Hong Kong
Taiwan
VietnamShort answer: A TEA (Targeted Employment Area) is a rural or high-unemployment area. EB-5 projects in a TEA usually qualify for the $800,000 minimum (vs $1,050,000 outside TEA). Rural and high-unemployment designations heavily overlap with visa set-asides, which affect numbers and priority processing. Designation follows statute and project documentation—not marketing labels alone.
What is a rural TEA?
Rural generally means outside a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), or outside the outer boundary of a city or town with population of 20,000 or more (per current statutory definitions). Rural projects often align with the rural set-aside (about 20% of visas), which has been largely Current with priority processing. See US EB-5 Investor Immigration.
What is a high-unemployment TEA?
A high-unemployment TEA typically requires unemployment at least 150% of the national average, using prescribed data and state/federal designation processes. It can overlap with the high-unemployment set-aside (~10%). Investors should demand written TEA evidence (maps, unemployment data, issuance date)—not slide titles only.
How TEA, set-asides and capital connect
| Concept | Main effect |
|---|---|
| TEA (rural / high-unemployment) | Minimum often $800,000 |
| Rural set-aside | Number pool + priority processing |
| High-unemployment set-aside | Number pool |
| Non-TEA | Minimum may be $1,050,000 |
A project can be both TEA and set-aside; diligence should verify both.
Global Immigrate’s recommendation
Before subscribing, obtain TEA designation documents and set-aside classification language, and check whether the determination is still timely. Do not equate “TEA” with “always Current and always fast”—set-aside availability and USCIS load still matter. Assess rural vs high-unemployment commercial and exit risk separately.
Data current as of October 2026. General information only; not legal advice.