Federal Lawmakers Reach Deal to Revive EB-5 Visa Program
A deal has been signed by federal lawmakers on the EB-5 regional center program that will authorize it through September 2027. The “cash-for-green card program” which has become a key fundraising mechanism for real estate projects has sparked controversy over the years due to concerns over “fraud and abuse in the federal program.” Amended rules under the new deal, which has resolved key concerns, include an increase in the minimum investment amount from $500,000 to $800,000 in high unemployment regions and $1.05 million in other areas; added integrity measures to prevent fraud, including sanctions if a regional center files misstatements; and the designation of which areas are considered “high unemployment” can only be designated by the federal government versus the former program that allowed states to exercise their own discretion.
Source: https://therealdeal.com/2022/03/09/eb-5-is-back-cash-for-visa-program-returns-with-tweaks/