USCIS Form I-956G: Definition, Requirements, and Application

Form I-956G is known as “Regional Center Annual Statement”. Form I-956G is submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by Regional Centers seeking continued designation under the USA EB-5 Visa Program. Form I-956G submission ensures compliance with the rules of the EB5 Program and allows for evaluation of the Regional Center’s effectiveness for economic growth and job creation. Failure to file Form I956G in a timely manner results in sanctions including the termination of participation under the EB 5 Regional Center Program.

EB 5 Regional Centers must submit evidence of aggregation of immigrant investor capital funding and job creation together with the I 956G form. Any material change, litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, and policies on US Federal labor laws must be disclosed in the I956G form. Form I 956G must be applied for by EB-5 Regional Centers every Federal fiscal year as mandated by the Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of 2022.

What is USCIS Form I-956G?

Form I-956G is also known as “Regional Center Annual Statement”. Form I-956G is submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by Regional Centers seeking continued designation under the EB-5 Visa Program. Form I-956G must be filed by approved Regional Centers to enable the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to evaluate their effectiveness under the EB-5 Program and their compliance with the program requirements.

What is an EB-5 Regional Center?

An EB5 Regional Center is an approved public or private entity designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for economic growth under the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program. Regional Centers for EB-5 are authorized to pool capital investments from foreign investors who wish to obtain US Permanent Residency through investment. Majority of EB 5 investors fund Regional Center Projects because of the consideration for direct, indirect, and induced jobs towards the total minimum employment creation requirement. 

How Does USCIS Form I-956G Work?

USCIS Form I-956G must be filed every year for the EB 5 Regional Center to keep its designation. Form I956G is filed on or before December 29 of the calendar year in which the Federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30) ended. Inability to submit Form I956G on the assigned date results in sanctions, including termination of EB-5 Regional Center designation. 

The 8 parts of the I 956 G form are discussed below.

Part 1: Form Type

The form type can be an initial I 956G submission, an amendment, or a supplement to a previously submitted form. The Federal fiscal year that the form is meant to cover must be indicated.

Part 2: Information About the Regional Center

The legal name, mailing address, and contact information of the EB5 Regional Center are needed in this section. 

Part 3: Information About the Regional Center’s Operations

Key details needed regarding the Regional Center’s operations under the EB5 Visa Program are listed below.

• Total EB 5 investor capital invested in the Regional Center, and the associated new commercial enterprise(s) and job-creating entity(ies) since the date of designation. 
• Submission of documentation regarding pending material litigation or bankruptcy proceedings or any similar proceedings that have been resolved in the previous fiscal year.
• Submission of documentation detailing the policies and procedures in place for compliance with Federal labor laws. 

Item 4 of this section requires filling out Attachment 1 for information on each new commercial enterprise (NCE) and capital investment project under the Regional Center. Below are the distinct details needed for Attachment 1 of Form I 956G.

• The receipt number of the associated Form I-956F. Form I-956F is also known as “Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise”. Each proposed new commercial enterprise (NCE) for approval must be accompanied by a Form I-956F submission from the EB-5 Regional Center.
• Information about the NCE and associated job-creating entities (JCEs) such as the legal name, mailing address, and contact information.
• The aggregate amount of EB-5 investor capital invested in the NCE over the lifespan of the project supported by an “accounting” of the aggregate capital investment such as NCE bank statements and/or wire transfers.  
• Description of the use of EB5 capital investment and evidence that 100% of the EB 5 funding has been committed to the NCE Project.
• Evidence of the progress toward completion of the NCE Project and the number of direct jobs created or preserved over the lifespan of the project.
• Description of all the fees collected and disclosure of all material changes to the NCE’s offering documents.
• Provision of the name of the bank account or financial institution if there is a separate account for the deposit and maintenance of the EB-5 investment for the project and offering under the NCE.
• Details of the fund administrator, if applicable, that administers the EB5 capital deposited and maintained in the separate account(s). 

