USCIS administers the EB-5 program, created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. 

• Foreign interest in the EB-5 program has grown dramatically in the last few years. 
• For wealthy foreigners, the EB-5 program is the best bet for getting U.S. citizenship.
• While the program requires a standard investment of $1 million, investors are permitted a reduced $500,000 level for enterprises located in rural areas or those with high unemployment, known in EB-5 parlance as targeted employment areas (TEAs).