USCIS released detailed case processing statistics on December 20, 2025 showing improvements across all major EB-5 processing service centers. The Vermont Service Center, which handles approximately 65 percent of all EB-5 petitions, reported average processing times of 21 months for reserved category cases, down from 24 months in September 2025. California Service Center times improved to 22 months from 26 months, while other processing locations showed similar positive trends.
The improvements are attributed to staffing augmentations completed in late 2025, implementation of streamlined case management procedures, and continued focus on reserved category case processing. Rural category cases averaged 18 months, high unemployment cases averaged 20 months, and unreserved cases averaged 28 months. USCIS indicated that the agency is continuing to focus resources on unreserved case processing and projects further improvements in that category during 2026.
The positive processing time trends provide encouragement to investors and regional centers planning new project launches. Industry observers note that the current processing velocities appear sustainable and suggest that visa retrogression remains unlikely through 2026 absent major policy changes. USCIS has committed to providing quarterly processing time updates going forward to maintain transparency regarding case adjudication timelines.
EB-5 investors and petitioners, regional center operators, investors in rural and high unemployment area projects, visa applicants and consular officers
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