Association to Invest In USA
Invest In the USA (IIUSA) is a trade association of Regional Centers and others interested in foreign investors. Regional Centers are private corporations and governmental agencies designated by the U.S. government to allow foreign investors to invest capital in their local economies with the goals of preserving and creating jobs through economic development.
Foreign investors are attracted to participate in Regional Center investment programs for the benefits of an economic return and the prospect of qualifying for a permanent residency visa (green card) pursuant to the EB-5 Investor Program. Regional Centers have invested over $1.0 billion of foreign capital, creating over 25,000 jobs and reducing the U.S. foreign trade imbalance.
IIUSA represents active Regional Centers across the United States. Current Regional Center members are located in Alabama, California, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Their targeted investment programs, distinct to each Regional Center's focus, include:
- Aerospace
- Agriculture
- Alternative energy
- Commercial development
- Healthcare development
- Industrial development
- Public infrastructure
- Residential development
- Urban renewal
Foreign investors assume the investment risk of the targeted investment of the Regional Center. The minimum investment per investor is $1 million except in rural areas and areas of high unemployment, where it is $500,000. The invested funds must create or save at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers for every $500,000 or $1 million investment. The typical term of investment is 5 years.
A typical foreign investor in a Regional Center investment program is highly educated, a successful business executive or entrepreneur, an accredited investor by the standards of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and a head of household with a global perspective.
Foreign investors' motivations to invest through a Regional Center include:
- Conduct and/or expand their business in the United States
- Educate themselves or their children
- Diversify their investment portfolios
- Manage their investments in the Regional Center
- Reside in the United States and become U.S. citizens
The Regional Center investment program is growing rapidly. When fully utilized it will contribute between $1.5-3.0 billion in foreign capital to the U.S. economy each year. Such investment also leverages significant additional domestic capital. Of equal significance, a fully functioning Regional Center program will create or preserve more than 30,000 jobs for U.S. workers each year.
The IIUSA has several missions:
- Stimulate economic development and job growth in the United States, while aiding to reduce foreign trade imbalances.
- Further immigration to the United States by qualified, educated, highly skilled and investment-oriented foreign nationals.
- Educate the public and government about the benefits derived by the Regional Centers through the EB-5 investment program.
- Help Regional Centers address administrative, regulatory and legislative issues.
- Advance and maintain Regional Center industry standards and best practices.