EB-5 policy, news, projects, and hands-on experiencehttps://eb5policy.com/en-ushttps://eb5policy.com/policy/uscis-fees-2024/https://eb5policy.com/policy/uscis-fees-2024/The 2024 EB-5 fee increases were stayed by a federal court, so USCIS currently charges the older schedule (I-526E $3,675). A final rule published September 30, 2026 raises the I-526E to $7,850 and the I-829 to $5,000 for filings on or after November 30, 2026. Investor-side and regional-center-side fees, stage by stage.Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyfeesUSCISI-526EI-829Integrity FundMoody v. Noemhttps://eb5policy.com/news/arcfe-approvals-and-skyline2-groundbreaking/https://eb5policy.com/news/arcfe-approvals-and-skyline2-groundbreaking/New York regional center ARCFE published four approval notices for its Group 7 and Group 8 projects, spanning the I-485 adjustment and I-829 removal-of-conditions stages, and held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 12 for Group 22 (Skyline2, to be branded Vera).Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsregional center updateI-829I-485New Yorkproject progresshttps://eb5policy.com/news/americans-first-immigration-act-s5485/https://eb5policy.com/news/americans-first-immigration-act-s5485/Senator Tommy Tuberville introduced the Americans First Immigration Act (S. 5485) on September 23, 2026, proposing to overhaul family-sponsored immigration, replace employment-based preferences with points, and end the Diversity Visa. It is a bill, not law — but its transition provisions matter to EB-5 applicants.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewslegislationCongresspoints systemEB-5family immigrationhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/how-to-evaluate-a-project/https://eb5policy.com/projects/how-to-evaluate-a-project/A due-diligence checklist covering job-creation cushion, capital stack, developer track record, exit terms, regional center history, fund administration, and I-956F status.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsdue diligenceregional centersproject selectionhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/loan-funded-investment/https://eb5policy.com/guides/loan-funded-investment/Borrowed money can fund an EB-5 investment, but the rules are detailed. This article explains what Zhang v. USCIS decided, why the investor must be personally liable, why the lender's own source of funds matters, the difference between secured and unsecured loans, and the documents to prepare.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidessource of fundsloansZhangpracticalhttps://eb5policy.com/news/perm-suspension-eight-employers/https://eb5policy.com/news/perm-suspension-eight-employers/On October 8, 2026, U.S. officials announced that the Department of Labor will stop accepting new permanent labor certification applications involving eight employers and pause pending ones. The impact depends on where each employee's sponsored case stands; existing H-1B status and issued green cards are not automatically affected.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsPERMemployment-basedH-1BDepartment of LaborEB-2EB-3https://eb5policy.com/policy/concurrent-filing-i485/https://eb5policy.com/policy/concurrent-filing-i485/Who is eligible to file Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-526E under the RIA, the practical benefits including work and travel authorization, the caveats on travel, status gaps, and children, and the basic process steps.Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyconcurrent filingI-485work authorizationhttps://eb5policy.com/news/opt-70000-fee-proposal/https://eb5policy.com/news/opt-70000-fee-proposal/On October 7, 2026, DHS proposed requiring schools to pay $70,000 for an F-1 student's first OPT participation and $30,000 for each later recommendation. The rule is not final, but it is prompting students, universities, and employers to rethink the F-1 → OPT → H-1B path — and some families to look earlier at alternatives such as EB-5.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsOPTF-1international studentsDHSH-1Bhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/pre-immigration-tax-planning/https://eb5policy.com/guides/pre-immigration-tax-planning/An educational overview of the U.S. tax concepts EB-5 investors should understand before obtaining a green card, including the two residency tests, worldwide income, FBAR and FATCA reporting, basis planning concepts, the significance of when the green card takes effect, and why a cross-border CPA is essential. Not tax advice.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidestaxtax residencyFBARhttps://eb5policy.com/news/uscis-eb5-fee-rule-nov-2026/https://eb5policy.com/news/uscis-eb5-fee-rule-nov-2026/The Federal Register published the EB-5-specific final fee rule on September 30. The initial I-526E fee rises from $3,675 to $7,850, the Integrity Fund fee to $1,100, the I-829 to $5,000, and the I-956F to $42,675 — lower than the October 2025 proposal. The change is separate from the January 1, 2027 inflation adjustment of investment amounts.