Directory Verification Methodology
How EB5Status verifies attorneys and regional centers. This page explains every verification level, the data sources we use, what we deliberately do not verify, and why our directory is editorially independent.
Key Takeaways
- 1Every attorney listing includes a verification level: Bar Verified, EB-5 Focus Confirmed, Profile Claimed, or Unverified.
- 2Regional center data is sourced from USCIS published records (Blue tier) and quarterly FOIA requests (Green tier).
- 3Directory listings are never paid placements. EB5Status does not accept referral fees from attorneys or regional centers.
- 4All verification data follows a defined refresh cadence: bar status annually, USCIS data within 30 days, FOIA data quarterly.
- 5We are explicit about what we do not verify: case outcomes, self-reported track records, project quality, and investment returns.
Purpose
This page documents the verification methodology for the EB5Status attorney directory and regional center directory. It exists because transparency is a prerequisite for trust. If you are using our directory to evaluate attorneys or regional centers, you deserve to know exactly how we verify the information we present.
EB5Status is committed to publishing verified, independently sourced directory information. We apply the same rigor to directory data that we apply to every other dataset on the site: every data point has a source, every source has a trust tier, and every limitation is disclosed.
This page covers four areas: attorney verification levels, regional center verification levels, what we deliberately do not verify, and the editorial independence commitments that govern the entire directory.
Attorney Verification Levels
Every attorney listed in the EB5Status directory carries one of four verification levels. These levels describe what EB5Status has independently confirmed about the attorney. They do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or any guarantee of representation quality.
What it means
Active bar admission has been confirmed against official state bar records. The attorney holds an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
How we check
We use official state bar association online lookup tools to verify bar status. Each state maintains a public directory of licensed attorneys. We search by name and bar number (when available) and confirm active status directly from the bar association record.
What it covers
- •Active or inactive bar status
- •Disciplinary history flag (when publicly available from the bar association)
- •Jurisdiction(s) of admission
What it does not cover
- •Quality of legal representation
- •Case outcomes or approval rates
- •Client satisfaction or reviews
Refresh cadence
Annually, or immediately when flagged by a user report or data anomaly.
What it means
The attorney’s EB-5 immigration practice has been confirmed through multiple independent signals. This level indicates that the attorney actively practices in the EB-5 space, not merely that they hold a bar license.
Signals we look for
- •AILA EB-5 committee membership or leadership
- •Published EB-5 articles, whitepapers, or legal analysis
- •Presentations at EB-5 conferences or industry events
- •EB-5 case filings visible in USCIS or court records
- •Attorney self identification as an EB-5 practitioner on professional platforms
What it does not mean
This level does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or quality guarantee. Confirming that an attorney practices EB-5 law is not the same as evaluating whether they practice it well. Investors should conduct their own due diligence before engaging any attorney.
Refresh cadence
Annually. Practice focus can change over time, so we re-confirm signals on a yearly cycle.
What it means
The attorney has reviewed and confirmed the information on their EB5Status profile. This means the person behind the listing has verified that the displayed information is accurate.
How claiming works
Attorneys can request to claim their profile through a verification process. After identity confirmation, the attorney can review the listing, correct any inaccuracies, and update contact information.
What changes after claiming
- •A “Profile Claimed” badge appears on the listing
- •Contact information can be updated by the attorney
- •The attorney can request corrections to factual details
What does not change
- •The verification methodology remains the same
- •Editorial independence is maintained; claiming a profile does not influence placement
- •There is no cost to claim a profile and no paid upgrade path
What it means
Information has been compiled from public sources but has not yet been independently confirmed by EB5Status. The listing exists because publicly available data suggests the attorney may practice EB-5 law, but we have not completed our verification process.
Why some profiles start here
- •New additions to the directory that have not yet been through the verification cycle
- •Recently changed information that requires re-verification
- •Scheduled data refresh is pending
What investors should know
“Unverified” does not mean inaccurate. It means independent confirmation has not yet been completed. We recommend that investors independently verify credentials for any attorney whose profile carries this label.
Regional Center Verification Levels
Regional center listings follow a parallel verification framework. Because regional centers are regulated entities with publicly available USCIS records, we can draw from official government data sources in addition to the profile-level verification used for attorneys.
What it means
Information sourced directly from USCIS published records. This is the highest confidence level for regional center data because it comes from the government agency that designates and oversees regional centers.
Sources
- •I-956F approval notices
- •Federal Register designation announcements
- •USCIS approved regional center list
What it covers
- •Designation status (approved, terminated, pending)
- •Designation date
- •Geographic scope of authorization
- •NAICS industry categories
Refresh cadence
Within 30 days of USCIS publication. When USCIS updates its regional center list or publishes new designation notices, we incorporate the changes into the directory within this window.
What it means
Information obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by EB5Status to USCIS. FOIA data provides performance metrics and operational details that are not available through standard USCIS publications.
How FOIA works
EB5Status submits quarterly FOIA requests to USCIS requesting data on EB-5 petition processing, approval rates, and other operational metrics. FOIA responses are public records, and we publish the raw data alongside our analysis. For a detailed explanation of our FOIA process, see our FOIA methodology page.
