Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
, Executive Candidate Assessment and Development Program, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. GAO was asked to review the EB-5 program. ACTION: 60-Day notice. WebEB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently I want to thank the Chairman and the Committee for your support and continued interest in strengthening the EB-5 program. Removing regional centers from the EB-5 program that no longer meet the program requirements. These include conducting compliance reviews; increased trainings on fraud and national security indicators; and additional screening for investors linked to companies or countries of concern. We will not respond to emails from anyone who is not named on the Form G-28 on file for the case. GAO's Fraud Risk Framework is a set of leading practices that can serve as a guide for program managers to use when developing efforts to combat fraud in a strategic, risk-based manner. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) Employment-Based Fifth Preference Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5 Program), that USCIS had commissioned the Department of Commerce's Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) to conduct a study of the economic impact of the EB-5 Program. Go to the USCIS Service and Office Locator page for contact information. We only accept website-related comments. The Department of Homeland Security concurred with GAO's recommendation. If our online tools do not provide the help you need, please call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment. We further reported that the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 gave USCIS new denial and termination authorities to address fraud and national security concerns. To strengthen USCIS's EB-5 Program fraud prevention, detection, and mitigation capabilities, and to more accurately and comprehensively assess and report program outcomes and the overall economic benefits of the program, the Director of USCIS should develop a strategy to expand information collection, including considering the increased use of interviews at the I-829 phase as well as requiring the additional reporting of information in applicant and petitioner forms. The act also mandates certain channels and offices for industry stakeholders, petitioners, applicants, and seekers of benefits under the EB-5 program to use for communicating with DHS about specific EB-5 cases and about non-case-specific EB-5 concerns. The National Benefits Center (NBC), which performs centralized front-end processing of applications and petitions that require field office interviews (primarily family-based I-485s and N-400s).In addition, the NBC adjudicates some form types to completion including I765s, I-131s, immigration benefits associated with the LIFE Act, legalization-related applications, and international adoption cases. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for administering the Employment-Based Fifth Preference Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5 Program). USCIS The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. I have served in this position since December 2013. Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), invites the USCIS concurred with our recommendation, stating that it would recommend to the Department of Commerce that a description of potential costs not assessed as part of the study be included when the study was published--later that year. In October 2016, USCIS provided a final copy of the study which we reviewed and determined that it does not include a discussion of potential costs of the EB-5 Program. 864A; I864EZ; I864W; USCIS. The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. GAO-16-828, IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAM: Progress FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori MacKenzie, Division Chief, Operations Policy and Performance, Immigrant Investor Program Office, U.S. U.S. I I - USCIS Forward your email and the response to the, Add the word ESCALATE (in all caps) to the subject line and use the body of the email to summarize why you believe the matter needs further attention; and. SEARCH FOR EB-5 REGIONAL CENTERS BY PROJECT ADDRESS. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Under current regulations, USCIS may terminate a regional centers designation if the regional center is no longer promoting economic growth or fails to submit required information to USCIS (on an annual basis, on a cumulative basis, and/or as otherwise requested) on Form I-924A.Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
, Executive Candidate Assessment and Development Program, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, The Director of USCIS should systematically collect and track data on the types and characteristics of EB-5 program fraud. USCIS - Find an Immigration Lawyer Near Me View List of Potential Regional Center Sponsors; Projects. Tuesday, June 27,2023 | 1 2 p.m. Eastern. USCIS For FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS. A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Wodka first joined USCIS on April 12, 2021, as a special assistant to the director. In May 2017, USCIS completed the assessment, which was approved by USCIS leadership in March 2018. Looking for U.S. government information and services? Additionally, USCIS provides ongoing anti-fraud related training to IPO staff to increase awareness and understanding of potential fraud schemes and scenarios, including those that may be unique to the EB-5 program. Security check enhancements now include the ability to query financial intelligence, such as the Bank Secrecy Act data collected and possessed by the Department of Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). USCIS GAO-15-696, Immigrant Investor Program: Additional Actions Expanding USCISs random site visit program to include EB-5-related adjudications in FY2016. The strategy also included actions underway to expand the use of site visits and petitioner interviews to allow USCIS to verify information submitted on forms. