EB-5 Direct Investment vs Regional Center - Which one is better ?

While both provide access to a green card and then residency in the United States, direct investment is a better option. With direct investments, people applying to the visa program are able to do the following and more:

Bigger chances of variety

Most regional centers are only in specific industries and tend not to branch out from them, which sometimes may not interest a potential investor. Why invest in an industry that's not quite familiar or interesting? With direct investment, any sort of industry - so long as it is a legal business and meets the requirements--can be invested in.

Direct investment means better control over the business

When an EB-5 Visa applicant invests directly, that also means a greater control of the business being invested into. Rather than have a regional center making all of the executive decisions.

Greater control also means more involvement

On top of having greater control of bigger decisions in the business, direct investors can also have greater control in the daily operations of that business. Instead of only guessing how the business might be doing, direct involvement means seeing growth and daily duties. However, if these duties become too much to handle, then the duties can be relinquished and passed on to a US based managing company.

Higher short term and long-term returns

When investing into a regional center, only about 3% of the returns will be seen by the investor, whereas a direct investment will yield much higher returns both in the short and long term. Also, there is no limit to the returns when directly investing.

Direct investment lower cost

In order to cover other costs like marketing expenses,  regional centers will ask investors to pay much higher administration fees than the original investment,  which  can result in tens of thousands dollars sometimes.  Direct investments mean paying the lowest possible as set by the USCIS.

Real, tangible assets can be seen through direct investment

EB-5 Visa applicants will see actual assets when direct investing, whereas if they invest through a regional center, they will more than likely be given a shareholder position which might not mean actual ownership over the assets.

Less risk with direct investment

If a regional center, for example, does not create enough jobs, the investors will not get the green card. If the regional center does not raise enough capital, the project may not even get off the ground at all, while still cumulating costs for the initial investors. While an existing business with an established track record and current employees provide a much safer path to EB-5 immigrant status than a large regional center.

Direct investments means less risk of a business failing or other complications that may arise, simply because there is more control.

Globalization and diversification

A business can be diversified easier when directly invested, especially with investors who might already have a business in their home country. With a direct investment, the new business can potentially become a subsidiary or vice versa. This means even more return in investment, better networks to cheaper investment with a global company, and partnership opportunities that can't be seen with regional center investing.

Contact us and explore investment opportunities available for you while applying for US EB-5 Visa.