New Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor: Form I-526E Published to USCIS Website
Yesterday, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) published the new form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor. All EB-5 stakeholders are encouraged to review the new form and its instructions which are now available on the USCIS website.
Note that, on the form I-526E webpage, USCIS specifically states:
“Alert: We will reject all Forms I-526 when it indicates that the petitioner’s investment is associated with a regional center. Petitions for classification under INA 203(b)(5)(E) should be submitted on Form I-526E.”
From USCIS:
We have released a revised version of Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, splitting it into two versions to accommodate the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which made significant changes to both the filing and eligibility requirements for investors under the EB-5 program.
Background
Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor
- Form I-526 is filed by “standalone” immigrant investors who are not seeking to pool their investment with one or more additional investors seeking EB-5 classification.
Form I-525E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor
- Form I-526E is filed by immigrant investors who are seeking to pool their investment with one or more additional investors seeking EB-5 classification and who must now do so under the Regional Center Program.
- Regional Center investors will also use Form I-526E to report any amendments necessary to establish ongoing eligibility if the regional center, new commercial enterprise, or job-creating entity in which the investor has invested is terminated or debarred from participation in the Regional Center Program.
Filing Fees
The filing fee for Form I-526 is $3,675.
The filing fee for Form I-526E is $3,675 (add the $85 biometrics fee for a total of $3,760, where applicable. See exceptions below). On and after October 1, 2022, an additional $1,000 fee will be required under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.
Note: The biometric services fee is not required for petitioners filing the I-526E to amend a previously filed petition.
Additional Information
Forms I-526 and I-526E that are properly filed will receive two separate receipt notices. The first notice you should expect to receive will be from the USCIS Lockbox, acknowledging receipt of your I-526 or I-526E and the total fee amount received and processed.
Next, we will issue a formal receipt notice that includes the assigned receipt number for the application when data entry has been completed.
The priority date for the Forms I-526 and I-526E will be the date USCIS Lockbox receives your petition.
For more information on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, please visit the USCIS website.
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