The EB-5 immigrant investor visa program is a U.S. government initiative that provides a path for foreign investors and their immediate families to obtain permanent residency (Green Card) in the United States. The program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment from foreign investors.   To participate in the EB-5 program, foreign investors must meet specific eligibility criteria and make a substantial investment in a qualifying commercial enterprise in the United States.   There are two main investment options within the EB-5 program:   Direct Investment: The investor directly invests $1.05 million into a new commercial enterprise. However, if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA), the minimum investment is reduced to $800,000, like the SmartSoda EB-5 Project   Regional Center Investment: Investors can also choose to invest $1.05 million (or $800,000 in a TEA) in a designated Regional Center. Regional Centers are private entities or public agencies that facilitate EB-5 projects, often pooling investors’ funds to finance larger projects. The advantage of this option is that the investor can count indirect job creation, in addition to direct job creation, toward the job creation requirements.