Targeted Employment Area (TEA)
A Targeted Employment Area is a geographic zone that qualifies for the reduced EB-5 investment threshold of $800,000 (vs. $1,050,000). TEAs include rural areas (population under 20,000 and outside an MSA) and areas with unemployment at least 150% of the national average. After the 2022 EB-5 Reform Act, rural TEA projects receive reserved visa numbers (20% of annual EB-5 allocation), resulting in significantly faster processing — often under 2 years compared to 4-6 years for urban projects.
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