Between 2016 and 2018 there were over 800 active and USCIS approved EB-5 regional centers, but after changes to the program in late 2019, to targeted employment area designations and investment amount increases, the number of USCIS approved EB-5 regional centers has continued to decline in 2020.
As of March 2020, there were 772 approved regional centers. As of May 2020, there were 728 approved regional centers. As of August 2020, there were 692 approved regional centers. As of October 2020, there are 678 approved regional centers.The steady decline in the number of USCIS approved regional centers, means it’s even more important that prospective EB-5 investors take the time and conduct thorough research any regional center they may be looking to invest with.
Here are a few quick tips for prospective EB-5 investors looking to get a green card through an EB-5 Regional Center investment.
Check the USCIS approved list of EB-5 regional centers, which was last updated October 6, 2020. Conduct thorough due diligence on the regional center’s principals, their team, and their developer. What is the regional center’s track record? Have they completed similar projects? How many I-526 and I-829 petition approvals have they received? What are the details of the project? Do you have an outside professional that can advise you on the risks?