 Part 4: Required Certifications

This section is filled by a qualified certifier with substantial authority for the management or operations of the Regional Center. A principal executive officer or principal financial offer with knowledge of the Regional Center’s policies and procedures is a qualified certifier.

Part 5: Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Authorized Individual

The authorized individual filling out Form I-956G must fill out the statement and contact information, read through the declaration, and affix their signature in this section.

Part 6: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

The authorized individual who engaged an interpreter must have the interpreter fill out this section. The interpreter must certify that he/she is fluent in English and has read the questions, instructions, and answers in the language that the authorized individual is fluent in.

Part 7: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than the Authorized Individual

This section is filled out by the preparer if Form I956G was prepared by a person other than the authorized individual. This section is filled out by the interpreter if he/she also prepared the I956G form for the authorized individual.

Part 8: Additional Information

This section is an extra space for additional information that needs to be included in Form I-956G. 

How Does Form I-956G Affect the EB5 Visa Process? 

Form I-956G must be included in the due diligence of immigrant investors who are investing in Regional Center Projects. EB5 Regional Centers must submit Form I 956G in a timely manner to maintain their designation under the EB-5 Program. Failure to file the I956G form subjects the Regional Center to sanctions including termination of participation in the EB-5 Investor Program.

What are the Benefits of Form I-956G?

The requirement for the annual submission of the I-956G form is in keeping with the objectives of the EB5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of 2022. The legislation aims to promote increased transparency and compliance with the EB5 Program for all persons and entities involved. Approval of the I956G form means that the Regional Center continues to meet the eligibility requirements for EB-5 as well as contribute positively to the program.  

How Does Form I-956G Look Like?

USCIS Form I-956G consists of 15 pages with 8 parts. The full version of the I 956G form is downloadable from the USCIS website. 

How Much Does USCIS Form I-956G Cost?

The cost of filing Form I 956G is $3,035. The fee for Form I956G is paid via money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card. USCIS rejects I-956G forms that were submitted with incorrect fees or with payments that are more than the required amount to be paid. The cost of Form I-956G is included in the proposed USCIS EB5 Filing Fee Increase 2023 to help aid the operational expenses of the agency and improve processing times and efficiency of EB5 Visa applications. 

Who is Eligible for Filing USCIS Form I-956G?

USCIS-approved Regional Centers that seek to continue being part of the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program are eligible to file for Form I 956G. Entities applying for Regional Center designation must submit a separate application through Form I-956. Form I-956 is also known as “Application for Regional Center Designation”. 

What are the Documents Required for Filing USCIS Form I-956G?

Evidentiary documents must be submitted together with the USCIS Form I956G that include changes in the total aggregate jobs created and aggregated EB 5 investment since the previous reporting period. 

Here are the required documents for each USCIS Form I 956G submission.

• Accounting of all individual EB-5 capital invested in the Regional Center, NCE, and job-creating entity (JCE).
• Each NCE should submit the following documents.
  • Accounting of the aggregate EB 5 capital invested in the NCE and all associated JCEs.
  • Detailed evidence of the progress made toward project completion which includes information and documents below.
    • Expenditures related to the NCE Project.
    • Photographic evidence of construction.
    • News articles related to the project’s progress.
    • Affidavits from persons such as architects, project leads, or construction supervisors with firsthand knowledge of the NCE Project’s progress. 
    • Copies of permits or certificates of occupancy.
  • Accounting of the aggregate jobs created or preserved.
  • All documentation referred to in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (F)(i)(IV) for any material change that occurred during the previous fiscal year. 

Where to File Form I-956G?

Form I-956G is filed with USCIS by mail using the information below. 

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

USCIS
Attn: I-956G

P.O. Box 660168

Dallas, TX 75266-0168

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries

USCIS

Attn: I-956G (Box 660168)

2501 S. State Highway 12, 1 Business Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067-8003

FAQs about Form I-956G