The EB-5 market is constantly changing, and if you do not have up-to-date information, you could make a misguided investment decision. Current information is key.
New data from USCIS clearly shows that the urban TEA EB-5 visa set-aside category is oversubscribed for investors from several countries. Even though USCIS has not announced visa retrogression yet, the data is clear.
EB-5 investors should review the data themselves, make commonsense assumptions based on historical figures, and come up with their own conclusions. It is critical for investors to understand the data and make the decision that is best for them.
At EB5AN, we believe that more information and transparency are always better. That’s why we are committed to putting our EB-5 investors first, even when new information becomes available that could negatively impact us financially.
This commitment to transparency is not an empty promise. The new USCIS data shows that the demand for the urban TEA category has drastically outpaced supply—and because we sponsor urban TEA projects, this directly impacts us. In truth, the new data impacts everyone in the EB-5 industry. Still, despite this impact, we believe it is our responsibility to share this information.
On the other hand, some regional centers, EB-5 agents, and even immigration attorneys are not making this vital information known to EB-5 investors. This is wrong.
We are also seeing other EB-5 professionals say that the data is inconclusive. We 100% agree that assumptions have to be made—but, fortunately, these assumptions are not just baseless. We can draw conclusions based on historical data and common sense.
As a company, based on our direct experience, we know EB-5 application volumes have remained steady or increased over the last four months compared to the prior quarter of data available. The industry has decades of historical averages of the number of visas required per petition and approval rates.
In this article, we briefly explain the new data and what it means for investors. Then, we discuss why some in the EB-5 industry may not be sharing the new data or distracting investors from the evident backlog for the urban TEA category. Finally, we suggest steps you can take to review the data and make a fully informed decision.
