USCIS Issues First I-956F Rural EB-5 Project Approval in Record Time of 9 Months

A rural EB-5 project has become the first-ever to receive USCIS “exemplar” approval of Form I-956F under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (the “RIA”) in just 9 months – the fastest EB-5 project “exemplar” approval that EB5AN has seen in the last 10 years. Prior to the RIA, the approval process for EB-5 project “exemplar” applications (Form I-924 before the RIA) was traditionally very long, often taking several years.

Now, under the RIA, USCIS approval of rural EB-5 projects (Form I-956F) and individual EB-5 investors (Form I-526E) will be much faster. The approval of Form I-956F is the first step for USCIS to review and quickly approve individual EB-5 investor I-526E petitions in the rural EB-5 project.

The breakthrough in processing times highlights the benefits of investing in rural EB-5 projects and demonstrates how priority processing and set-aside visas for rural EB-5 projects can significantly speed up the immigration process for new EB-5 investors.

Form I-956F

Form I-526E

Benefits of Investing in a Rural EB-5 Project

Invest in a Rural EB-5 Project

Twin Lakes Georgia

Wohali Utah

Form I-956F
After the introduction of the RIA, which increased reporting and transparency requirements, USCIS began releasing a series of new applications for both EB-5 investors and projects.

Form I-956F is the “project request” application that a project’s regional center sponsor must submit before their investors can file their I-526E petitions. The form requests information about the project’s location, whether it’s in a targeted employment area (“TEA”), the expected amount of EB-5 capital investment, and the industries affected by the project.

The form must also contain detailed background information on anyone who has substantive authority to make operational or managerial decisions over pooling, securitization, investment, release, acceptance, or control or use of any EB-5 capital from immigrant investors.

Form I-526E
Form I-526E is the first application that EB-5 investors must submit to USCIS. Upon approval, investors become eligible for a conditional U.S. Green Card and can immigrate to the United States. Typically, many EB-5 investors experience I-526E processing times of 3 to 5 years, and wait times are even longer for investors from countries with a backlog of EB-5 petitions.

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