USCIS Launches EB-5 Regional Center Audit Program | Practical Law

USCIS Launches EB-5 Regional Center Audit Program | Practical Law

On March 21, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a program to conduct compliance audits of the EB-5 Regional Center program.

USCIS Launches EB-5 Regional Center Audit Program

Practical Law Legal Update w-007-0655 (Approx. 3 pages)

USCIS Launches EB-5 Regional Center Audit Program

by Practical Law Labor & Employment
Law stated as of 22 Mar 2017 • USA (National/Federal)
On March 21, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a program to conduct compliance audits of the EB-5 Regional Center program.
On March 21, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a program to conduct compliance audits of the EB-5 Regional Center program. An individual may qualify for status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) based on a qualifying investment in a new commercial enterprise. The Regional Center program allows investors to pool investments in the US as one means of satisfying the investment requirements for the EB-5 immigrant investor visa classification.
The EB-5 Regional Center compliance audit program is the latest refinement to the compliance efforts of USCIS's Immigrant Investor Program Office, and will focus on verifying the information provided by Regional Centers in both:
  • Applications for designation as a Regional Center (filed on Form I-924).
  • Annual Regional Center certifications (filed on Form I-924A).
In addition to reviewing application and certification documents and records, the compliance audit team will:
  • Conduct research on commercial and public records, background information, and other documents.
  • Perform site inspections.
  • Interview Regional Center personnel.
The audits are intended to help USCIS protect the integrity of the EB-5 program and produce reliable fraud indicators that will help USCIS manage the program.
For more information, see the USCIS website, and the statement of the Immigrant Investor Program Office Chief, Nicholas Colucci from the team's March 3, 2017 Stakeholder Engagement.