EB5改革將有利投資移民申請

參議院最近的移民改革仍在進行。參議員Leahy發布了有關EB5投資區域中心幾項重要的修改草案。如果這些修改草案最終變為法律，EB5投資區域中心項目將大大地有利於投資者。以下是修改內容的概述：

1.    永久保留EB5 投資移民區域中心類別。現時投資移民區域中心類有效期到2015年9月。
2.    投資申請人的配偶子女不計算在10, 000名簽證名額內。
3.    每年至少有5, 000個簽證給予那些投資在高失業率的地區的申請人。
4.    移民局可以提前批准區域中心的經營業務計劃，將現行的審核I-526「模式」編成法典。移民局可能對那些有提前批准經營計劃的投資移民提供加急服務。
5.    調整EB5投資移民的最低投資金額。將來可能根據CPI指數調整最低投資金額。
6.    要求投資區域中心每年向移民局報告投資情況。移民局將會更多的信息審查I-829申請。
7.    如果發現投資區域中心違反規例，移民局有權對其罰款，暫時或永久地不準其再次加入投資移民項目。
8.    投資區域中心必須遵守證券法，如有違反，移民局有權終止區域中心的資格。

請查看以下英文原文：

•        The Leahy Amendment 2 permanently authorizes the EB-5 program, which is currently set to sunset in September 2015.
•        It exempts the spouses and children of investors from the 10,000 visa numerical limitation, freeing up more visas for investors each year.
•        The Amendment also carves out at least 5,000 EB-5 visas a year for investments into targeted employment areas (TEA) and extends the duration of a TEA designation for 5 years, after such time it can be renewed for another 5 years.
•        The Amendment authorizes the preapproval of business plans for regional center investments, which would codify the current practice of 「exemplar」 I-526 petition approval.  The effect of the pre-approval would be binding for purposes of the adjudication of subsequently filed I-526 petitions and it gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to establish premium processing for I-526 petitions where the regional center project has been preapproved.
•        The Amendment also calls for an adjustment of the minimum EB-5 investment amount.  The minimum investment amount for EB-5 ($1,000,000 or $500,000 in a TEA) will automatically adjust on January 1, 2016 by the percentage change in the consumer price index (CPI) during the fiscal year 2015 and on every fifth subsequent January 1 by the cumulative percentage change in the CPI during the previous five fiscal years.
•        Additionally, the Leahy Amendment 2 will require regional centers to submit annual reports to USCIS outlining: (1) an accounting of all foreign investor money invested through the regional center; (2) an accounting of the aggregate capital in each project; (3) a description of how funds are being used for each project; (4) evidence that 100% of the investor funds have been dedicated to the project; (5) detailed evidence of the progress made toward the completion of the project; (5) an accounting of the jobs created; and (6) a certification by the regional center that the information is accurate.  This reporting process is much more detailed than the current process for regional centers to file Form I-924A each fiscal year. In effect, the regional center would be filing documentation traditionally submitted with investor I-829 petitions.  It apparently gives USCIS an opportunity to track the progress of projects in between I-526 petition approvals for investors and I-829 petition submission.
•        Additionally, the Leahy Amendment 2 provides that if the regional center has violated any requirements or is conducting itself in a manner inconsistent with designation, USCIS may sanction the regional center with fines equal to not more than 5% of capital in the project; temporary suspend from participation in the regional center program or permanently bar from the regional center program 1 or more individuals associated with the regional center; and/or terminate the regional center』s designation.  The current law provides for termination of a regional center, but fining a regional center is a completely new concept.  The Leahy Amendment 2 also provides for background checks on regional center principals and owners.
•        Finally, the Leahy Amendment 2 requires regional centers to certify compliance with the U.S. securities laws in initial designation applications, as well as regional center amendment applications.  USCIS is authorized to terminate any regional center that does not provide that certification on an annual basis to USCIS.  Termination by USCIS for a violation of securities laws is at the unreviewable discretion of USCIS.




本欄目提供的資訊僅限讀者參考，不構成法律諮詢或律師客戶關係。讀者應就其個案情形向移民律師諮詢。