How are rural areas defined for EB-5 investment purposes? - EB5Investors.com

How are rural areas defined for EB-5 investment purposes?

I am interested in rural areas subject to the $500,000 threshold for EB-5, specifically in the state of Virginia. Is there a list of such areas available? How are these rural areas defined? If an area has already been deemed rural for EB-5 purposes in the past, would I have to get it re-designated?

Answers

Ed Beshara

Ed Beshara

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

It is always advisable to obtain updated information from the state to clarify the rural locations within the state.

Fredrick W Voigtmann

Fredrick W Voigtmann

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

Outside of a MSA and less than 20,000 population.

Salvatore Picataggio

Salvatore Picataggio

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

Put simply, a rural area must be both outside of a defined metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and outside of a city or town having a population of 20,000 or more.

Barbara Suri

Barbara Suri

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

The project must principally do business in a TEA at the time of the immigrant&#39s investment for the minimum amount to be $500,000. Certification of TEAs is based on high unemployment, and is left to the states. To determine whether census tracts (CTs) have high unemployment, most states use the “census share” technique. Those that rely on the 2010 census tract boundaries must use the most recent labor force data available. Rural areas are basically defined as areas located outside a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

John J Downey

John J Downey

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

A rural area defined for EB-5 purposes is any area not within either a metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Office of Management and Budget) or the outer boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more. You need to prove your area in your application even if it has been designated previously. You need to check with the appropriate government agency in Virginia to see if they can produce a letter.

Robert Lee

Robert Lee

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

Visit VirginiaLMI.com - Targeted Employment Areas. It should list the areas.

Jinhee Wilde

Jinhee Wilde

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

The rural area is defined as less than 20,000 population to be a TEA. The TEA based on the census track is usually designated by the State economic development agency annually.

DISCLAIMER: the information found on this website is intended to be general information; it is not legal or financial advice. Specific legal or financial advice can only be given by a licensed professional with full knowledge of all the facts and circumstances of your particular situation. You should seek consultation with legal, immigration, and financial experts prior to participating in the EB-5 program. Posting a question on this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. All questions you post will be available to the public: do not include confidential information in your question.