- What is a Regional Center and what advantages do they offer to EB-5 investors?
- Who should invest in an EB-5 Regional Center project?
- What are Indirect and Induced Jobs?
- Why is Job Creation safer with a Regional Center Project?
- Do I get faster Processing of my I-526E Immigrant Petition if I invest in a Regional Center project?
- What makes Houston EB5 unique?
- What is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?
- What are the benefits of the Green Card?
- Who is eligible to receive permanent residency (Green Card)?
- Are EB-5 visas available to persons from any country in the world?
- Where can I find copies of relevant forms, laws, and regulations to study?
- What is the difference between a “conditional” and a “permanent” Green Card?
- What issue typically causes the most problems when applying for an EB-5 visa?
- How long must I remain in the United States each year?
- What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship?
- What’s the best way to lower risk in an EB-5 Investment?
- What is a New Commercial Enterprise (NCE)?
- What is a Job Creating Entity (JCE)?
- What is visa retrogression?
- What are “Reserved EB-5 Visas” or “Set-Asides”?
- What are “Unreserved” EB-5 Visas?
- What is the Sustainment Period?
- What are the steps for processing an EB-5 visa application?
- If my I-526E petition is approved by the USCIS, what is the purpose of the Consulate application and interview, and how soon do I get my Green Card?
- After petition approval, can members of the family interview in different countries?
- What is an “escrow” account and when does the investor transfer the money into this account?
- How does the bank escrow account protect me against the risk of losing my money?
- What is Concurrent Filing for I-485 Adjustment of Status and how does it benefit EB-5 Investors?
- Who is eligible for Concurrent Filing?
- When can I apply for US citizenship?
- Do investors need to be actively involved in the day-to-day activities of Regional Center Projects?
- What are the advantages of investing in a rural project in a Micropolitan Area?
- May I invest less capital in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) Project?
- Do I have to live where the project is?
- Can I make money with my EB-5 Investment?
- How is the EB-5 loan model different than the equity model?
- What is the minimum required amount of capital to be invested in order to apply for an EB-5 visa?
- Must I have previous business experience or education?
- Must I speak English?
- What is meant by the requirement that the investor’s assets be “lawfully gained”?
- If I want to move to the United States and invest in an EB-5 project with Houston EB5 Regional Center, do I have to live in Texas?
- Can an EB-5 investor from a retrogressed country apply for Concurrent Filing?
- How many direct and indirect jobs do I need?
- Can I travel outside the US for extended periods after I get my green card?
Do I get faster Processing of my I-526E Immigrant Petition if I invest in a Regional Center project?
In general, yes, you should get faster I-526E processing as you will be investing in a project that has already been submitted to the USCIS. Also, if the Regional Center project is a Rural Project your I-526E will be given priority processing.
The success of your Immigrant Investor Petition depends on the lawful source of your funds and the quality of the project. An approvable project may require several hundred pages of support documents that the Regional Center would have already sent to the USCIS.
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) requires that a Regional Center submits a Form I-956F to USCIS before an investor can submit their I-526E Petition. This form detailed information about the EB-5 Investment Partnership (New Commercial Enterprise, NCE) and the Project (Job Creation Entity, JCE). Approval of the I-956F is not a prerequisite for you to file your I-526E Petition. However, it cuts processing time of your I-526E Petition, as the project will either be under review or already approved.
With a Regional Center project, the USCIS adjudicator will focus solely on your biographical and source of funds documents. Since USCIS gives all the I-526E Petitions of one project to the same adjudicator, we are starting to see that the I-526E Petitions are approved rather quickly after an I-956F project application is approved.
Also, if your project qualifies as a Rural Project, it will be given priority processing. We are starting to see I-956F Rural Project Applications approved in 4 to 6 months and individual I-526E Petitions a few months after that.
However, you will have to file another Form (I-526, Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor) with a very detailed business plan and several hundred pages of support documents if you are doing your direct investment. This form will go to another queue of adjudicators that will have to process the Standalone Project I-526 Petitions ahead of yours.
By going with a Regional Center, you may save several months or even years in the processing time of your Immigrant Investor Petition.