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsUSCISfeesI-526EIntegrity FundRIAFederal Registerhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/i956f-project-approval/https://eb5policy.com/projects/i956f-project-approval/What Form I-956F is, who files it, what USCIS reviews, how deference to an approved I-956F shapes I-526E adjudication, and the trade-offs of filing an investor petition before versus after approval.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsI-956Fregional centersintegrity measureshttps://eb5policy.com/guides/source-of-funds-pitfalls/https://eb5policy.com/guides/source-of-funds-pitfalls/Source of funds (SOF) is the number-one reason for I-526E RFEs. Here are the five mistakes we see most often, from incomplete gift chains to timelines that do not add up.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidessource of fundsRFEpracticalhttps://eb5policy.com/policy/ria-overview/https://eb5policy.com/policy/ria-overview/How the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act changed investment amounts, TEA designation, visa set-asides, regional center oversight, the integrity fund, and concurrent I-485 filing.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyRIApolicyregional centershttps://eb5policy.com/guides/gift-funds-guide/https://eb5policy.com/guides/gift-funds-guide/Parental gifts are among the most common EB-5 fund sources and a frequent cause of RFEs. This article covers what a gift deed should contain, why the donor's own source of funds must be traced, tax considerations in qualitative terms, timing, and the situations that most often trigger an RFE.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidessource of fundsgiftsRFEpracticalhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/project-types-overview/https://eb5policy.com/projects/project-types-overview/A comparison of hotel, multifamily, infrastructure, manufacturing, senior and medical, office and retail, and direct-investment projects by their characteristics, job-creation drivers, risk profile, and likelihood of TEA designation.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsproject typesjob creationTEAdue diligencehttps://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-basics/https://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-basics/What EB-5 is, the investment thresholds, TEAs, regional center vs. direct investment, the two-stage I-526E / I-829 process, and the key changes from the 2022 RIA.Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesbasicsRIATEAhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/fund-administrator-role/https://eb5policy.com/projects/fund-administrator-role/What the RIA requires of a third-party fund administrator, what the administrator does and does not do, the annual audit alternative, and what information investors should expect to receive.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsfund administratorintegrity measuresRIAhttps://eb5policy.com/news/october-2026-visa-bulletin/https://eb5policy.com/news/october-2026-visa-bulletin/The State Department's October 2026 Visa Bulletin moves China's EB-5 unreserved Dates for Filing from March 1, 2017 to March 1, 2021 while Chart A holds at December 1, 2016; India's unreserved category is available again; all three set-aside categories remain Current.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsvisa bulletinbacklogChinaIndiaset-asideshttps://eb5policy.com/guides/redeployment-explained/https://eb5policy.com/guides/redeployment-explained/When a project repays the NCE before an investor's immigration process is complete, the capital must be redeployed to remain at risk. This guide explains why redeployment happens, the RIA rule allowing redeployment anywhere in the U.S., the at-risk requirement, investor rights, and the questions to ask before investing.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesredeploymentat risksustainmenthttps://eb5policy.com/policy/sustainment-period-two-years/https://eb5policy.com/policy/sustainment-period-two-years/An explanation of the October 2023 USCIS policy on the investment sustainment period, the different rules for pre-RIA and post-RIA investors, what "at risk" means, and how the period interacts with repayment, redeployment, and ongoing litigation.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicysustainment periodat riskredeploymenthttps://eb5policy.com/guides/source-of-funds-checklist/https://eb5policy.com/guides/source-of-funds-checklist/Itemized document checklists for the seven most common EB-5 fund sources (salary, business income and dividends, real estate sales, securities, gifts, inheritance, and loans), plus the two universal requirements of path-of-funds and currency exchange documentation.