For an urban TEA, what unemployment data is used?

For an urban area to be designated as a TEA (Targeted Employment Area) under EB-5, the central criterion is the local unemployment rate: the region must show unemployment that is elevated compared to the national average.

The data used in this analysis comes from official labor statistics sources. Among the most common are:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal agency for employment statistics.
• State labor departments and state agencies responsible for local figures.

The exact threshold, the reference period, and the methodology for comparing against the national average are defined by program rules and may change. For this reason, rather than memorizing a specific figure, it is worth confirming the current criterion and updated data with official sources (USCIS and the relevant statistics agencies) and, when in doubt, seeking guidance from a qualified specialist.

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Victoria Harper

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.