What FOIA provides for regional centers
- •Filing volumes attributable to specific regional centers
- •Approval and denial rates
- •Processing time metrics by regional center
Limitations
FOIA data typically has a 3 to 6 month lag between the reporting period and when the data becomes available. Some fields may be redacted by USCIS for privacy or operational security reasons. We disclose all known limitations alongside any FOIA-sourced data point.
Refresh cadence
Quarterly, aligned with our FOIA request submission schedule.
What it means
A representative of the regional center has reviewed and confirmed the information on the EB5Status listing. The claiming process for regional centers mirrors the attorney claiming process.
Additional information from claimed profiles
After claiming, regional centers can provide supplementary information such as project count, management team details, and operational history. This supplementary information is clearly labeled as “Self Reported” with distinct styling so users can distinguish between independently verified data and information provided by the regional center itself.
What does not change
Claiming a profile does not alter the verification methodology, influence editorial decisions, or change the listing’s placement in the directory. Self-reported data is always presented separately from independently verified data.
What it means
Information has been compiled from public sources but has not yet been independently confirmed against USCIS records or FOIA data. This may apply to newly added regional centers or those whose USCIS records are in transition.
What investors should know
As with attorney listings, “unverified” does not mean inaccurate. It indicates that our verification process is pending. Investors should independently confirm the designation status of any regional center through the official USCIS approved regional center list before making investment decisions.
What We Deliberately Do Not Verify
Being explicit about limitations is as important as describing what we do verify. The following items are outside the scope of our directory verification methodology. We do not verify them, and we do not present unverified claims about them.
- •Case outcomes or approval rates for individual attorneys. We do not track or report how many cases a specific attorney has won, lost, or had denied. This data is not reliably available from any public source.
- •Self-reported “track record” numbers. Claims such as “$500 million in capital raised” or “1,000 green cards issued” cannot be independently verified and are not presented as fact in any listing.
- •Quality of legal representation. We confirm that an attorney is licensed and practices EB-5 law. We do not evaluate the quality, thoroughness, or effectiveness of their work.
- •Quality or safety of regional center projects. We report designation status and USCIS data. We do not assess the financial viability, risk profile, or quality of any project offered by a regional center.
- •Financial projections or investment returns. We do not verify, endorse, or repeat any financial projections, return estimates, or job creation forecasts made by regional centers or their agents.
- •Client testimonials or reviews. We do not collect, display, or verify client reviews. Testimonials are inherently subjective and cannot be independently validated.
- •Rankings or ratings. EB5Status does not rank attorneys or regional centers. There is no “best,” “top,” or “recommended” designation. All listings are presented on equal footing.
We publish less data with perfect provenance rather than more data with ambiguous sourcing. If we cannot independently verify a claim, we do not include it.
Editorial Independence
The EB5Status directory operates under the same editorial independence commitments that govern every other part of the site. These commitments are non-negotiable.
- •Directory listings are not paid placements. No attorney or regional center can purchase a listing, pay for enhanced visibility, or buy a featured position.
- •EB5Status does not accept referral fees. We do not receive commissions, referral fees, or any form of payment tied to connecting investors with attorneys or regional centers.
- •Listing in the directory does not constitute an endorsement. Appearing in the EB5Status directory means only that the entity has been identified through our data collection process. It is not a recommendation, endorsement, or seal of approval.
- •Revenue and editorial decisions are separated by a firewall. Advertising and subscription revenue are managed independently from directory editorial decisions. For the full policy, see our Editorial Independence Policy.
How to report inaccurate information
If you find inaccurate, outdated, or misleading information in any directory listing, please contact us at data@eb5status.com. We investigate all reports and respond within 5 business days. Corrections are documented publicly at /corrections.
Data Refresh and Maintenance
Directory data is only useful if it is current. We follow defined refresh cadences for each data type and flag listings when data exceeds its expected freshness window.
| Data Type | Refresh Cadence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bar verification | Annual refresh cycle | State bar association records |
| USCIS regional center data | Within 30 days of publication | USCIS published records |
| FOIA data | Quarterly | EB5Status FOIA requests |
| Profile claims | Processed within 10 business days | Attorney or RC submission |
| EB-5 focus signals | Annual review | Public professional records |
How stale data is flagged
When a data point exceeds its expected refresh window, the listing is flagged for review. If we cannot confirm current status within a reasonable timeframe, the verification level may be downgraded to “Unverified” until fresh data is obtained. We would rather display an honest “Unverified” label than present outdated information as current.
Frequently Asked Questions
How this data was calculated
This page documents the verification methodology for the EB5Status attorney and regional center directories. It covers verification levels, data sources, refresh cadences, editorial independence commitments, and known limitations.
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Last updated: April 2026
EB5 Status is for educational purposes only. Not legal or investment advice. The directory does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of any attorney, regional center, or investment project. Investors should conduct independent due diligence and consult with qualified legal counsel before making any EB-5 investment decisions.