RIA operations.
Rural projects are very different from urban high-unemployment ones and there is a lack of information/resources about rural areas, so EB-5 investors need to know ways in which they can mitigate risks and identify areas that are safe for EB-5 investing.
When considering the advantages of a Rural Targeted Employment Area project in Texas, one shining example is “The Frederick” in Fredericksburg. This picturesque city, nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country near major cities like San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston, offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern allure. With over 1.2 million visitors flocking to Fredericksburg each year, it has established itself as a premier Texas destination.
One notable development is the city’s annexation of a 22-acre site off Main Street, earmarked for business ventures such as hotels and conference centers. As the demand for these venues continues to rise, Houston EB-5 is actively facilitating connections between investors and projects in this thriving city. Investors in Fredericksburg not only benefit from the $800,000 minimum investment requirement but also gain access to priority visa processing and a rural location unlike any other in the nation.To learn more about “The Frederick” project in Fredericksburg, Texas, and how you can become a part of this exciting opportunity, don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our team. Fredericksburg’s unique blend of history, growth, and investment potential makes it a prime choice for EB-5 investors seeking the best of Texas.
