To encourage immigration through the EB-5 category, US Congress created the Regional Center Investment Program.

• A regional center is an entity, organization or agency that has been approved as such by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
• A regional center focuses on a specific geographic area or projects within the United States;
• A regional center seeks to promote economic growth through increased export sales, improved regional productivity, creation of new jobs, and increased domestic capital investment.

Regional center investment programs are attractive to foreign investors for the benefits of economic gain and the prospect of qualifying for EB-5 visas.

Regional center benefits include:

• Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) that require a lesser capital investment of $500,000.
• Qualification by both direct and indirect employment creation of at least 10 jobs.
• No quota backlogs like those found in many other employment and sponsorship visa programs.
• Foreign investors utilizing a designated regional center are given priority by USCIS.
• Foreign investors use their own funds and do not need sponsorship from relatives or employers.
• Day to day management responsibilities are not required by investor.
• Ability to live and work anywhere in the United States, regardless of the regional center location.
• Foreign investor is not required to speak English, have related business experience, or achieve minimum education requirements.
• The right to travel outside of the United States and return to the United States without a visa.
• Education at colleges and universities at U.S. resident costs.
• Ability to apply for U.S. citizenship once you have been a permanent resident for more than five years.