JUPITER, FL – As of May 13^th, 2022 USCIS has launched a new regional center program that requires Form I-956 for Regional Center Designations. With the EB-5 Reform and Integrity act that repealed the previous Regional Center Program as a result, previously designated Regional Centers must reapply by filing the new Form I-956, Application for Regional Center Designation.

The implementation of the I-956 will have an impact on new regional center investor I-526 petitions and they may only file an I-526 petition only after the regional center has I-956 approval, submitted a project application and received a receipt number for that application. This new rule does not impact investors who have filed I-526 prior to March 15, 2022 with a regional center even while the regional center goes through the process of re-designation.

We encourage you to do research, get in touch with us to learn more. For legal resources please Donoso and Partners, who we work with closely.

USCIS has resumed processing regional center-related I-526 Immigrant Petitions filed on or before June 30, 2021. USCIS will adjudicate those Forms I-526 petitions according to the applicable eligibility requirements at the time such petitions were filed (that is, the eligibility requirements in place prior to the enactment of the new legislation on March 15, 2022). The need to reapply as a regional center does not impact petitions pending prior to March 15, 2022 associated with those entities.

This USCIS release has USIF one step closer to being designated under the new program laws.

For more information and to see if you qualify for the EB-5 Regional Center Program, click here.