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the Employment-Based Fifth Preference Immigrant Investor In staffing the IPO, USCIS has, and continues to invest in the specialties needed to manage the complex EB-5 caseload by hiring staff with expertise in economics, law, business, finance, securities and banking to review cases and to enhance consistency, timeliness, and integrity within the program. EB-5 participation declined sharply from fiscal years 2016 through 2021, primarily due to fewer Chinese investors. Federal Register /Vol. 88, No. 123/Wednesday, June 28, 2023 GAO analyzed data from fiscal years 2016 through 2021; reviewed USCIS procedures and fraud and national security assessments; and interviewed agency officials and a non-generalizable sample of 15 of about 90 USCIS staff responsible for adjudicating and investigating EB-5 petitions. Federal agencies that propose new regulations or forms, or changes to existing regulations or forms, generally publish notices in theFederal Registerand provide a specific period of time to receive public comments. USCIS WebThe Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) is the U.S. If you do not receive a response within this timeframe, or if you believe the response you receivedwas incorrect, you may contactthe USCIS Contact Center to have your inquiry elevated. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today published a Federal Register notice for the extension and expansion of eligibility for Deferred Enforced While these are rough estimates, USCIS is working to refine data systems to better collect program performance data and has entered into an agreement with the Department of Commerce to conduct a valuation study of the EB-5 program which we expect to receive in the second quarter of FY2016. Publishing an updated, classified Intelligence Assessment of the EB-5 program in 2015 that was cleared throughout the intelligence community and was the product of close collaboration between FDNS EB-5 and the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis. For example, the study was to use information submitted by immigrant investors on EB-5 Program forms and entered into the Intranet Computer Linked Application Information Management System (iCLAIMS) to more specifically and reliably report program benefits. Immigrant Investor Program: Additional Actions Needed to Better I I. U.S. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. IR5 Visa (Green Card for Parents) The IR5 Visa is an immediate Relative Green Card which is available to the parent/s of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21-years-old. According to the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) of the NCE, the NCE proposed to pool $50,000,000 from 100 immigrant investors and lend the entire amount to I I nthe job-creating rtity (JCI), to finance the JCE's development ofPhase I-A of a project known asL liocated in New York. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Participants are required to invest $1 million in a business that is to create at least 10 jobs--or $500,000 for businesses located in an area that is rural or has experienced unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average rate. WebThe advisor will simultaneously be working on collating the required documents from the investor and putting together the application to be submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Washington, District of Columbia (DC). 88 field offices that deliver immigration benefit services directly to applicants and petitioners in communities across the United States and its territories. As of September 2017, USCIS had developed a data collection plan documenting a strategy to expand information collection on the program and shared documentation of steps already taken as part of that strategy. Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) - USCIS Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 131 M Street NE., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20529; Telephone 202-357-9214. A lock USCIS has taken its responsibility to administer the EB-5 program very earnestly, through its specialized staffing devoted solely to this program and its extensive efforts to regulate the quickly growing regional center program. In April 2023, we reported that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not have a process in place to collect and assess data on the reasons for (1) denying EB-5 petitions and applications, and (2) terminating EB-5 Regional Centers. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In 2015, we reported, based on our review of the U.S. The Immigrant Investor Program, which adjudicates applications and petitions seeking benefits under the fifth preference employment category, or EB-5. Since establishing IPO to oversee the EB-5 program, USCIS has undertaken and planned several initiatives to strengthen the program. This page was not helpful because the content: Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate, Office of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion, Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate, Featured Stories from the USCIS History Office and Library, USCIS Facilities Dedicated to the Memory of Immigrant Medal of Honor Recipients, If You Feel Sick, Do Not Come to Your USCIS Appointment; Please Cancel and Reschedule It. What is the Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) and how is it Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Immigrant Investor Program Office Chief Nick Colucci addresses the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, also The time has come for investors that are interested in the U.S. EB-5 investment migration program to collect their documents, consult an experienced EB-5 expert and have everything On any given day, we: Help individuals and employers resolve issues they are having with USCIS. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the program and investigates any fraud and national security concerns. Call us on +1 844 290 6312 for immediate help & assistance the IR5 Visa. Review our. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program - Federal Potential regulatory action to strengthen the program that USCIS plans to propose includes changes to improve the integrity of targeted employment areas; increase minimum investment amounts that have remained unchanged for 25 years; and require business plan filings in advance of investor filings to improve program efficiencies and reduce the potential for investor fraud. If you would like to notify us of a systemic operational issue, such as a pattern of potentially incorrect notices, you may contact us atpublic.