To encourage immigration through investment and to concentrate investment in specific regions, Congress directed USCIS to set aside 3,000 visas for people who invest in a designated “Regional Center Program.” A “Regional Center” is a designation granted by USCIS on the basis of a proposal for economic growth in the particular geographic area. Approximately 90-95% of EB-5 applications submitted to USCIS fall into this category. Originally, Congress set a date for the Regional Center Pilot Program to sunset in March 2009. However,that date has been extended several times, most recently until  September 30, 2015. 

The following are some typical Regional Center Programs: a real estate limited partnership program that offers investment in industrial properties in a specified major city, a limited partnership program that makes low interest loans to businesses in a specified major city, ownership of an 80-acre almond farm in a specified location in California.

General Requirements
Invest at least $1,000,000 in a regional center or $500,000 if the Regional Center is located in a Targeted Employment Area. The area of the regional centered must be clearly defined.

Create 10 new full-time jobs directly or indirectly.

A detailed description of how the investment within the specified area will create jobs directly or indirectly.

A detailed administrative structure of the regional center which explains how it will promote more investment, assess investor projects, oversee all investment activities, and structure its own investment capital.