What is a TEA?
A Targeted Employment Area is an area designated by law for a lower investment amount. TEA projects need only USD 800,000, compared with USD 1,050,000 elsewhere.
The three categories
- Rural projects: outside metropolitan areas, with 20% of visas set aside and priority processing by USCIS.
- High-unemployment areas: areas with unemployment at 150% or more of the national average, with 10% set aside.
- Infrastructure projects: public infrastructure projects involving a government body, with 2% set aside.
How to choose
Set-aside visas matter most for places of birth with long backlogs, such as mainland China. Taiwan-born applicants generally face no backlog, so they have more choice and can focus on project quality.
Beyond the TEA category, reviewing the project matters more: the regional centre’s repayment record, where EB-5 capital sits in the capital structure, whether other funding is in place, and whether there is a healthy buffer of jobs.
Main EB-5 requirements
- A qualifying investment: USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) project, or USD 1,050,000 in other projects
- Proof of the lawful source of the investment funds and the full transfer path
- The project must create at least 10 full-time jobs per investor
- The investment must remain at risk throughout the conditional green card period
- Admissibility: no serious criminal record and a satisfactory medical examination
- Participation in the business: investing through a regional centre as a limited partner is sufficient
Key benefits of EB-5
- Green cards for the whole family in one application
- Live and work in any US state
- Children attend public schools and universities as residents
- No need to own or run a business
- Apply for citizenship once residence requirements are met
EB-5 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment | TEA projects USD 800,000; other projects USD 1,050,000 |
| Key benefit | Green cards for the whole family — live, work and study anywhere in the US |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included |
| Background | No education, English, age or management-experience requirements |
Need help?
To find out whether this programme suits your family, book a free consultation with Global Immigrate, or contact us on WhatsApp, LINE or WeChat.
Learn more: US EB-5 Investor Immigration