Latest EB-5 News: Government takes next step to increase investment amount to $1.35 Million

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) sent new proposed rules for the EB-5 immigrant visa to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), which was the first step towards increasing the minimum EB-5 investment amount from $500,000 to $1.35M.

I learned from Washington on January 6th that the OMB cleared the new USCIS proposed EB-5 regulations, which includes increasing the investment amount from $500,000 to $1.35M. The proposed rules will soon be published in the Federal Register with a 30 to 60 day comment period before being enacted. Note that these are “proposed” rules and may change or be delayed.

The government has not released the full text of the new rule, but accounts say they are similar to what the OMB published in the fall of 2016. The OMB at that time said the new rules will involve “increases to the required investment amounts” and “revision of the Targeted Employment Area requirements…” Previously the DHS Secretary told Congress it will increase the minimum investment amount for EB-5 visa applications to “$800,000.”

EB-5 visa petitions for both direct investor and Regional Center projects should be filed soon. The minimum EB-5 investment capital will most likely be increasing this spring.

Martin

Martin Lawler is listed in EB-5 Investors magazine as one of the “Top EB-5 Attorneys.”  He has filed many applications for Regional Center certification and about 500 EB-5 cases for investors.  His staff is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.  All services provided are under the direction of a California licensed attorney.