USCIS and DHS entered 2026 saying EB-5 decisions should move faster, with tighter screening and more audits, and that message matters for families pursuing a Green Card through EB-5. On January 19, 2026, EB-5 Choice said it expanded its portfolio of EB-5 Regional Centers, a private move shaped by those federal priorities.
Agency messaging is not the same as binding law, but it signals what officers will focus on when they review petitions, issue requests for evidence, and inspect projects. Investors should watch fee proposals, Visa Bulletin movement for reserved EB-5 categories, and the compliance culture created by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA).
January 2026 federal messaging investors should take seriously
At the start of 2026, USCIS framed its policy agenda around integrity and faster processing. In a year-opening policy summary, the agency said: “As we enter 2026, USCIS continues to prioritize common-sense regulatory and policy changes that restore integrity to America’s immigration system. including enhanced screening and vetting of aliens and increased coordination with enforcement partners.”
That language matters because EB-5 is a benefits program and a fraud-risk program at the same time. Even clean filings face deeper source-of-funds review, background checks, and project scrutiny when agencies highlight “screening and vetting.”
DHS echoed the same themes, while stressing support for lawful pathways. On January 14, 2026, a DHS spokesperson said: “Under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS is committed to. finding ways to support and empower organizations in their critical work [while] taking the necessary steps to ensure religious and economic immigration pathways are delivering the services Americans depend on.”
USCIS also pointed to operational changes. A January 7, 2026 newsroom update said “structural changes, including infrastructure investments and hiring,” have led to “significantly reduced waiting periods for Green Cards” and other benefits in early 2026.
Treat these statements as direction-setting. The enforceable rules sit in regulations, Federal Register notices, USCIS Policy Manual updates, and form instructions.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the safest way to respond is simple: document money, jobs, and compliance history so an officer can verify them quickly.
EB-5 mechanics in 2026: reserved visas, fees, and the filing deadline
RIA reshaped EB-5 by strengthening oversight of regional centers and creating “reserved” visa set-asides for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure projects. In the Department of State’s January 2026 Visa Bulletin, all reserved EB-5 categories stayed “Current” for all countries, including China and India.
For investors already in the United States 🇺🇸 in valid status, “Current” can allow concurrent filing. That means filing the petition and adjustment package together when permitted.
The petition is Form I-526E, and adjustment is Form I-485. Concurrent filing does not relax eligibility.
You still need a visa number available, a lawful investment, and admissibility. Timing also matters for program risk.
Investors who file Form I-526E before September 30, 2026 are grandfathered under RIA, so the case continues even if regional center authorization later expires. That risk is covered in EB-5 cliffs.
Regional centers face new ongoing duties, including annual payments to the EB-5 Integrity Fund, which USCIS uses for investigations, audits, and site visits. DHS also proposed a fee overhaul in late 2025 that would cut some EB-5 filing fees, including a large reduction for regional center designation and a smaller drop for the investor petition, if finalized.
A step-by-step EB-5 journey with realistic timeframes
EB-5 works best when families plan for a multi-stage process. USCIS has publicly tied early-2026 operations to shorter waits, but case speed still tracks evidence quality and whether USCIS issues a request for evidence.
- Preparation (weeks to months). Choose a project, sign subscription documents, and build a source-of-funds record. Expect bank records, tax records, and transfer trails that show lawful origin.
- Petition stage,
Form I-526E(months to review). USCIS reviews the investment, project paperwork, and job creation method. Delays often follow missing explanations for transfers, gifts, or business income. - Green Card stage (months). If a visa is available, U.S.-based investors can file
Form I-485. Others typically proceed through consular processing and an interview. - Conditional residence and sustainment (about two years). EB-5 Green Cards start as conditional. Capital must remain invested and “at risk,” and investors should keep records of project updates and personal status compliance.
- Remove conditions with Form I-829 (months). The investor files Form I-829 to prove the investment stayed in place and jobs were created. USCIS may ask for updated project evidence before approval.
Choosing projects under tighter RIA compliance
RIA’s audited financial statement requirement pushes regional centers toward stronger transparency. An audit does not guarantee a project succeeds, but it shows governance and recordkeeping that can support responses to audits or site visits.
Investors should evaluate project claims like a regulator. Focus on the job creation methodology, the development timeline, and the capital stack.
Read risk factors carefully, and match marketing claims to what the offering documents promise.
EB-5 has long been tied to national economic claims. From 2016 to 2019, the program reportedly created 1.7 million American jobs and contributed $184 billion to GDP. Treat that as background only, not a promise for any one deal.
Compliance pressure is also rising through oversight of EB-5 Regional Centers, including the audit process. Portfolio strategies, including those marketed by EB-5 Choice, often respond by widening options and tightening due diligence.
How these updates change life for investors and families
Faster processing goals help, but delays still happen for predictable reasons. Source-of-funds gaps, inconsistent translations, missing civil records, and project changes after filing remain common triggers for requests for evidence.
Reserved set-asides shape strategy. Rural and High Unemployment projects fall under categories that are “Current” in January 2026, which can support earlier filing and earlier access to adjustment benefits for eligible U.S.-based investors.
For families, DHS proposals described a procedural fix when an EB-5 investor dies, allowing dependents to continue through a single Form I-829. Because eligibility and timing vary, families usually need tight legal review of records and deadlines.
Regional centers face more monitoring, recordkeeping, and fund-tracking under RIA. They also watch pending fee changes that could reduce some filing costs. After filing, sustainment documentation still matters.
Loose records can derail later Form I-829 review.
Official government pages that keep you grounded
USCIS posts core EB-5 updates, form links, and policy notices on its program page: USCIS EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. For basic validation, compare any project’s regional center to USCIS’s roster: Approved regional centers list.
USCIS’s approved list shows which entities hold a current regional center designation, but it doesn’t rate projects, returns, or risk. Confirm the center’s designation filings, including Form I-956, and review offering documents with licensed professionals.
Keep a personal evidence binder from day one. Save wire confirmations, escrow receipts, and signed subscription pages. Keep every USCIS receipt notice, biometrics notice, and address-change record.
If you adjust status, keep copies of your status documents until the conditional Green Card is issued.
When you read the Visa Bulletin, check both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts, plus the EB-5 “Reserved” notes. A “Current” label supports filing, but you still need a complete packet and clean admissibility history, including police certificates and medical exams when required by law.
Visa availability drives filing choices, so monitor the State Department’s monthly charts and notes: Visa Bulletin. For official dates and quotes, use the DHS press page and save PDFs or screenshots for your file: DHS Newsroom.
Readers following policy shifts also track Green Card pauses and visa availability changes, since broader processing trends often spill into EB-5 timelines.
EB-5 Choice Expands EB-5 Regional Centers to Support Green Card Access
For 2026, federal agencies are focusing on restoring integrity to the EB-5 program while reducing wait times through infrastructure hiring. Key benefits include the continued ‘Current’ status of reserved visa categories, which facilitates concurrent filings. However, increased audits and screening require investors to provide rigorous documentation of lawful funds. Filing before the September 30, 2026 deadline remains a critical strategy to ensure protection under current RIA regulations.
