How can I tell whether or not a Regional Center is in a TEA?

The important question is whether a particular EB-5 project which is associated with a regional center is in a TEA. Regional centers will usually select EB-5 projects which are in a TEA in order to attract investors. The first source of information concerning whether an EB-5 project is in a TEA is to ask the regional center. In addition, a foreign national investor can retain an immigration attorney who can evaluate whether the EB-5 project is in a TEA.

The regional center will have a letter from the state agency designated by the state''s governor to identify TEAs.

They targeted employment area (TEA) is made up of one of two categories: a. a high unemployment area. This means an area where the unemployment rate is equal to or greater than 150% of the national average. As an example if the national average were 8% for unemployment then the qualifying areas would be any area where the unemployment is higher than 12%. b. The rural area which is the area surrounding the town of the population of 20,000 or less provided that the area is not within a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) For further information please contact me.