What locations are approved as TEAs for EB-5?

Currently, USCIS defers to the states for TEA designation, such as a state's employment security department or equivalent state agency. They issue official certification. You should not start an EB-5 business until you have engaged an EB-5 immigration attorney.

The TEAs are determined by each state. The governor of each state designates a state organization such as the Department of Labor and/or the Unemployment Department to determine which areas have high unemployment. You need to check on a state-by-state basis.

Under current policy, which may change with the renewal of the EB-5 program, USCIS will defer to a state's designation of a TEA. A project would contact their state agency tasked with determining TEAs and request a list of designated counties or a determination of a group of contiguous census tracts (that contains the project location, of course) that qualifies as a TEA.

TEA designation is a complicated process that varies according to location. You need to retain an attorney or other specialist first, not start the business there first.