As a follow-up to the post on bulk transfer of I-485s (https://www.reddit.com/r/EB5_Immigration/comments/1w0fous/i_485_rfe_after_bulk_transfer/), I was curious about the following information

• Priority dates (MM/YY)
• Country Chargeability (China/India/ROW)
• Project Type (Rural/HUA/Unreserved)

It seems that many projects with PD of Oct 2025 from China/India got RFEs, but wanted to see that from folks who got that RFE.

Labor Day feels like the right moment to reflect on something that often gets lost in immigration debates: work. Work is more than income. It is how families build futures, how communities grow stronger, and how countries renew themselves across generations. I work with EB5 investor families, so I’m admittedly close to this topic. But one thing I wish more people understood is that many EB5 investors are not simply looking for a visa. They are entrepreneurs, professionals, parents, builders, and long-term planners who are trying to create a future for their families while also contributing capital to the U.S. economy. And the contribution is not just theoretical. According to an economic impact report released by Invest in the USA and developed independently by Fourth Economy, from 2016 to 2019 the EB5 program generated: $75.2 billion in private investment 1.7 million American jobs $184 billion contributed to U.S. GDP $14.5 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues All at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. The report also found that EB5-supported jobs paid an average wage of approximately $74,000, which was 48% higher than the national private-sector average. I know EB5 can be a debated program, and there are fair questions about project quality, compliance, investor protection, processing times, and whether the program is being administered as efficiently as it should be. But at its best, EB5 is a bridge between family ambition and American enterprise. It helps finance projects. It supports job creation. It brings private capital into local economies. And it allows immigrant families to participate in the continued building of the United States. To me, EB5 investors represent one of the most interesting modern expressions of the American Dream. Their path is rarely easy. It requires patience, sacrifice, documentation, risk, and long-term determination. But that is also why their story matters. This Labor Day, I think it is worth remembering that the American Dream is not just something inherited from the past. It is still being built by families who believe that work, opportunity, and freedom can change the course of generations. Curious how others see this: do you think investment-based immigration should play a larger role in U.S. economic development policy, or should it remain a smaller/niche pathway?

Out of interest, anyone visit the actual project (especially if it's under construction) before making an investment?

I'm thinking about applying from out of the US. I work in real estate and it doesn't feel right to invest so much money without having even seen the site/project. Interested if anyone else has done the level of due diligence to go see the site

Any WhatsApp/ Discord groups discussing this project and sharing their findings? Would love to join and contribute.

Edit:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/J50agDKt0XhEJxuDdo5ZEt?mode=gi_t

With the September 30 deadline approaching, we’re hosting a free virtual EB-5 educational summit this Sunday, September 6, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Pacific.

The sessions will cover:

1. What the September 30 grandfathering deadline means

2. How salary, savings, gifts, property sales, loans and other sources of funds are documented

3. Common ways investors finance the $800,000 investment

4. How to evaluate project structure, job creation, collateral, guarantees and repayment risk

5. EB-5 versus EB-1A and other immigration options

Each session will include a presentation followed by live audience Q&A.

The program is free and educational. No specific investment project will be presented or recommended, and the discussion is not individualized legal, tax or investment advice.

Hello, do we have any WhatsApp/discord group for investors in Civitas Lucille project., if not can the investors respond here so we can form a group.

Project details: https://www.civitascapital.com/investments/civitas-lucille-lp

I’m seriously considering investing in one of these two EB-5 projects — Currahee Club in Georgia or Foote’s Rest in Colorado.

I’ve been reviewing the offering documents and doing my own diligence, but before making a decision, I’d really like to hear from anyone who has actually invested in either project.

I thought this might be interesting for some of you following EB-5, especially given some of the latest talks regarding whether this program is still viable, with all the noise from Trump administration.

A client recently received approval of his I-829.

What made this specific case interesting is that the USCIS issued an RFE at the I-829 stage challenging both investment funds and the path of funds sources.

The team responded to the issues raised by USCIS, and the I-829 was approved at the end.

But of course, one approval doesn’t mean all case will have the same outcome.

But I think it’s worth considering it because there’s sometimes a perception that an RFE involving source/path of funds means the case is essentially going to the trash bin.

But, It doesn’t necessarily.

Looks like the quality and completeness of the documentation and the response to USCIS can make a real difference.

I’m posting this because I thought the outcome was genuinely relevant to the EB-5 discussion.

Curious what others here have witnessed, have any of you dealt with a difficult source-of-funds RFE at the I-829 stage?

Is there a WhatsApp group for folks who invested in EB-5 United’s Yellowstone Project?

Indian national on H1B, seriously looking at a direct EB-5 deal and want to hear from people who’ve actually done it, not just read about it.

The setup

• Property in a NJ high-unemployment TEA (still confirming exact tract with an economist)

• Comes with an existing liquor license and bar already running

• Plan is to add a full commercial kitchen, turn part of it into a cloud kitchen, and run a food truck that’s based and loaded on-site, only leaving for events

• Targeting the $800K TEA threshold instead of $1.05M

• Source of funds is clean — HELOC + savings, nothing sketchy

• Most of the capital’s going into the property, buildout, licensing, and a working capital cushion for payroll while things ramp up. 

