Questions and Answers > EB-5 Processing Times

How can the new processing policy of I-526 accelerate the adjudication of my case?

My I-526 petition was filed in December 2018. I am an Egyptian national. How could the new I-526 processing policy help my case get approved faster?

Answers

• Bernard P Wolfsdorf

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 24, 2020

  Yes, since Egypt is not a backlogged country, USCIS is stating that it will be able to speed up processing for non-backlogged countries.

• Belma Demirovic Chinchoy

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  Assuming USCIS implements the policy as stated, your case would be placed in the queue before those filed by Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese nationals.

• Stephen Berman

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  Since there is a shorter or no backlog for Egypt, it likely would get a slower, and not faster adjudication.

• Salvatore Picataggio

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  That seems to be the intent. But we do not know by how much.

• Vaughan de Kirby

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  Yes, it should speed processing by USCIS as their new policy is to adjudicate applications for individuals like you whose visa availability is current.

• Dale Schwartz

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  It should speed up the processing of your case.

• Fredrick W Voigtmann

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  USCIS will prioritize adjudication for I-526 petitions with current priority dates. This means that I-526 petitions filed by Chinese, Indians, and Vietnamese likely will not be adjudicated as quickly as petitions filed by EB-5 investors born in other countries, like Egypt. There is no indication as of yet how this will affect I-526 processing times, but it does seem like some I-526 processing will be accelerated as compared with previous processing times.

• A Olusanjo Omoniyi

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  It may not necessarily have any effect on your case. For Egyptian nationals, a visa is available and current upon approval of their I-526. Thus, the only issue for you really is how soon can your I-526 be approved. If you need better source information, check the Visa Bulletin issued on a monthly basis by the U.S. Department of State.

• Mark AM Catam, Esq

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  In theory, yes. However, my understanding is that it is yet to be implemented.

• Lynne Feldman

  Immigration Attorney

  Answered on February 21, 2020

  Because it is no longer first in and first out, persons from countries with no EB-5 backlog will be decided first.