USCIS data shows increased EB-5 Investor Visa filings

Recently, the Office of Public Engagement and the Service Center Operations Directorate conducted stakeholder engagements to discuss the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. The focus of this engagement was on general EB-5* issues with an open forum for questions. In addition, USCIS provided EB-5 statistics, including information on service-wide receipts, approvals, and denials of I-526s and I-829s; the number of approved EB5 Regional Centers by fiscal year.

The statistics show an increase across all categories in EB-5 related filings including I-924 applications for both initial regional center designation as well as amendments to existing regional centers. USCIS also received the highest level of I-526, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Petitions and I-829, Petitions to Remove Conditions ever.

Summary:

• 92% of all EB-5 applications submitted to USCIS came from Investors in Regional Center affiliated commerical enterprises.
• EB-5 Visa usage has increased remarkably with 1,293 Form I-526 petitions receipted in by USCIS in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 alone.
• USCIS receipted in a total of 3,805 I-526 petitions in fiscal year 2011. This is a substantial increase from a total of 1,955 in 2010 and only 332 applications total in 2005.
• USCIS also received the highest level of I-829 petitions to date in 2011, with a total of 2,345 receipted in as compared to only 768 in 2010.
• Denial rates have also increased. In fiscal year 2011, 39% of I-924 filings for initial Regional Center Designation and/or Amendments were denied. Individual I-526 adjudications also faced an increased denial rate of 19% in 2011.