How do I track a regional center on behalf of a project? - EB5Investors.com

How do I track a regional center on behalf of a project?

I have brought a deal to a company that has filed the necessary paperwork with the government in regards to EB-5 funding through a regional center, and supposedly has the backing money-wise. Is there anyway to track, through the government, how far they have come along in the EB-5 process? My customer paid them an upfront fee almost a year and a half ago. They claim their I-924 applicant forms are filled out and filed, but I have no way to verify this but their word. How can I know that what they”re saying is true?

Answers

Shahzad Q Qadri

Shahzad Q Qadri

RC Creators
Answered on

Unfortunately, there is no easy way. They should have received an unique identifier for the project; you may want to ask for that.

Fredrick W Voigtmann

Fredrick W Voigtmann

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

There is no way to track a regional center project''s progress through the government. You can hire a due diligence firm to review their documents and advise you on the risk.

Salvatore Picataggio

Salvatore Picataggio

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

There is not a formal way to track the status of the I-924 application. You can contact the Immigrant Investor Program of USCIS with the applicant''s receipt number, ID number, and regional center name. If this "applicant" can''t provide you this proof that an application is pending, you may want to consider finding another regional center.

Philip H Teplen

Philip H Teplen

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

If filed, there are filing receipts. You and your clients have right to demand this evidence. I suggest that you seek counsel.

Lei Jiang

Lei Jiang

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

You can ask your customer service center for the receipt number. Then you can go on the USCIS website to check the status of the petition. But I-924 does take more than 1 year now.

Lynne Feldman

Lynne Feldman

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

Ask them for confirmation of the filing and the case number for tracking.

Jinhee Wilde

Jinhee Wilde

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

Every petition that gets filed has a receipt number. If you have this number, you could track the status of the application online on the USCIS website. The processing time for I-924s, like all other EB-5 cases, are taking much longer than it used to be at 12-19 months. If you are in a partnership or have a contractual relationship with a company, then you could ask for the copy of the I-924 receipt to obtain the receipt number.

Ed Beshara

Ed Beshara

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

The facts you present are very unique and require the assistance of an experienced EB-5 attorney who can ask more relevant questions and then provide a solution.

A Olusanjo Omoniyi

A Olusanjo Omoniyi

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

The best way is to ask for documentation regarding the filing. Curiously though, you mentioned I-924, but what about form I-526? Was it ever filed? Regardless of what happened between the two forms, there are multiple steps you can take. First, a far more effective way to resolve your concerns is to ask the regional center for the I-797C, Notice of Action, which the regional center should have received from USCIS on your case. The I-797C, Notice of Action is literally a receipt from the USCIS acknowledging that an application (or petition) had been filed with the agency. Typically, the I-797C contains a lot of information regarding a filing such as the names of both applicant and beneficiary, date of filing, type of visa filed for in this case EB-5, etc. Also, information in an I-797C includes the name of the USCIS office that is handling the application, customer service number and basic information on how you can find information on the pending application. Furthermore, if you do secure the I-797C, use the alien number, or perhaps the receipt number, assigned to the case to do a quick check on the status of the application online by going to the USCIS case online status website, type in either the receipt number or alien number to check the status of the application. Last but not the least, using the customer Sservice center number on the I-797C, you can call the toll-free number on the I-797C. Advisably, an attorney can easily resolve this for you. Caveat emptor, do not live by the word of this regional center alone, because the investor''s fund is tied up, and you need to take steps to verify the state of this application.

Nelson Lee

Nelson Lee

Immigration Attorneys
Answered on

1) Ask for a copy of the filed I-924 form as well as all related correspondence to and from USCIS, including any RFEs (Requests for Further Evidence). As an investor, your client has a right to demand copies of these documents; 2) There is a number for applicants to check on the status of an I-924, but the USCIS may not release information to individuals not identified as the applicant(s). The number is 1-800-375-5283. You can also try e-mailing USCIS.ImmigrantinvestorProgram@dhs.gov 3) If the USCIS will not release information to you, you could also try filing a Freedom of Information Act request for information but this can be a lengthy process. If the project folks refuse to provide you with the documents in (1), then I suggest you consider more aggressive tactics with the aid of an attorney.

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