EB-5 Investors

The EB-5 Investment Process - AIIA

Learn how the money is invested and ultimately repaid to the EB-5 investor

Investment Process

The EB-5 visa program is the United States’ only investment immigration program, which allows prospective immigrants to fund development projects and distressed businesses through a qualified EB-5 investment offering. After sustaining the investment for a set period of time, their capital can be returned alongside the most desired payout: permanent residency in the United States through a green card. EB-5 Investors can either make an individual investment in a qualifying business (including self-operated enterprises) or finance in a pooled EB-5 investment fund sponsored by a regional center.

While both types of investment opportunities have their respective merits, the overwhelming majority of EB-5 investors rely on the regional center investment model for administrative convenience and financial safety. Regional center investment offerings are managed by the regional center’s legal, financial, and compliance officers to ensure the conditions of the EB-5 investments, such as job creation, are met.

AIIA’s Investment process resources are primarily geared towards indirect investments in regional centers. Explore these resources to learn more about the Eb-5 investment process, including how project offerings function, conditions for investment, investment structure, how to conduct proper due diligence, and other pertinent considerations.

Where does AIIA fit into all of this?

AIIA is a “by investor, for investors” non-profit advocacy organization. As a group of investors from all over the world, we were brought together because we shared the same problems with our investment and immigration: fear for recovery of investment capital, endless immigration backlogs, manipulation and malpractice by issuers, the EB-5 program lapse, and the other crushing burden of stress EB-5 investors face day after day. AIIA strives to be an authoritative, investor-focused advocacy organization representing interests of all EB-5 investors regardless of their country of birth, adjudication status, or prior residency in the United States. We highly encourage all EB-5 investors to learn more about the EB-5 program through AIIA’s resources that have been put together by a variety of professionals and investors.

For EB-5 Investors

Resources For The EB-5 Immigration Process

Choosing an EB-5 Regional Center Project

Choose projects carefully; USCIS verifies compliance, not investment risk. Due diligence and understanding risks and disclosures are vital for EB-5 investors.

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From NCE to JCE: Understanding the Core Entities

NCE pools investor funds to invest in JCE, which develops projects creating jobs. NCE Manager oversees funds; repayment depends on project success and investment model.

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Job Creation Requirements for Investors

Investors must create 10 full-time jobs via direct, indirect, and induced employment, with Regional Center projects using economic models to meet EB-5 requirements.

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Funding Structure of an EB-5 project

EB-5 projects use a capital stack of developer equity, loans, private investors, and grants, with repayment priority determining risk and ownership rights.

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Positions in the Capital Stack

The capital stack ranks funding sources by repayment priority: senior debt, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and common equity; the lower you’re in the stack, the higher are the risks and returns.

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How Repayment of Investment Works

Repayment depends on exit strategies like refinancing or asset sale; debt investors receive principal plus interest, equity investors redeem ownership, but risks and delays often affect returns.

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