The EB-5 Program was created by Congress in 1990. In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program.

Applicants have the choice of investing INDIVIDUALLY or they can choose to work through a REGIONAL CENTERS which are federally approved third-party intermediaries. Regional centers are usually private, for-profit businesses that are approved by the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Under this program, entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) if they:

• Make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States ($800,000 (in a Targeted Employment Area) or $1,050,000); and
• Plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.