Direct EB-5 or regional center? Founder Simone Williams joins Open Atlas expert panel to unpack the key differences

KEY TAKEAWAY

Both paths lead to the same green card, but they ask very different things of the investor: how hands-on you want to be, how jobs are counted, and where your due diligence should focus.

On October 17, 2026, Simone Williams, Founder & Managing Partner of Williams Global Law, was an invited guest on a one-hour expert panel at an EB-5 workshop hosted by Open Atlas, a community of more than 10,000 high-skilled immigrants building careers and companies in the United States.

The session, which also featured Matthew Khalili, Koushik Raghavan, Nikin Tharan of Open Atlas and the team from Prospect EB5, focused on one of the first decisions every EB-5 investor faces: whether to invest directly in their own business or through a USCIS-designated regional center.

Direct EB-5 vs. regional center at a glance

HOW THE INVESTMENT WORKS

Direct:  You invest in a new commercial enterprise, often a business you own or help run.

Regional center:  You invest in a project sponsored through a USCIS-designated regional center, typically pooled with other investors.

HOW JOBS ARE COUNTED

Direct:  At least 10 full-time jobs must be created directly by the business or its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Regional center:  Jobs can be created directly or indirectly, and up to 90 percent may be indirect jobs measured through economic modeling.

YOUR ROLE

Direct:  You are typically involved in running the business day to day.

Regional center:  Your role is usually limited to policy-level involvement, such as being a limited partner.

WHERE TO FOCUS DUE DILIGENCE

Direct:  Your own business plan, hiring timeline and ability to sustain the jobs.

Regional center:  The sponsor’s track record, the project’s capital structure, its job-creation cushion and the exit plan.

What investors should weigh

•  Control versus convenience. A direct investment gives you control over the business and the job creation, along with the responsibility. A regional center investment is more passive, but the outcome depends on the sponsor and the project.

•  Job creation risk. Direct investors must show 10 real employees on payroll. Regional center projects can count indirect jobs, which is a key reason most EB-5 investors choose them.

•  Investment amounts. Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the minimum investment is $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project. These amounts are scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027.

•  Program timing. The Regional Center Program is currently authorized through September 30, 2027, and visas reserved for rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure projects can affect wait times for some nationalities.

•  Your broader goals. Investors who want to build and run a U.S. company may prefer the direct route, while those focused mainly on the green card often choose a regional center.

Thank you, Open Atlas

We are grateful to Open Atlas for the invitation and to everyone who joined and asked thoughtful questions. Events like this help immigrant founders and professionals make informed decisions about their path to permanent residence.

Deciding between a direct and a regional center investment? Book an EB-5 strategy consultation →

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every EB-5 case is different; speak with an immigration attorney about your circumstances.