EB5 Investors Magazine | Page 54

a priority for the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS , and we are working diligently on reforms through the formal rulemaking process . USCIS encourages interested parties to provide comments during the public comment period to any proposed rules .
EB5 Investors Magazine : If the EB-5 program were to sunset , what would potentially happen to investors currently in the process ?
Rodriguez : As you know , the EB-5 program as a whole is continuing law , but the regional center program is scheduled to sunset on Sept . 30 , 2016 . USCIS is closely monitoring any developments in Congress on this question and , if necessary , will provide appropriate guidance to the public regarding any sunset .
EB5 Investors Magazine : How do you see EB-5 expanding or receding in the coming years ?
Rodriguez : The EB-5 program has seen unprecedented growth in recent years . While only 16 regional centers existed in 2007 , there were 861 approved regional centers as of Sept . 6 , 2016 . Similarly , the number of visas issued to investors and their dependents increased from 1,360 in fiscal 2008 to 10,692 in fiscal 2014 .
Despite the growth in popularity of the program in recent years , however , it ’ s impossible to forecast whether the number of applications and petitions will continue to stay at current levels or increase due to the number of contributing factors outside the agency ’ s control .
EB5 Investors Magazine : What is your agency doing to educate Americans in how EB-5 helps the country ?
Rodriguez : There are two main ways IPO provides information to the public about the EB-5 program . The first is publishing information on our website , and the second is through in-person and teleconference engagements .
IPO also actively works with federal , state , and local agencies and organizations to provide information about the program .
Website : IPO uses our website ( www . uscis . gov / eb-5 ) to promote awareness and educate the public about the EB-5 program . IPO has published detailed information on program policy , regulatory information , program updates , and links to EB-5 resources on our website . IPO has also expanded its online information to include lists of regional centers by state and answers to frequently asked questions . IPO also posted a page about the EB-5 program translated into Mandarin Chinese .
Engagements : In the past two years , IPO has held more than 30 national and local public engagements . Each engagement averages 730 participants , including participation either by telephone or in person .
“ USCIS has built a strong foundation that supports its administration of the EB-5 program as it fulfills Congress ’ intent to stimulate the U . S . economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors , while safeguarding national security and program integrity .”
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EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE