Addressing a Major Bottleneck in EB-5 

The EB-5 program has faced significant backlogs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a situation that has been made worse by the effects of the pandemic. For many investors, having the entire required investment amount of $800,000 readily available at the time of application can be a challenge. 

To overcome this hurdle, some regional centers and partners, including LCR Capital Partners, are now offering a partial payment option. This strategy allows investors to initiate their EB-5 application and file their petition with USCIS (Form I-526) by making a “down payment” of a portion of the total investment, typically around 50%. The remaining balance can then be paid within a set timeframe, usually six to twelve months. 

How the Partial Payment Option Works 

This flexible payment model is particularly beneficial for investors who are expecting to receive funds from sources like the sale of an asset, dividends, or other forms of liquidity within the near future. By making a partial payment, they can secure their place in the queue and begin the process of obtaining a Green Card without waiting for the full amount to be liquidated. 

A crucial aspect of this strategy is that all source-of-funds documentation for the entire $800,000 investment must be completed and submitted at the time of the initial I-526 filing. This ensures that the investor has a clear and verifiable plan for how the remaining funds will be paid. 

Previously, many regional centers were hesitant to use this approach. However, after successful I-526 approvals from USCIS for cases that used this strategy, the method has been validated as a legitimate way to begin the EB-5 process. This offers investors greater flexibility and a more expedited path toward their immigration goals.