LRS

The USCIS body that reviews appeals of immigration petition denials. EB-5-related AAO decisions establish precedent on issues such as source of funds sufficiency, at-risk investment standards, and job creation methodology. AAO decisions are published and can be cited as persuasive authority.

The mechanism established by the RIA for periodic adjustment of EB-5 minimum investment amounts based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adjustments are calculated every five years from the RIA's effective date, with the first adjustment projected for January 1, 2027.

The daily journal of the United States government that publishes proposed and final rules, notices, and executive orders from federal agencies. USCIS uses the Federal Register to publish proposed regulations, final rules, and fee schedules affecting the EB-5 program.

The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a subcategory of the EB-2 employment-based visa that allows applicants to self-petition without employer sponsorship or PERM labor certification. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, that they are well-positioned to advance it, and that it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement. NIW is evaluated under the Matter of Dhanasar framework (26 I&N Dec. 884, AAO 2016).

The congressionally mandated limit on the number of immigrant visas that can be issued in a given category per fiscal year. The EB-5 program is allocated approximately 10,000 visas annually (7.1% of the total 140,000 employment-based allocation), including derivative family members.