EB-5 Timing

 

NOTE

As of 2024 this page needs updating. For most recent information, see posts in the EB-5 Statistics category and the charts on my Processing Data page.]

Summary of Key Data Points for EB-5 Timing Calculations

• Click here to access my Excel file with the most recent available key data points related to EB-5 visa backlogs and timing.
• Visit my Processing Data subpage for a collection of data related to petition processing

Primary Sources

• USCIS Processing Time Information page
• USCIS Citizenship & Immigration Data page with quarterly reports for I-526, I-829, and I-924A (Statistics for EB-5 petitions filed before 2013 are available in the file USCIS 1991-2012 EB-5 Petition Processing Stats)
• State Department Report of the Visa Office (note that “Employment Fifth” is EB-5, C5 is direct investment in TEA, T5 is direct investment outside a TEA, I5 is regional center program for TEA, R5 is regional center program outside a TEA, and figures reflect visas issued to investors plus investor family members). See also the DOS Immigrant Visa Statistics page.
• DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (EB-5 is in Table 7)
• State Department Monthly Visa Bulletin
• Presentations from Charles Oppenheim of Department of State regarding EB-5 visa availability and backlogs in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022.
• IIUSA compiles and processes data obtained from Freedom of Information Act requests and other primary sources, and publishes EB-5 Resources and Data
• AIIA compiles and processes data obtained from Freedom of Information Act requests and other primary sources, reported on the AIIA blog.
• USCIS FAQ page on Visa Availability and Priority Dates
• Operation of the Numerical Control Process Department of State

Blog Post Links

Posts with analysis and data for USCIS form processing (I-526, I-829, I-924)

• Factors and Trends Underlying I-526 Processing Times (8/25/2022)
• FY2022 Q1 USCIS Processing Report (3/14/2022)
• FY2021 Q4 update on I-526 and I-829 Processing (12/16/2021)
• I-829 Status Report as of August 2021 (8/8/2021)
• I-526 Status Report: July 2021
• Updates (reauthorization, regulations litigation, FY2021 Q3 processing data)
• Authorization (webinars updated), Regulations (articles), FY2021 Q2 Processing Data
• FY2021 Q1 EB-5 Performance Data
• FY2020 Q4 EB-5 Form Data, Mayorkas Nomination, Backlog for China 2015 (1/27/2021)
• I-526 Processing Status (12/3/2020)
• FY2020 Q3 Processing Data (11/17/2020)
• What is normal I-829 processing? (10/31/2020)
• Supporting Mandamus and APA Actions (9/22/2020)
• I-526 Processing Time Report Update (country-specific) (8/28/2020)
• USCIS Funding, Furloughs, and Fee Rule (8/18/2020)
• Processing Time Report Update, analysis of method (7/22/2020)
• FY2020 Q2 EB-5 Form Processing Data (6/23/2020)
• Interpreting Processing Times Reports (6/2/2020)
• FY2020 Q1 EB-5 Processing Statistics (4/21/2020)
• I-526 processing context, 2017-2019 (3/11/2020)
• Complete I-526 and I-829 data for FY2019 Q1, by country (3/9/2020)
• Posts about the “visa availability approach” for I-526 processing:
  • USCIS Adjusts Process for Managing EB-5 Visa Petition Inventory (1/29/2020)
  • I-526 processing times: volume and priority (Comment 1 on the “visa availability approach”) (1/29/2020)
  • Why I-526 processing time is relevant (2/2/2020)
  • Report from 3/13 USCIS Engagement on Visa Availability Approach (3/16/2020)
• Pending I-526 by country as of 10/2018 (10/25/2018)
• FY17 per-country I-526 data, SEC action (10/9/2018)

Posts with analysis and data for EB-5 Visa Wait Times

• December 2021 Visa Bulletin (airport analogy)
• Minimizing FY2022 Visa Loss (12/26/2021)
• Data insights for the future of EB-5 (9/29/2021)
• FY2021 EB-5 visas issued by country, and analysis of constraints on visa issuance (4/21/2022)
• Analyzing potential changes to EB-5 visa availability (2/22/2021)
• EB-5 visas issued by country in FY2020
• FY2020 Q4 EB-5 Form Data, Mayorkas Nomination, Backlog for China 2015 (1/27/2021)
• Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (12/3/2020)
• Interpreting November 2020 EB-5 Visa Availability Predictions from Charles Oppenheim (11/24/2020)
• EB-5 Process Illustration and Visa Bulletin Questions (10/23/2020)
• EB-5 Visa Availability in FY2021 (9/24/2020)
• Perspectives on the EB-5 visa queue (new I-526 approval report) (6/30/2020)
• 6/16 Oppenheim webinar updates (visa number usage and estimate, processing, retrogression) 6/17/2020
• Interpreting the Visa Bulletin (5/29/2020)
• FY2019 EB-5 Visa Stats by Country (2/21/2020)
• FY2019 Q4 EB-5 Petition Processing Statistics (1/15/2020)
• 2/2020 Visa Bulletin India FAD (1/17/2020)
• EB-5 Visa Timing in 2020 (12/31/2019)
• October 2019 Oppenheim EB-5 wait time estimates (11/13/2019)
• Per country cap discussion (HR 1044) (7/3/2019)
• Understanding the Visa Bulletin (6/19/2019)
• Forecasting Visa Availability: 5/6 Oppenheim projections and big picture (5/6/2019)
• FY2018 EB-5 Visas by Country (1/7/2019)
• Applying data to questions (I-526 timing, visa timing) (11/13/2018)
• I-526 and EB-5 visa wait times; country-specific effects of potential changes (6/28/2018)
• AILA/IIUSA Forum Updates (Kendall, Oppenheim, visa availability) (11/5/2018)
• Pending I-526 by country as of 10/2018 (10/25/2018)
• FY17 per-country I-526 data, SEC action (10/9/2018)
• Visa Numbers (FY2018 Q3 and conference update) (7/27/2018)
• EB-5 Visa Waiting Line and Visa Allocation  (4/25/2018) – A post that details how EB-5 visas get allocated, and reviews the statutory basis
• Older timing posts for reference: How Long Does I-526 Take? (III) (5/18/2018), Visa Numbers (China, Vietnam, India, Brazil, S. Korea, Taiwan) April 23, 2018, Visa Numbers Update (Vietnam, India), TEA Reform Proposal, RC Audit Change (10/26/2017), EB-5 Timing Issues and Visa Wait: Process and Data (10/13/2017), EB-5 Timing Issues: Not a Fast Track (1/12/2016,  2014 visa numbers by country, 2015 visa numbers by country, and 2016 visa numbers by country, 2017 visa numbers by country