AIIF News & Updates

1. AIIF I, LLC EB-5 Investor Quota Filled
   Dated: January 2, 2011
   
   AIIF is happy to announce that it has secured $5million in loan for the KBRC's EB-5 Project, Nexsun Ethanol, LLC.


2. USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Visa Processing to Help America Win the Future
   Dated: May 19, 2011
   
   Actions Will Streamline Program Designed to Create Jobs
   WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program?transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration's continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century.
   
   The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated Regional Center.
   "Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to attract investors and entrepreneurs from around the globe to create jobs in America," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "We are dedicated to enhancing this program to ensure that it achieves that goal to the fullest extent possible."
   
   USCIS is proposing three fundamental changes to the way it processes EB-5 Regional Center filings. First, USCIS proposes to accelerate its processing of applications for job-creating projects that are fully developed and ready to be implemented. USCIS will also give these EB-5 applicants and petitioners the option to request Premium Processing Service, which guarantees processing within 15 calendar days for an additional fee.
   Second, USCIS proposes the creation of new specialized intake teams with expertise in economic analysis and the EB-5 Program requirements. EB-5 Regional Center applicants will be able to communicate directly with the specialized intake teams via e-mail to streamline the resolution of issues and quickly address questions or needs related to their applications.
   
   Third, USCIS proposes to convene an expert Decision Board to render decisions regarding EB-5 Regional Center applications. The Decision Board will be composed of an economist and adjudicators and will be supported by legal counsel.
   
   This proposal will be online until June 17, 2011, for public comment?providing stakeholders an opportunity to offer feedback on the proposed changes to the administration of the EB-5 Program.


3. Where can I find EB-5 regional center list?
   Dated: December 12, 2010
   
   USCIS list of designated regional centers approved to receive EB5 funds:www.uscis.gov/eb-5centers
   As of March 17, 2011, USCIS stated that there are currently 125 approved Regional Centers (RCs), operating in 36 states, including the District of Columbia and Guam. In addition, there are 156 initial RC Proposals, as well as 34 RC proposals seeking to amend approved RCs, pending initial review with USCIS.
   
   Also, the track record of the Regional Center Program overall can be viewed at:http://www.eb-5center.com/track_records. Note USCIS does not provide individual track record of specific designated regional center, so it is not feasible to find out totally accurate track record of any designated regional center.
   This section on "EB-5 Regional Centers" contains the latest list of all USCIS designated Regional Centers at the below link at the official USCIS website. Note that we didn't make up the list; USCIS did, so don't blame us for any error. As you can see, there are now too many USCIS designated regional centers: within a period of several years, the number of RCs has ballooned from less than 10 to 100 -- and growing every month. However, do not be misled that the EB-5 Program is growing; we believe the opposite is true. If all EB-5 cases processed per annum were divided among all designated RCs, we believe each RC would process less than 10 cases per year.
   www.uscis.gov/eb-5centers


4. Congress Extends the EB-5 Pilot Program to three Years
   The The FY10 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill (P.L.111-83) did not include the Senate's proposed amendment to make the EB-5 Regional Center program permanent. This proposed amendment was rejected Oct. 13, 2009 in a conference report issued by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The law also extends the non-minister religious worker (section 568), the "Conrad 30¡È (section 568), and the E-Verify (section 547) programs through September 30, 2012. It also grants USCIS the authority to complete processing of permanent residence applications for surviving spouses and other relatives of immigration sponsors who die during the adjudication process (section 568). The bill was previously approved by the House of Representatives on 10/15/09 by a 307-114 roll call vote, and by the Senate on 10/20/09 by a 79-19 vote.


5. EB5 Extended Temporarily for One Month
   The Eb5 Regional Center Program which was set to expire September 30th was extended temporarily, as a gap measure, until October 31st while House and Senate conferees work out longer term extensions as part of their work on the DHS spending bill. The Senate gave its approval on September 30th, and the President signed it shortly thereafter. This shows that both the Senate and the House are committed to agree on an extension of the EB-5 Regional Center Program. It is our opinion that only a permanent extension will give a much-needed, significant boost to the EB-5 Regional Center Program during this tough economic times.
   This expiration is only limited to the EB5 regional center program. This does not apply to other classifications under the EB5 program.