The Idaho Department of Labor is designated by the governor to certify the geographic areas or political subdivisions that conform to targeted employment areas as defined by 8 CFR 204.6 (e)(i),(e)(ii) and f(2), f(3). Under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(5), 10,000 immigrant visas per year are available to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their engagement in a new commercial enterprise. Permanent EB-5 resident status is available to investors, either alone or coming with their spouse and unmarried children. Eligible aliens are those who have invested – or are actively in the process of investing – the required amount of capital into a new commercial enterprise that they have established. They must further demonstrate that this investment will benefit the United States economy and create the requisite number of full-time jobs for qualified persons within the United States.
What is a Targeted Employment Area?
An area which, at the time of investment, is a rural area or an area which has experienced unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average rate. The amount of capital necessary to make a qualifying investment in a targeted employment area within the United States is $500,000.
What is a Rural Area?
any area not within either a metropolitan statistical area as designated by the Office of Management and Budget or the outer boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more.
What is a High Employment Area?
A part of a metropolitan statistical area that at the time of investment is not a targeted employment area and is an area with an unemployment rate significantly below the national average unemployment rates. The amount of capital necessary to make a qualifying investment within the United States as defined in section 203(b)(5)(C)(iii) of the Act, is $1 million.
What is the Methodolgy?
Under the federal definition of targeted employment area the Idaho Department of Labor certifies any rural area within the state as a targeted employment area excluding cities from rural counties with populations of 20,000 or more falling short of 150 percent of the national average unemployment rate. Read more ...
Who do I contact to have an area designated as a Idaho Targeted Employment Area?
To find out more information about whether your area can qualify as a targeted employment area contact the Idaho Department of Labor.
A state-issued TEA designation is not mandatory. EB-5 investors have the option of gathering the relevant publicly available state or federal statistics on their own and submitting them with their petitions to USCIS to have the TEA determination made by USCIS itself. Conversely, a state-issued certification or designation is not binding on USCIS. USCIS may exercise its own discretion and reject a state-issued certification or designation. The state of Idaho, the department and their officers, agents and employees do not make any express or implied warranties about the completeness, reliability or accuracy of the information and expressly disclaim any and all liability for any damages, losses or other expenses arising out of the use of this information. Any action EB-5 investors take upon the information on this website is strictly at their own risk. Investors should exercise due diligence before making EB-5 investments.