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidessource of fundschecklistI-526Epracticalhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/rc-termination-investor-options/https://eb5policy.com/projects/rc-termination-investor-options/The RIA's good-faith investor protections, the general rule allowing re-association with a compliant regional center or project within 180 days, the conditions for retaining the priority date, and the practical steps to take on receiving a termination notice.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsregional centerterminationgood-faith investorpriority datehttps://eb5policy.com/projects/rural-vs-hua-projects/https://eb5policy.com/projects/rural-vs-hua-projects/A comparison of the two RIA set-aside categories covering visa percentages, priority processing for rural I-526E petitions, typical project types, risk profiles, and exit considerations.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsTEArural projectsset-aside visashttps://eb5policy.com/guides/material-change/https://eb5policy.com/guides/material-change/EB-5 projects change over a multi-year process. This guide explains the concept of material change, why the consequences differ before and after conditional residence, common examples, the rules in USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 6 Part G, and what investors should do when a project changes.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesmaterial changepolicy manualproject riskhttps://eb5policy.com/policy/rc-reauthorization-2027/https://eb5policy.com/policy/rc-reauthorization-2027/A review of the 2015 to 2021 short-term extension cycle and what happened to pending petitions during the 2021 lapse, how the RIA changed the consequences of a lapse, and the possible scenarios after the September 30, 2027 sunset.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyregional centersreauthorizationlegislationhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/application-timeline-step-by-step/https://eb5policy.com/guides/application-timeline-step-by-step/An ordered walk through the ten stages of a regional center EB-5 case, from initial assessment, project selection, and source-of-funds preparation through I-526E, the visa stage, conditional residence, I-829, and permanent residence, with the parties and typical documents at each step.Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesprocesstimelineI-526EI-829basicshttps://eb5policy.com/projects/project-red-flags/https://eb5policy.com/projects/project-red-flags/Ten warning signs investors should recognize, from guaranteed-return and guaranteed-green-card claims, thin job cushions, and missing senior financing to unregistered promoters, missing I-956F filings, and opaque fees.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsdue diligenceriskregional centershttps://eb5policy.com/projects/reading-offering-documents/https://eb5policy.com/projects/reading-offering-documents/What each of the three core EB-5 offering documents does, and the sections investors should locate and study: risk factors, fees, manager powers, voting rights, redemption and exit, conflicts of interest, and amendment provisions.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsPPMsubscription agreementoperating agreementdue diligencehttps://eb5policy.com/guides/responding-to-rfe-noid/https://eb5policy.com/guides/responding-to-rfe-noid/The difference between a Request for Evidence and a Notice of Intent to Deny, general rules on deadlines, the most common EB-5 issues (source of funds, job creation, TEA), how to structure a response, and how to work with your attorney.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesRFENOIDsource of fundshttps://eb5policy.com/news/iiusa-i526e-data-q3-fy2026/https://eb5policy.com/news/iiusa-i526e-data-q3-fy2026/IIUSA's analysis of USCIS data shows 1,665 EB-5 investor petitions received in April–June 2026, 904 I-526E adjudications with the approval rate down to 76%, and a pending I-526E inventory of 11,192 as of June 30 — up 25% year over year. Nearly 20,000 petitions have been filed since the RIA.Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsIIUSAI-526Eprocessing datapending inventoryapproval ratedatahttps://eb5policy.com/news/post-ria-repayments-arcfe-groups-12-13/https://eb5policy.com/news/post-ria-repayments-arcfe-groups-12-13/New York regional center ARCFE reports that its first post-RIA offering, Group 12, repaid $800,000 to each of two investors in August 2026, and that Group 13 made its first repayment on September 8. These are early public examples of a post-RIA project completing the raise-build-repay cycle; this site highlights what investors should take from them.Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsregional center updaterepaymentRIANew Yorkexithttps://eb5policy.com/policy/grandfathering-clause-2026/https://eb5policy.com/policy/grandfathering-clause-2026/What the RIA grandfathering clause protects and what it does not, how the September 30, 2026 cutoff differs from the September 30, 2027 sunset, and the practical implications for filing timing.Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicygrandfatheringregional centerstiminghttps://eb5policy.com/policy/priority-date-retention/https://eb5policy.com/policy/priority-date-retention/The priority date fixes an investor's position in the visa queue. This article explains the RIA rules on retaining it when a new I-526E must be filed after regional center or project termination, the situations in which it cannot be kept, and what a project change means at each stage.Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicypriority datebacklogregional center terminationRIAhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/exit-and-repayment/https://eb5policy.com/guides/exit-and-repayment/How EB-5 funds flow from JCE repayment to investor distribution, covering loan maturity and extensions, the effect of the sustainment period, redeployment, repayment before I-829, distribution mechanics, general tax reporting, and common causes of delay.Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesexitrepaymentsustainmentredeploymenthttps://eb5policy.com/projects/rc-due-diligence/https://eb5policy.com/projects/rc-due-diligence/How investors can verify a regional center's I-956 designation, I-956G annual reports, prior project track record, sanctions and termination history, management, and affiliated parties, with a ready-to-use list of questions.Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsregional centersdue diligencecompliancehttps://eb5policy.com/guides/derivatives-and-cspa/https://eb5policy.com/guides/derivatives-and-cspa/Which family members can immigrate with an EB-5 principal, how age-out risk arises, how the CSPA freezes a child's age during I-526E adjudication, the one-year "seek to acquire" rule, and planning options when a child is close to 21, including the child-as-principal strategy.Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesCSPAderivativesage-outhttps://eb5policy.com/news/dhs-eb5-nprm-july-2026/https://eb5policy.com/news/dhs-eb5-nprm-july-2026/On July 2 DHS published the proposed rule "EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022; Ensuring the Integrity of the EB-5 Program; Automatic Revocation of Petitions for Immigrant Classification" (Docket USCIS-2026-0100), systematically writing the RIA into 8 CFR. IIUSA filed over 150 pages of comments. No final rule yet.Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnewsDHSproposed ruleRIATEAredeploymentpenaltiesIIUSAFederal Registerhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/choosing-an-immigration-attorney/https://eb5policy.com/guides/choosing-an-immigration-attorney/Credentials and EB-5 experience to verify, questions to ask, the conflict of interest when a regional center pays the attorney, common fee structures, red flags, and how to work with counsel who represents only the investor.Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesattorneyconflicts of interestdue diligenceprocesshttps://eb5policy.com/projects/job-creation-methodology/https://eb5policy.com/projects/job-creation-methodology/How regional center projects use input-output models to derive direct, indirect, and induced jobs, the common inputs, the RIA's 90% indirect cap and 75% short-construction rule, job cushion, and timing.Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsjob creationeconomic modelsregional centershttps://eb5policy.com/guides/i829-removal-of-conditions/https://eb5policy.com/guides/i829-removal-of-conditions/Form I-829 must be filed within the 90 days before the conditional green card's second anniversary. This guide covers the filing window, evidence of sustained investment and job creation, the automatic 48-month extension, interviews, derivatives, and what to do if the project under-performs.Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesI-829removal of conditionsjob creationhttps://eb5policy.com/policy/reserved-visa-categories/https://eb5policy.com/policy/reserved-visa-categories/How the RIA's 20%, 10%, and 2% visa set-asides and their carryover rules work, why the reserved categories are Current while the unreserved category is backlogged, and the risk of over-subscription over time.Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyset-asidesvisa bulletinTEAhttps://eb5policy.com/policy/per-country-cap-and-visa-allocation/https://eb5policy.com/policy/per-country-cap-and-visa-allocation/From the 7.1% share of employment-based visas to the 7% per-country ceiling and the separate accounting for set-aside categories, this article explains how EB-5 visa numbers are allocated, why China- and India-born applicants face backlogs, and why family members count against the quota.Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyquotabacklogper-country capvisa bulletinhttps://eb5policy.com/projects/capital-stack-explained/https://eb5policy.com/projects/capital-stack-explained/An explanation of senior debt, mezzanine financing, EB-5 capital, and developer equity, how subordination works, what completion guarantees do and do not cover, and why EB-5's share of total capital matters.Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectscapital structuredue diligenceriskhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/how-to-read-visa-bulletin/https://eb5policy.com/guides/how-to-read-visa-bulletin/A walkthrough of the Visa Bulletin's Chart A and Chart B, the four EB-5 rows (unreserved, rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure), chargeability, what "C" and "U" mean, how USCIS picks the chart each month, and how it interacts with concurrent filing.Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesvisa bulletinbacklogconcurrent filingset-asidehttps://eb5policy.com/guides/ead-and-advance-parole/https://eb5policy.com/guides/ead-and-advance-parole/When I-485 is filed concurrently with I-526E, investors may also apply for an employment authorization document (I-765) and advance parole (I-131). This guide explains what they are, how to apply, validity, travel cautions, and renewal.Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesI-765I-131concurrent filinghttps://eb5policy.com/policy/tea-rules-explained/https://eb5policy.com/policy/tea-rules-explained/An explanation of the rural and high-unemployment TEA definitions under the RIA, who designates them, the census tract adjacency rule, required evidence, common misconceptions, and why TEA status affects both the investment amount and visa set-asides.Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyTEAinvestment amountset-asideshttps://eb5policy.com/policy/integrity-measures-i956/https://eb5policy.com/policy/integrity-measures-i956/How the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act rebuilt regional center oversight through Forms I-956, I-956F, I-956G, I-956H, and I-956K, the fund administrator and audit requirement, the penalties for non-compliance, and what investors should ask for before subscribing.Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyRIAintegrityregional centersI-956https://eb5policy.com/projects/loan-vs-equity-models/https://eb5policy.com/projects/loan-vs-equity-models/How the two main NCE-to-JCE structures differ, covering repayment priority, typical terms described qualitatively, investor protections, and what a private placement memorandum should disclose.Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectscapital structureloan modeldue diligencehttps://eb5policy.com/guides/adjustment-vs-consular/https://eb5policy.com/guides/adjustment-vs-consular/After I-526E approval (or with concurrent filing), an investor obtains the conditional green card either by filing I-485 inside the U.S. or by completing DS-260 processing at a consulate. This guide compares eligibility, pros and cons, timing, travel, family arrangements, and interviews.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesI-485DS-260consular processinghttps://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-glossary/https://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-glossary/More than fifty terms that appear in EB-5 filings, offering documents, and USCIS notices, grouped by topic, each with its Chinese equivalent and a one-line definition for quick reference.Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesglossarybasicsreferencehttps://eb5policy.com/policy/eb5-history-timeline/https://eb5policy.com/policy/eb5-history-timeline/A timeline of the EB-5 program from its creation in 1990 and the 1992 regional center pilot through repeated short-term extensions, the 2019 modernization rule, the 2021 lapse, the 2022 RIA, and the 2027 sunset.Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTpolicyhistoryregional centersRIAhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/i526e-petition-checklist/https://eb5policy.com/guides/i526e-petition-checklist/A module-by-module I-526E checklist covering investor documents, the NCE and project papers supplied by the regional center, the source-of-funds package, translation requirements, filing logistics, and the omissions that most often trigger RFEs.Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesI-526Echecklistsource of fundshttps://eb5policy.com/projects/regional-center-vs-direct/https://eb5policy.com/projects/regional-center-vs-direct/A side-by-side comparison of the two EB-5 paths covering job counting, control, risk, cost, forms (I-526 vs. I-526E), process differences, and which type of investor each path tends to suit.Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTprojectsregional centersdirect investmentproject selectionhttps://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-faq/https://eb5policy.com/guides/eb5-faq/Forty questions investors most often ask about EB-5, grouped by basic rules, funds, process, family members, life after the green card, and risk, with concise answers for orientation and self-checking.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTguidesFAQbasicsRIAprocess