Form I-956H (Bona Fides of Persons Involved with Regional Center Program) is a document submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by persons involved with a Regional Center under the EB-5 Visa Program. Form I-956H is filed by every person affiliated with an EB5 Regional Center, new commercial enterprise (NCE), and job-creating entity (JCE). Regional Centers under the EB5 Immigrant Investor Program are accredited entities that pool capital from foreign investors seeking to obtain US Permanent Resident status.
Form I956H is used to evaluate the eligibility of persons with substantive authority to participate in EB 5 entities and projects. Persons with substantive authority include principals, general partners, owners, agents, executives, and board members of EB 5 entities. I 956H form application requires the disclosure of information such as involvement in the EB-5 entity, personal and contact information, offenses related to fraud, and engagement in terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, or espionage.
Table of Contents
What is USCIS Form I-956H?
Form I-956H (Bona Fides of Persons Involved with Regional Center Program) is a document filed by every person involved with a Regional Center under the EB-5 Immigrant Visa Program. Form I-956H is also filed by persons affiliated with other EB-5 Visa Program entities such as a new commercial enterprise (NCE) and job-creating entity (JCE).
The EB5 Visa is an immigrant pathway for foreign investors seeking to obtain a US Green Card (Permanent Residence). EB 5 Visa investors are required to invest a minimum capital in a new commercial enterprise (NCE) that yields at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers. EB 5 investments are made either directly or through an approved Regional Center.
What is an EB-5 Regional Center?
An EB5 Regional Center is a private or public entity that is designated for economic growth by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Regional Centers for EB-5 pool capital from EB-5 immigrant investors to fund affiliated NCEs and job-creating entities (JCEs). Regional Center investors are able to count direct, indirect, and induced jobs for the employment creation requirement of the EB 5 Program.
How Does USCIS Form I-956H Work?
The information on Form I956H is intended to describe the educational history, professional background, and credentials of those participating with the Regional Center program, NCE, or affiliated JCE. Persons who hold a managerial position in the regional center, NCE, or JCE or have the power to decide on funds must submit this form. Form I956H is submitted together with Form I-956 (Application for Regional Center Designation) by entities that seek to participate in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The I956H form is also filed together with Form I-956F (Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise) for each proposed Regional Center NCE for approval.
The I 956H form consists of 9 parts.
Part 1: Filing Type
You need to indicate whether you are filing Form I 956H for the first time or as an additional filing. You need to write the receipt number of your most recent prior I-956H form if you are submitting an additional filing.
Part 2: Information About the EB-5 Entity and Your Involvement
You need to write down the details of the EB 5 entity you are involved with such as their name and ID number. You must describe your role/s in all the EB5 entity(ies) you are involved in.
Part 3: Information About the Person Involved with Regional Center Program
Individuals filling out the I956H form have to disclose their name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number(s), mailing address, and contact information. Organizations who are filling out I956H must indicate the organization name, date of establishment, US State or territory of establishment, and the Federal Employer Identification Number of the Regional Center.
Part 4: Bona Fides of Person Involved with Regional Center Program
This section asks for details related to criminal or civil offenses involving fraud, convictions, and imprisonment sentences. You also need to disclose any involvement with the illicit trafficking of controlled substances, money laundering, terrorism, espionage, theft of intellectual property, or human trafficking.
Part 5: Foreign Involvement in Regional Center Program
You need to indicate whether you are subject to rescission or removal proceedings if you are an individual filling out Form I956H. Part of the questionnaire asks if you are an agency, official, or representative of a foreign government entity. You will be asked if you provided capital and have ownership or administration of a Regional Center, NCE, or JCE as an agency, official, or representative of a foreign government entity.
Part 6: Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, Attestation, and Signature of the Person Involved with the Regional Center Program or Authorized Individual
This part of the I956H form includes filling out statements regarding the interpreter and/or preparer, the authorized individual’s contact information, and the certification and signature of the person involved with the Regional Center or the authorized individual.
Part 7: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
Interpreters engaged in filling out Form I-956H must complete this section and indicate their name, mailing address, and contact information. Interpreters have to fill out a certification of their qualifications and append their signature in this section.
Part 8: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than the Person Involved with Regional Center Program or Authorized Individual
Preparers have to fill out their full name, mailing address, contact information, and statement. Preparers have to sign and certify that the person involved with the Regional Center or the authorized individual has reviewed Form I 956H and that all information and documents are complete and accurate.
Part 9: Additional Information
This section is an extra space for additional information that needs to be included in Form I956H.
How Does Form I-956H Affect the EB5 Visa Process?
Form I956H was released in accordance with the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of 2022 which aims to increase the transparency of the EB5 Investor Visa process for all program participants. EB5 Regional Centers only need to apply for designation under the Immigrant Investor Program and file an annual statement before the implementation of the Reform and Integrity Act (RIA). Under the new rules of the 2022 Reform and Integrity Act, all persons affiliated with the Regional Center Program will have to file for documentation of their involvement in Regional Center projects, NCEs, and JCEs. Persons involved with multiple EB 5 entities will have to file a separate I 956H form for each entity of their affiliation.
What are the Benefits of Form I-956H?
The I-956H form is a supporting document to Form I-956 that allows the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to evaluate the eligibility of persons involved in the Regional Center Program to participate in EB 5 Visa Projects. Submission of Form I 956H allows for increased transparency for all individuals and entities under the EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program.
How Does Form I-956H Look Like?
USCIS Form I-956H consists of 10 pages with 9 parts. The full version of the I 956 H form is downloadable from the USCIS website.
How Much Does Form I-956H Cost?
There is no cost for filing Form I-956H. Only a biometrics fee of $85 must be paid by every person filing an initial I-956H application. Individuals filing Form I956H on behalf of an organization or as an additional filing do not need to pay for biometrics. The biometrics fee for Form I 956H is payable via money order, check, or credit card.
Who is Eligible for Filing USCIS Form I-956H?
Persons who are directly or indirectly involved with an EB 5 Regional Center, NCE, or JCE holding substantive authority to make operational or managerial decisions regarding pooling, securitization, investment, release, acceptance, control, or use of any funding must file USCIS Form I 956H.
Persons with substantive authority include the following.
- Principal
- Representative
- Administrator
- Owner
- Officer
- Board member
- Manager
- Executive
- General partner
- Fiduciary
- Agent
A person involved with a JCE who is not an affiliate JCE may also be required to submit USCIS Form I956H at the Secretary’s discretion.
What are the Documents Required for Filing USCIS Form I-956H?
Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) filing Form I-956H need to submit a copy of their Green Card (Permanent Resident Card). A lawful permanent resident is a foreign citizen who has been granted the right to live in the United States indefinitely.
Where to File Form I-956H?
Form I-956H is filed with USCIS by mail using the information below.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
USCIS
Attn: I-956H
P.O. Box 660168
Dallas, TX 75266-0168
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries
USCIS
Attn: I-956H (Box 660168)
2501 S. State Highway 12, 1 Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067-8003
FAQs about Form I-956H
Who Should File Form I-956H?
A person involved in the decision-making processes and holds substantive authority in an EB-5 entity is required to file Form I-956H. Internal meetings within the organization must be held to assess and apply the criteria set by USCIS to identify who should fill out Form I-956H.
When Should You File Form I-956H?
USCIS Form I956H is submitted when filing for Regional Center designation using Form I 956 and when seeking approval for an EB 5 NCE through Form I 956F. I 956H is also filed for Form I956 amendments in case of changes in the EB-5 Regional Center.