I-526/I-526E Approval Rates by Fiscal Year
Data current as of · Source: USCIS Quarterly Statistics
The EB-5 approval rate reached 94% in Q3 FY2025, the highest quarterly rate since the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act took effect in March 2022. Approval rates for I-526E investor petitions have climbed steadily from 82% in FY2022 to 94% today, reflecting USCIS adjudicator familiarity with the reformed framework and improved petition quality. This page tracks the percentage of completed petitions that received approval in each fiscal year, drawing on official USCIS quarterly statistics.
Key Takeaways
- 1The I-526E approval rate reached 94% in Q3 FY2025, the highest quarterly rate recorded under the Reform and Integrity Act.
- 2Approval rates have risen in every fiscal year since FY2022, climbing from 82% to 94% over three years.
- 3The upward trend reflects growing adjudicator confidence with I-526E petition standards and stronger filings from immigration attorneys who have adapted to the reformed requirements.
- 4FY2025 completion volume (1,113 cases through Q3) already approaches the FY2024 full year total, suggesting both higher throughput and sustained quality.
1,047 approved of 1,113 completed
Approval Rates by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | Approvals | Approval Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (Q1 to Q3) | 2,881 | 94% | Highest |
| FY2024 | 1,834 | 91% | Lower |
| FY2023 | 563 | 85% | Lower |
| FY2022 | 312 | 82% | Lower |
Source: USCIS Quarterly Statistics. Approval rate is calculated as approvals divided by total completions (approvals plus denials) for the period. FY2025 data covers Q1 through Q3.
Understanding the Upward Trend
The sustained rise in I-526E approval rates since FY2022 is one of the most significant developments in recent EB-5 program history. When the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act took effect in March 2022, the industry faced substantial uncertainty about how USCIS would adjudicate petitions under the new statutory framework. The initial FY2022 approval rate of 82% reflected that transition period, as both adjudicators and practitioners adapted to the reformed requirements. By FY2023, the rate climbed to 85% as USCIS published updated policy guidance and immigration attorneys refined their filing strategies. The acceleration continued into FY2024 at 91%, driven by clearer adjudication precedents and a growing body of approved petitions that established de facto standards for petition preparation.
The current 94% rate in Q3 FY2025 represents the culmination of this trend. Notably, the completion volume has also increased significantly: 1,113 petitions were adjudicated in Q3 FY2025 alone, compared to just 312 approvals across all of FY2022. This combination of higher approval rates and greater throughput suggests that USCIS has built institutional capacity for the reformed program.
What This Means for Investors
A 94% approval rate indicates that well prepared I-526E petitions filed with experienced immigration counsel are very likely to succeed. However, the rate should not be interpreted as a guarantee. The remaining denials underscore that USCIS continues to scrutinize source of funds documentation, investment structure compliance, and job creation methodology. Investors should view these approval rates as evidence that the reformed program is functioning as intended, while maintaining rigorous attention to petition quality. The grandfathering deadline of September 30, 2026 adds urgency to these statistics. With filing volumes on pace to exceed FY2024, the pending backlog will continue to grow. Investors who file well prepared petitions early benefit from both the current high approval environment and position themselves ahead of the anticipated filing surge as the deadline approaches.
How this data was calculated
Approval rates are calculated by dividing the number of approved petitions by the total number of completed adjudications (approvals plus denials) for the stated period. Pending, withdrawn, and administratively closed cases are excluded from the denominator. Raw petition counts are sourced directly from USCIS; the approval rate percentage is derived by EB5Status.
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Cite this page
EB5 Status. "I-526/I-526E Approval Rates by Fiscal Year." eb5status.com. Data as of Q3 FY2025. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://www.eb5status.com/en/data/approval-rates-by-year