EB-5 Regional Center Operators: A Guide for Investors and Attorneys
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers foreign nationals a pathway to U.S. permanent residency through qualifying investments. As of late 2025, USCIS maintains approximately 580 approved regional centers operating across the United States, each authorized to sponsor investment projects that create jobs and drive economic development.
What Is an EB-5 Regional Center?
A regional center is a USCIS-designated entity that sponsors capital investment projects within a defined geographic area. Unlike direct EB-5 investments, regional center investments can count indirect and induced job creation, making them the preferred route for the vast majority of EB-5 investors.
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022
The landscape for regional centers changed substantially with the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), signed into law on March 15, 2022. Key changes include:
- Annual Integrity Fund Fees
- Regional centers must pay $10,000–20,000 annually to the EB-5 Integrity Fund, depending on the number of investors.
- Third-Party Fund Administration
- All investor capital must be held by independent, qualified custodians.
- Enhanced Auditing
- USCIS gained authority for regular compliance audits and can terminate non-compliant centers.
- Program Authorization
- The regional center program is authorized through September 30, 2027.
Current Investment Thresholds
| Investment Type | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard EB-5 Investment | $1,050,000 |
| Targeted Employment Area (TEA) | $800,000 |
| Rural Area Project | $800,000 |
Evaluating Regional Center Operators
When selecting a regional center, immigration attorneys and investors should consider several critical factors:
- Track record: How many I-526 petitions have been approved? Have investors received their green cards and had conditions removed?
- Capital repayment history: Has the center repaid investor capital on schedule?
- Project pipeline: Does the center have active, USCIS-approved projects with exemplar approvals?
- Compliance posture: Is the center current on RIA requirements, including integrity fund payments and annual certifications?
- Geographic coverage: Some centers cover multiple states, offering diversification across project types and locations.
Market Leaders by Capital Raised
Several operators have distinguished themselves through decades of consistent performance. CanAm Enterprises has raised over $1.6 billion across 45+ projects serving 3,000+ investor families. CMB Regional Centers, one of the earliest operators (est. 1997), has surpassed $1.5 billion in capital repaid to investors. Golden Gate Global recently crossed the $1 billion mark in total capital raised, maintaining a perfect repayment record since 2011.