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov. Approved regional centers file a supplement annually to demonstrate continued eligibility for the designation. As the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted in its August 2015 report to Congressional requesters on the EB-5 program, this move was part of a restructuring to help USCIS better detect fraud. USCIS is also taking steps to collect more information about EB-5 program investments and immigrant investors through new, revised forms and expanding its use of background checks, among other things, to help improve its ability to identify specific incidence of fraud. If you have not received a response or are unsatisfied with the response, please: Writing to the IPO mailbox will not suspend any deadline for you to respond to a Request for Evidence, decision, or notice, or to file an appeal or a motion to reopen or reconsider a decision. If you have questions about FOIA,email us atFOIAPAQuestions@uscis.dhs.gov. The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) serves as a liaison between the public and U.S. If you need to talk to a representative for another reasonand youre in the United States or a U.S. territory, call the USCIS Contact Center. In addition, USCIS has undertaken several initiatives to address overall program fraud and national security risks. Filingmore than 30 days ago andnot yet receivinga receipt notice. Expanding security checks to cover regional center businesses and certain executives participating in the EB-5 program, thereby strengthening the vetting process. Michael Valverdeis the associate director of theField Operations Directorate. In August 2015, GAO reported on weaknesses in certain USCIS fraud mitigation activities, and made two related recommendations. How Can I Delete My USCIS Online Account? USCIS agreed with this recommendation. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds the public that we offer immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters in the United States and abroad. How Do I File An Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint? Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Section 116 of Public Law 105-119, 111 Stat. Program participants must choose one of two options: (1) invest a minimum of $800,000 in a business that creates at least 10 jobs, or (2) pool their investment with one or more other qualified immigrants in larger development projects under the EB-5 Regional Center Program. Citizenship and Immigration Services Received, by Investor Country, Fiscal Years 2016 through 2021. During this time period, Regional Centers accounted for about 93 percent of all EB-5 petitions. This page was not helpful because the content: Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate, Office of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion, Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate, Featured Stories from the USCIS History Office and Library, USCIS Facilities Dedicated to the Memory of Immigrant Medal of Honor Recipients, If You Feel Sick, Do Not Come to Your USCIS Appointment; Please Cancel and Reschedule It. Do you have a question about the one of the following forms under the EB-5 Program, also known as the Immigrant Investor Program? These assessments were onetime efforts; however, USCIS officials noted that fraud risks in the EB-5 Program are constantly evolving, and they continually identify new fraud schemes. WebThe U.S. golden visa, officially known as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, is going full speed ahead as investors can now immediately file their Green Card applications with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). WebThe U.S. If you have a question about your case, you may use our convenient online tools. Do not include Social Security numbers in emails. GAO was asked to review actions taken by USCIS to address fraud risks in the EB-5 program since its August 2015 report. In return, investors and eligible family members obtain a path to citizenship. Citizenship and Immigration Services Immigrant Investor Program Office Washington, DC 20529 Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) EB-5 National Stakeholder Engagement (August 13th) - California IPO Chief Coluccis Remarks Good morning to those of you in attendance and those on the west coast, and good afternoon to everyone else. EB-5 | Homeland Security USCIS increased its capacity to verify job creation by increasing the size and expertise of its workforce and providing clarifying guidance and training, among other actions. We typically invite the publicto submit commentsregarding Policy Manual publications within 10 business days of publication. (Recommendation 2), Immigrant Investor Program: Opportunities Exist to Improve Fraud and National Security Risk Monitoring. Please include the form number, receipt number, petitioner and/or applicant name, and mailing address. The program presents unique fraud and national security risks for U.S. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. Immigration Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) collects some data on EB-5 fraud and national security concerns it investigates, it does not have readily-available data about the types and characteristics of fraud unique to the program. Immigration Glendaly Sanchez has been selected to serve as acting deputy chief of staff for operations in the Office of the Director. Developing a strategy for collecting such information should better position USCIS to identify and mitigate potential fraud. In March 2018, USCIS completed a fraud risk profile to strengthen its EB-5 Program fraud risk management. WebU.S. An official website of the United States government. Visit our Report Fraudwebpage toreport: Visit our website to report employee violations, misconduct, or abuses. Date: JUNE 2, 2023 . Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently taken steps intended to enhance fraud detection and mitigation activities for the Employment-Based Fifth Preference Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5 Program) and address previous GAO recommendations. All News | USCIS These initiatives include: As Secretary Johnson noted in his April 2015 letter to Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Leahy, the EB-5 program is not without its challenges. Speak with a USCIS spokesperson regarding media inquiries. For general inquiries, contact: USCIS Contact Center Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. WebTRUONG v. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES et al, No. We recommended ways to collect and track more specific data. We recommended that USCIS track and report data that immigrant investors report, and the agency verifies, on its program forms for total investments and jobs created. Review our. Upon meeting program requirements, immigrant investors are eligible for conditional status to live and work in the United States and can apply to remove the conditions for lawful permanent residency after 2 years.