Vermont EB5 Regional Center

The EB-5 program is a federal investment visa program run by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The goal of the EB5 program is to incent investment and create American jobs by setting aside a pool of EB5 visa green cards for qualified foreign investors that invest capital into approved EB-5 projects. U.S. companies are able to use this investment for projects that meet the program's eligibility criteria, such as business expansions, development, or adding capacity.

Vermont EB5 Regional Center’s Unique Advantage

The Vermont EB5 Regional Center is the only USCIS Designated Regional Center in the United States owned, controlled and supervised directly by a state government. As the only state run, statewide EB-5 regional center, Vermont offers businesses unique advantages. The Vermont EB5 Regional Center provides the oversight and infrastructure required by USCIS allowing businesses located in Vermont to access the EB-5 program without added cost or administrative burden. The Vermont EB5 Regional Center is operated by Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). Businesses who are approved for an EB5 project under the Vermont EB5 Regional Center benefit from the added credibility that a state run EB5 regional center provides. Investors are ensured that Vermont EB5 Regional Center projects are managed by an independent and qualified authority.

In addition, nearly the entire state qualifies under the EB-5 regional center program, which grants investors the same visa green card benefit as the standard EB-5 program, but requires only half the minimum investment and has lesser job creation requirements.

Why EB-5 Investors Choose Vermont?

• State Oversight—The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) supervises, oversees and administers the Vermont EB-5 projects for compliance with USCIS EB-5 regulations.
• Reviews—State officials visit the EB-5 projects on a quarterly basis to monitor not only the progress of development, but also to provide any kind of help and support that an EB-5 project may need to further implement the visa program.  
• Pre-approval of projects—ACCD officials must review and approve each and every EB-5 Project to utilize the Vermont State Regional Center designation. Upon VT State approval of each EB-5 project, the state requires the business to enter into a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the State which imposes strict covenants and obligations upon the business.
• Credibility—The Vermont EB5 Regional Center has a long record of success and takes a long view for multiple successful projects, rather than seeking a single lucrative project.

Vermont EB-5 Visa Program Project Criteria

• Minimum investment per investor is $500,000 (opposed to $1 million for standard EB-5 projects)
• The EB5 Visa project must create 10 direct and indirect jobs per investor (opposed to 10 direct jobs for standard EB-5 projects)

Together, these advantages differentiate the Vermont EB5 Regional Center’s projects from other EB5 Visa projects across the U.S., making approved Vermont EB5 Visa projects attractive options for foreign investors seeking visas for themselves and their immediate family members. Many EB5 visa investors seek the program so their children may attend college in the United States. For foreign investors looking for freedom and flexibility to live, work or retire in the United States, in a way accommodating to their lifestyles, the EB-5 Visa investor category can provide an excellent opportunity to accomplish this goal by obtaining visa green cards.

An EB5 visa green card provides permanent residency for the applicant, his or her spouse and any offspring under the age of 21.

Emigrating to the United States via the EB-5 visa allows an investor and his or her family to live, work or retire anywhere within the United States.

Getting Started

The Vermont EB5 Regional Center currently has a variety of approved EB-5 Regional Center projects currently seeking EB5 Visa investors. Vermont’s EB5 Regional Center is well positioned to take advantage of this program to support growing businesses, and has established an outstanding track record. The first step is determining if your project is eligible for the EB-5 Visa program.

Your business may be eligible for the EB-5 Visa program if:

• It is a for-profit enterprise
• The project is an at-risk investment
• The project is located outside of the Burlington/South Burlington MSA*

Troubled Business Status

Additional incentives may be available if your business has had a net loss of at least 20% of net worth during the 12 or 24 month period prior to EB5 visa project approval.

Learn more about how your business can use the EB-5 Visa program for investment capital.