Estimated EB-5 Processing Times From The IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum 2019

By Clare Lithgow 

At the 2019 IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum that ran from October 28-30, in Seattle, Washington, the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the U.S. Department of State, Charles Oppenheim, provided the latest estimated EB-5 processing times (final action date predictions).

Here are the predicted wait times EB-5 investors may face for visas to become available if they were to file their I-526 Immigrant Petitions by Alien Entrepreneur on October 29, 2019:

Mainland China: 16.2 years

Vietnam: 7.1 years

India: 6.7 years

South Korea: 3 years

Brazil: 1.4 years

Taiwan: 1.9 years

This is a rough estimate because there are many factors that can change these predicted wait times such as visa demand, visa age outs, and possible legislative changes to the per country visa cap, to name a few.

Predictions for Mainland China, Vietnam, India and all other countries as well as comparisons from the last time Chief Oppenheimer made major predictions:

Mainland China

The December 2019 Final Action Date: November 15, 2014

October 2020 Final Action Date prediction: March 8, 2015 (best case) and February 15, 2015 (worst case)

How these predictions changed from those made in May 2019:

In May 2019, it was predicted that China would have an October 15, 2014 final action date in the best case scenario and October 8, 2014 in the worst case scenario.

Vietnam

The December Final Action Date: December 1, 2016

October 2020 Final Action Date prediction: June 1, 2017 (best case) and April 1, 2017 (worst case)

How these predictions changed from those made in May 2019:  

In May 2019, it was predicted that Vietnam would have an December 15, 2016 final action date in the best case scenario and November 22, 2016 in the worst case scenario.

India

The December 2019 Final Action Date: January 1, 2018

October 2020 Final Action Date prediction: current (best case) and November 2017 (worst case)

How these predictions changed from those made in May 2019: 

In May 2019, it was predicted that India would have an Fall 2017 final action date in the best case scenario and a Summer 2017 in the worst case scenario.

All Other Countries

All other countries are predicted to remain current. 

Is this good news for India?

These predictions are good news for Indian nationals who were weary of the EB-5 wait times. The drop in predicted wait time from 8.4 years in May 2019 to 6.7 years in October 2019 makes EB-5 a more attractive option.

Thinking of investing? When is the EB-5 minimum investment amount set to increase?

The EB-5 Modernization Regulation goes into effect on November 21, 2019 and raises the minimum investment amount for TEA-projects from $500,000 to $900,000 and non-TEA projects from $1 million to $1.8 million. Investing before the deadline is the only way to lock in the lower minimum investment amount.

https://www.eb5daily.com/2019/11/estimated-eb-5-processing-times-from-the-iiusa-eb-5-industry-forum-2019/