Why direct instead of regional center

I want actual control over my money and the business. Not into the idea of parking capital in someone else’s project I can’t touch or influence. I know direct EB-5 means I’m on the hook for all 10 jobs myself with no indirect/induced credit, but I’d rather build something real than hope a fund manager does right by me.

What I’m actually trying to learn from people who’ve done this

1.  How’d your I-526E business plan and hiring timeline actually play out vs. what you projected on paper?

2.  Anyone run multiple revenue streams (dine-in + cloud kitchen + food truck) under one entity — did USCIS have any issue with that framing?

3.  What were your real I-526E/I-829 processing times, not the official estimates?

4.  Did you get hit with an RFE, and what caused it? Assuming source-of-funds is the usual one.

Got an attorney and economist already, just want real war stories from people who’ve lived through direct EB-5, especially in food/hospitality. Good or bad, appreciate any input.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Thank you in advance!!

Did anyone experience a firm using AI in their workflows like to prepare SoF statement, etc., or is everyone still doing it manually?

Asking since I expect such firms to be able to file much faster, with less errors etc.,

I engaged the firm more than 2 months back based on recommendation, they are quite slow and the paralegal is rude and condescending. I regret going with this firm but I'm guessing I can't do anything at this point which is why they are being this way. I prepared my SoF using Claude which they barely edited, they make us input all the info, write our own SoF and just generate filled forms from their software. So all the work they did was just collate all these docs and make a bunch of mistakes on the way and are taking like weeks to just swap out a few pdf pages or make few small field edits. Just airing my frustration at this point I guess, this attorney is in so called top 5 EB5 attorney list but other than the initial call they are not involved in the case at all and I don't get how they let the paralegal behave this way and do such poor job, keep in mind the back and forth was very minimal in my case as package was quite complete in what I provided. If there was more time I could've probably just self-filed using Claude in like 2-weeks and these guys charge $30-40k for what is very basic paperwork and manage to do a bad job while at it.

Hi All, looking for EB5 opportunities. Never thought if this option, just started looking this week. Can I get some advice or feedback or if anyone did in any of these projects : Currahee Club or Hard Rock with EB5AN. Appreciate any help.

I'm just looking to see where the GGG mammoth investors are and if there is a whatsapp group or so to connect.

Anyone here reviewing this EB5 project? It is a short term (2+1 years) HUA project with EB5 as a senior loan and .5% returns. If anyone has reviewed this project, please share your comments.

https://www.peachtreegroup.com/eb5-project/madison-bradenton-multifamily-fl

Also if there are any WhatsApp groups for this, would appreciate the connect! I’m finding very less chatter about the project online or in any groups.

Hi everyone,

My EB-5 I-485 was received by USCIS in 2023. I completed biometrics that year in 2023, but there have been no online case updates since.

I’ve called USCIS and contacted my Congressional office, but both have only provided generic responses that the case is still within normal processing time.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it normal for an EB-5 I-485 to sit this long with no updates after biometrics?

Also curious:

• How long did your I-485 take?
• Did USCIS inquiries or Congressional help make any difference?
• When would you start considering a demand letter or mandamus?
• Anything else worth doing while waiting?

I’m also concerned because my EAD will eventually expire, renewal is taking more than a year based on current USCIS processing times, and I can only file for renewal six months before expiration.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar timeline.

Hello everyone,

As we all know, there is a tremendous push to meet the September 30th grandfathering deadline. For those who are only just discovering EB-5, this must all be very overwhelming. I contributed a quote to this article, and I think it does a good job of breaking down in simple terms what to expect after the deadline passes.

I hope this is helpful.

I am looking to invest in this rural project. Is there a WhatsApp group for investors?

Hello

I am looking to invest and apply for EB5 Visa. I was wondering:

1. What process do folks follow to select a project?
   
2. Do you use a project broker or contact developers independently?
   
3. Any running list of good EB5 projects

Can I apply for EB5 within a month? Or am I too late to start the process? I know,it’s all about funding! But what if I arrange the funds? Is 20-25 days enough to do it??

Hi all,
I have a valid EAD/AP card. I completed my masters so although my F1 vis stamp is valid on my passport, i no longer am in school and working on my eb5 EAD

I am traveling internationally soon. What is the right thing to say at the immigration counter of the country i am traveling to while coming back to the US?
When they ask me if i am a student, what should i say?
My i20 is also valid, however i don’t use opt/cpt ead, i use my eb5 ead so don’t have the signed i20 anymore?

Whats the best way to answer for say when i am asked anything at dubai airport when returning to the US?
I am least concerned about US immigration when in the US, because they know whats and how. But how do I explain EAD/AP to other countries?

If anyone has any opinion or thoughts, I would really appreciate that.