I-829 Approved: Investor Gains Green Card via CMB Chino Hills EB-5

(Chino Hills, CALIFORNIA) The first I-829 petition tied to the CMB Regional Centers Group 52 – Chino Hills Residential project has been approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, granting a permanent green card without conditions to the investor and eligible family members. This marks a key EB-5 milestone for a high-profile Chino Hills development and confirms that the investment met required job-creation and capital-investment rules set by federal law.

USCIS approval of an I-829 is the end of the EB-5 journey. In simple terms, EB-5 is a U.S. immigrant investor program that grants permanent residency to investors who put money into qualified projects that create U.S. jobs. The investor first receives a two-year conditional green card. Then, near the end of that period, the investor files Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status to remove conditions. An I-829 approval means the project created enough jobs and followed the rules.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the I-829 stage is where the government looks closely at real-world job creation rather than business plans, so this approval is a strong sign that the Chino Hills project delivered the required results.

Project facts and who benefits

CMB Regional Centers reports the Chino Hills project is a mixed-use residential development featuring:

• 149 single-family homes
• 9,000 sq ft of retail
• 9,000 sq ft of restaurant space

The first I-829 approval confirms that at least one investor from this Group 52 partnership has now become a permanent resident without conditions, along with qualifying family members.

For many EB-5 families, this next step brings stability:

• Children continue their U.S. schooling path without conditional-status uncertainty
• Spouses can plan careers with greater certainty
• The entire family no longer faces the two-year conditional period

CMB, founded in 1997, is one of the longest-running regional center operators in the EB-5 market. The firm reports:

• 100% project approval rate on USCIS adjudications tied to its partnerships
• More than 5,700 approved conditional green card petitions for investors
• More than $1.4 billion of capital repaid to investors
• Projects that have helped create over 215,000 American jobs

The Chino Hills effort grew from a long-running collaboration between CMB and Hillwood Development Company. Together, they have delivered over 40 EB-5 projects and created more than 63,000 American jobs.

Why the I-829 matters now

The I-829 stage can be stressful because investors must prove several critical items:

1. Proof the investment remained at risk throughout the required period
2. Evidence the project followed program rules
3. Documentation that the required jobs were created

In a regional center context, jobs often include indirect and induced jobs measured through accepted economic models, but USCIS still expects strong, clear documentation. An approval means the government accepted the evidence. That is why this first approval for the Chino Hills project stands out: it signals that the project’s job impacts were sufficient and sets a positive path for other investors in the same partnership who will file their I-829s in due course.

Families who reach this point usually began their EB-5 journey years earlier. For example, a parent who invested when their child was in middle school might see that child starting college in the U.S. by the time the I-829 is approved—with full work permission and no visa renewals to manage. The green card’s long-term security—work, study, and residency anywhere in the country—opens everyday options many families plan for from the start.

CMB’s role is notable. In the EB-5 ecosystem, regional centers:

• Pool and manage investor funds for projects
• Prepare much of the documentation supporting both the initial conditional green card filing and the later I-829

CMB’s consistent track record matters to investors seeking a steady, rule-focused approach—especially now, when EB-5 rules have tightened and oversight has increased.

The Chino Hills project model and local impact

The Chino Hills development reflects a common EB-5 model: a housing-led project with local retail and dining components. These mixed-use plans often:

• Align with local needs for new homes
• Generate construction jobs during development
• Create longer-term employment tied to ongoing operations

Mixed-use sites can produce diverse job-creation impacts, helping investors meet program targets. For the Chino Hills community specifically, benefits include:

• New housing stock and street-level services
• Construction paychecks for local workers
• Orders and work for local suppliers
• Customers for new stores and restaurants once open

While the I-829 win is a major personal achievement for one family, it also reflects community-level impacts that outlast construction.

Practical guidance: Form I-829 and preparation

For those new to the process, Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, is the official filing used to remove the conditions on a green card. USCIS explains filing steps, fees, and evidence requirements on its official page for Form I-829.

According to VisaVerge.com, investors should track three core items well before their I-829 window opens:

• Proof of sustained investment (capital remained at risk)
• Proof of jobs (reports and economic evidence showing required job creation)
• Accurate personal records for every family member included in the original EB-5 case (passports, green cards, travel history, etc.)

Regional center partnerships typically provide job reports and project updates, but personal documents remain the family’s responsibility. Missing items can slow or complicate the case.

CMB’s announcement also highlights long-term repayment results. While capital return is not a USCIS requirement for I-829 approval—and capital must remain at risk through the prescribed period—investors watch repayment trends closely. CMB reports more than $1.4 billion returned to investors to date across its projects, a data point many consider when assessing risk and long-term outcomes.

What this approval means for other investors and stakeholders

Prospective EB-5 investors often ask what an early I-829 approval within a project means for them. Key takeaways:

• An initial approval can be a positive sign for others in the same partnership who invested under the same terms and rely on similar job-creation models.
• It can increase lenders’ confidence and help developers with remaining project phases.
• Still, every investor must file their own I-829 and demonstrate eligibility independently.

CMB Regional Centers encourages interested parties to contact the firm for more details on the Chino Hills project, job-creation methodology, and upcoming EB-5 offerings. The company can be reached through its website or by email at [email protected].

Investors considering EB-5 should consult experienced immigration counsel to:

• Plan filing dates
• Track personal timelines
• Prepare complete evidence packages for both the conditional stage and the I-829 removal stage

Important reminder: Timely, complete filings with clear job-creation proof and reliable records of investment flow are central to success at the I-829 stage.

As this first I-829 approval lands, the message to EB-5 families is clear: careful project selection, thorough records, and patient timelines can lead to the steady result many seek—permanent U.S. residency without conditions. For Chino Hills, the project’s progress also demonstrates how EB-5 capital can help build homes and services while supporting American jobs.