International Investors

Investing in a business through a Regional Center is a safe and quick way to receive U.S. permanent residency status, or a “Green Card”, as it is commonly known. The following requirements for acquiring a  Green Card through the EB-5 Program are more lenient than through other government programs.

North Dakota (ND) /Northwest Minnesota (NW-MN) EB-5 Overview:

Administration:

The ND/NW-MN EB-5 Regional Center is administered by the Center for Innovation Foundation, a 501 C-3 non-profit organization located in Grand Forks North Dakota. The Center for Innovation has an excellent track record for enterprise development, entrepreneurship development/education, and angel capital development.  The Center also enjoys excellent relationships with state, business, and University entities as well as with angel capital networks across the nation.  The Center has won numerous awards for these efforts and has put an excellent EB-5 program together that covers a broad base of industries and offers excellent services to enable the EB-5 process to run smoothly.

Investors interested in obtaining a U.S. green-card from the ND EB-5 Regional Center must be willing to:

1. The applicant must establish a business or invest in an existing business that was created or restructured after November 19, 1990.
2. Applicant must invest $1million (or $500,000 if investing in a USCIS designated targeted employment area (TEA))  in an eligible ND/NW-MN company in one of the eligible industries.
3. The business must directly or indirectly create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
4. The investor must demonstrate that the investment capital was “lawfully gained” and the required capital is at risk for investment purposes. Provide necessary documentation (primarily consisting of tax records for past 5 years) to submit to the U.S. immigration authorities for green card review – we suggest investors utilize one of the referred lawyers who specialize in EB-5 documentation to facilitate this process.
5. Hold investment money in ND interest-bearing escrow account until I-526 is approved by U.S. immigration authorities — which can take a minimum of two months (if documentation is in order) on up to six months (if considerable follow-up is required).
6. If the I-526 initial green card screening is NOT approved investor money is returned with interest.  If approved, investor monies and applicable fees are submitted to the company/Center for Innovation and the green card application process continues.
7. The investor must enter the United States within 180 days of visa issuance.
8. The visa holder is not required to be physically in the U.S. for any given amount of time, but must demonstrate the “intent” to be a resident. This includes:

• Renting or buying a home
• Opening bank accounts
• Obtaining a social security number
• Obtaining a driver’s license
• Paying applicable taxes

Eligible Industries for investment:

1. Agri-Business

2. Bioscience

3. Manufacturing

4. IT/ Communications Technologies

5. Aviation/ Aerospace

6. Real Estate Development (Mixed Use)

7. Utilities (Power Generation)

Services:

The Center for Innovation provides the following services to ensure the process for investment and green card solicitation runs smoothly:

1. Provides known and qualified companies for investment with qualified business plans and private placement documents within eligible industries
2. Makes every effort to ensure business plans and PPM provide return on investment (dividends and exit) to potential investors
3. Provides econometric analysis (IMPLAN) on each business plan/planned investment as a highly reliable source for job creation in ND to be submitted with I-526
4. Administers the escrow account with trusted bankers in ND
5. Monitors and submits reports to USCIS on each investment on annual basis as required for investments
6. Assists with side-by-side angel investments and/or low interest loans
7. Provides referrals to reliable service providers who can assist with E-5 immigration process, Corporate set-up, university placement for children with in-state tuition

Investor Risks:

1. Investors should understand that their green card may still be denied at some point in the process even if the initial screening has been approved. This is a rare circumstance yet nevertheless a possibility.

About North Dakota Investment:

1. North Dakota is among the few and certainly one of the highest growth states in the nation due to rich natural resources (oil, coal, natural gas, Kaolinite-Rare Earth metals, Potash).
2. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country (4%) and has several thousand job openings
3. North Dakota has high quality/high value higher education with the lowest tuition rates in the country but high employment/top rankings/high recruiting rates in engineering, polymers/coatings, pharmacy, medicine, oil, energy, aviation, entrepreneurship, and agriculture.
4. North Dakota ranks among the top in the nation in public school education with consistent top 10 rankings in SAT scores for university placement
5. North Dakota leads the nation in U.S. production of 14 major crops, 70% of which is exported to other countries
6. North Dakota is one of the finest producers of USDA high grade beef/cattle (primarily Angus Cattle) and is home to innovative and respected breeding practices
7. North Dakota is a small place, and thus provides accessibility to business, state, congressional, university, finance, and local leadership… all of whom are open to investment and solid business practices approached with flexibility and integrity.
8. North Dakota is one of the highest ranking states in terms of ease of establishing a business and residency with the lowest corporate income, property, and  personal income, tax rates!
9. North Dakota’s western edge is BOOMING given the recent oil and potash boom in that area with a vast shortage of real estate

For more information about the EB-5 Regional Center program and potential investment projects, please contact us at eb5@innovators.net