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Regional center track records are one of the first forms of comparison that help investors choose between alternative investment possibilities. Early on in the EB-5 program, that was almost enough to compare center to center and come up with your favored option. As there were only a handful of approved centers, comparisons were fairly straightforward. That situation has changed dramatically in recent years. With more than 80 approved centers and more being added to the list on a regular basis, it is much harder for immigrants to compare all the centers, to understand the diversity of information and statistics that are found, and to be able to confidently choose which center is best for their needs. Add to that the facts discussed before—the fact that the centers should not be your one and only reliable source of research and information—and what you have is an unmanageable situation for the average immigrant investor.
In addition to this, and this is a very important fact to highlight and always remember, there can be quite a lot of differentiation even within an established and trusted regional center. A good track record with a specific or past project may not be a guarantee of the investment and visa potential of the next planned project. For this reason it is always necessary to evaluate not only the overall and long-term track record of the center, but also the track record of each project in conjunction with an in-depth analysis of the proposed projects that are being offered by the center at the current time.
It is also critical to know that designation or approval as a regional center by the USCIS does not mean that all projects and petitions emanating from that center will automatically be approved. Each project that the center undertakes is evaluated individually, as are all petitions and applications. It is true that designation as a regional center may be a more secure avenue of investment for immigration, but this is only a threshold requirement—the project and the petition still need to prove their worth beyond doubt to the USCIS.
The track record of a regional center, while not a guarantee of individual approval, is a strong indicator of what the center and its management are capable of achieving. It indicates whether or not the program and its principals have the “know how” to develop strong investment programs that will qualify as immigration investments and get approved by the USCIS, and whether or not the individual investor’s petitions will be approved, both at the I-526 Stage for Conditional Permanent Residence and at the I-829 stage for Removal of Conditions.
That being said, track record alone is still not enough for you to commit to any regional center. The project that you are considering also needs to be thoroughly evaluated on its own merits. Success with a past project is a good start, but in conjunction with this you need professional advice to determine the potential viability of the project.
To add yet another contributing factor to the mix, all the recently launched centers and new projects must also be evaluated and considered. It takes an even higher level of care, research, and due diligence to evaluate the potential of a brand-new project where there is little or no record of success to fall back on. In order to consider a new center and/or project on your regional center “short list”, it must be thoroughly researched in conjunction with economic forecasts and business plans in order to determine its potential viability.
Contact Which EB5 for in-depth analysis of any potential regional center investment you are considering
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