September 30, 2015 marks the expiration of the U.S. EB-5 Regional Center Program, which has become a major crisis for U.S. investment immigration in 2015. What is the future direction of the 2015 U.S. EB-5 Regional Center Program? What impact will it have on U.S. EB-5 investors? This has become a focal point for industry professionals and numerous investors.
Relevant data shows that currently, about 90% of EB-5 visas in the U.S. investment immigration market are obtained through investments in regional centers. Over the past 5-7 years, U.S. EB-5 investment immigration financing has attracted $20-25 billion in investment to the United States. In particular, in the recently concluded 2014 fiscal year, the EB-5 program raised approximately $5.5 billion for the U.S. economy, an increase of 72% over the previous fiscal year, with 97% of investors choosing regional centers. This is sufficient proof that the EB-5 program has become the most effective financing mechanism in the United States.
Meanwhile, calls for EB-5 reform have been constant in the industry in recent years. Since there have been three previous extensions, 2015 will mark the fourth extension of the pilot program by the U.S. President. Especially since the inception of the EB-5 Regional Center Program in 1990, there have been few reforms over the past 25 years, leading to external criticism that it is too conservative.
In recent years, with the massive capital inflows and countless job opportunities brought by U.S. investment immigration, more and more U.S. business and political figures have realized that reform might allow the oversubscribed U.S. investment immigration program to play a greater role. Consequently, calls for EB-5 reform have become increasingly strong.
Investment guru Warren Buffett, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and the founder of the world's largest gaming company, Sheldon Adelson, once co-authored an open letter titled "Breaking the Immigration Deadlock," calling for the relaxation of U.S. EB-5 investment immigration restrictions, which has become the strongest voice from supporters of the U.S. EB-5 investment immigration program to date.
In fact, not only the Democrats, but many Republican lawmakers also hold a favorable view of the EB-5 policy. Even the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Bob Goodlatte, has expressed his approval of the EB-5 policy, suggesting that the temporary regional center program should be converted into a permanent program as soon as possible.
Currently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is placing increasing importance on EB-5 investment immigration, not only updating federal regulations but also strengthening enforcement and oversight. In addition, in terms of specific implementation, they have also significantly expanded their staff. These actions are all in preparation for the active advancement of the EB-5 investment immigration policy in the future.
In summary, while the EB-5 program is being adjusted toward permanence, the possibility of a price increase cannot be ruled out. Based on current policies and the current application trend, it is foreseeable that applications for U.S. investment immigration will remain high in the future, and longer application cycles and higher review standards will also become inevitable trends.
Worldway Group U.S. immigration experts state: 2015 will see three major crises for U.S. investment immigration. In addition to the major crisis of the expiration of the EB-5 program mentioned above, there are two other crises: EB-5 visa retrogression and potential increases in investment amounts. Therefore, 2015 is also known in the immigration industry as an "eventful year." Usually, if any one of these three U.S. investment immigration crises occurs, it would cause investors to be restless throughout the year, and in 2015, all three crises will appear in the same year, which is a first in history.
Worldway Group experts remind investors: At present, U.S. investment immigrants should prepare and respond early, making up their minds before 2015, or seizing the best opportunity to apply for an EB-5 visa. However, do not wait until the last minute and make hasty choices. Do not rush to choose a project because of these three crises; your current investment choice will determine your future outcome. To ensure a successful application and reduce approval time, choosing a project that has already been approved by the immigration bureau is currently the best choice to deal with these three crises.
Currently, the Pennsylvania Turnpike project, exclusively represented by Worldway Group, is an EB-5 project that has already been approved by the immigration bureau and has a professional credit rating from the world's three major rating agencies. The Pennsylvania Turnpike project has two outstanding advantages: first, it is a 100% government project that has received pre-approval for the actual project from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (I-924); second, the borrower—the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission—has long held an A+ credit rating. Now is the best time to seize the scarce spots for the second phase of the Pennsylvania Turnpike project. For details, please call: 400-138-2929.
