Houston EB-5 Regional Center
What Is an EB-5 Visa?
An employment-based, fifth preference visa (EB-5) enables investors and their families to apply for residence in the United States. To qualify for an EB-5, applicants must be able to invest a minimum of $800,000 to $1,050,000 into a rural or urban project, respectively. Your investments play a dynamic role in building the infrastructure of these areas, stimulating the local economy, and providing full-time jobs to local citizens.
“The EB-5 immigrant investor program provides lawful permanent resident (LPR) status to foreign investors (and their spouses and unmarried children under age 21) who invest a specified amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise (NCE) in the United States that creates at least 10 jobs.” – CRS
Congress created the EB-5 program in 1990 as a means for enhancing the United States economy, generating long-term employment positions, and enabling investors to become U.S. citizens. Simply put, it’s a job-creation program with immigration benefits. The program gives foreign investors and their families the right to live and work in the United States without sponsorship. It does not, however, singularly qualify them for citizenship. That’s where regional centers like Houston EB-5 come into the picture.
Immigrants Helping Immigrants
Houston EB-5 is a regional center qualified to facilitate immigration visa programs for investors. We connect immigrants with major investment projects, helping them qualify for priority visa processing to get their green cards. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently stated that EB-5 applicants can anticipate priority processing in under 120 days or standard processing within 240 days. While these timelines would be ideal, we’ve found that they are not as realistic in practice.
At Houston EB-5, it has been our experience that EB-5 visa processing typically takes under a year for priority and two years for standard. Our team is thoroughly experienced in the EB-5 visa application process; we’ll do whatever it takes to expedite the process for you and your family, while still providing you with realistic expectations and practical guidelines.
Whether you invest in an urban or rural project, Houston EB-5 will be working with you every step of the way. Our regional center was founded by an immigrant and is currently operated by a team of immigrants. We invest our own capital in each client project because we understand your story. Your success is our success. Let’s work together to make your American dream a reality!
EB-5 Rural Program
Until recently, most EB-5 investments were directed toward urban centers. Investment money was flowing into the most prosperous hubs of major cities, while outer areas received less attention. As of May 2022, projects in underdeveloped regions are being incentivized with a lower minimum investment and priority visa processing.
There are two types of investment projects that qualify:
- Rural Development Areas: Rural projects focus on infrastructure advancement and job creation outside a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). These projects are located near highly industrial cities, making them both socially and economically beneficial.
- Target Employment Areas (TEA): TEAs are characterized by an unemployment rate of at least 1.5 times the national average within one census tract. In other words, these areas are primary targets for investors because they are in need of greater employment opportunities.
For regular urban projects, the minimum investment amount is $1,050,000 and investors can only receive standard visa processing. If you invest in either a rural project or an urban TEA area, the minimum investment amount is $800,000 and you qualify for priority processing.
Urban TEA areas are a hot commodity; with only 1,000 EB-5 visas available annually, these projects fill up quickly. That’s why Houston EB-5 is focusing on rural development projects. With twice as many EB-5 visas set aside for priority processing, you can make the minimum investment of $800,000 and receive your green cards within a year.
At the moment, our main rural projects are based in Fredricksburg, a profitable development area located just outside Austin and San Antonio. Contact us to learn more about our rural development projects, or fill out an application form today to get started!
Immigration Visas
Why Fredericksburg, Texas?
Texas is booming with economic growth. It’s the number one job-creating state in the nation, not to mention its 15-year consecutive ranking as the best state for starting and running a business. It’s home to 54 Fortune 500 companies (and counting) and constantly attracts new citizens and investors. It’s no wonder that Texas continues to maintain the second largest state economy in the U.S., nor is it any surprise that central Texas is a hub for EB-5 investors.
To get a sense of the state’s profitable atmosphere, look no further than Houston EB-5’s current work in Fredericksburg. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country near San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston, this beautiful city is rich with historic and modern appeal. Fredericksburg attracts over 1.2 million visitors annually, making it the go-to Texas getaway.
This city was founded by immigrants in 1846 and—with continuous attention from media and news sources—is becoming one of Texas’s top areas of development for immigrant investors. From wineries and luxury golf courses to shopping centers, museums, and outdoor recreational areas, Fredericksburg is bursting with investment opportunities.
The city annexed a 22-acre site off of Main Street for business developments such as hotels and conference centers. As the demand for these venues continues to increase, Houston EB-5 is hard at work connecting investors with projects in this gorgeous, prosperous city. Fredericksburg’s investors will qualify for the $800,000 minimum, priority visa processing, and countless educational and medical benefits for family members, all while granted the right to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Contact a member of our team to learn more about our Fredericksburg project, and how you can get involved.
