EB5AN Investors Accounted for 20% of All Rural Approvals in 2023 and 2024

With the release of new I-526E processing data from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the EB-5 industry has gained a valuable snapshot of the current trends in the market. The latest statistics, which were released through Freedom of Information Act requests, put an end to the speculation that has surrounded the consequences of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA).

The USCIS data reveals category-specific numbers for both rural and urban I-526E submissions. Some industry stakeholders previously held that rural priority processing would not result in significantly faster processing times and that the volume of rural I-526E approvals would be moderate.

But the most recent statistics disprove both of these stances. Under the RIA, USCIS is assigning clear priority to rural I-526E submissions. With remarkable approval rates and short processing periods, investors in rural EB-5 projects are enjoying unprecedented benefits.

And many of these investors are choosing EB5AN’s rural projects.

Indeed, EB5AN is pleased to announce that our investors accounted for roughly 20% of all rural I-526E approvals in 2023 and 2024. Our careful approach to USCIS compliance and project quality has yielded outstanding results.

“Investors in rural EB-5 projects trust EB5AN more than any other EB-5 firm,” points out Sam Silverman, managing partner of EB5AN. “Our large market share reflects our commitment to creating high-quality rural EB-5 projects under the RIA. Simply put, our investors’ success is our success.”

In this post, we analyze the latest rural processing data and EB5AN’s growing market share.

Full Webinar and Analysis of I-526E Processing Data

EB5AN’s Market Share of Rural I-526E Approvals

EB5AN’s investors have captured an outsized portion of rural I-526E approvals under the RIA, accounting for roughly one in every five adjudications through January 2025. While more than 1,100 rural petitions had been processed by USCIS at that point, EB5AN investors alone constituted 208 of those approvals—a share that grows to 360 by mid-May when measured against the latest internal figures.

This disproportionate market share not only underscores EB5AN’s ability to navigate priority processing effectively but also highlights the tangible advantages available to investors who partner with a regional center that has demonstrated consistent success and deep familiarity with the EB-5 program and its requirements.

Since the RIA ushered in the rural priority category in April 2022, USCIS data has provided an unprecedented view into adjudication patterns.

Rural petitions, which did not exist prior to the RIA, have surged in both filings and approvals—even as urban filings experienced only modest growth. By January 2025, filings in the rural category reached 4,329, and USCIS processed 1,126 of those petitions by the end of January 2025. Of that total, EB5AN’s investors accounted for nearly one-fifth of approvals, despite more than 500 other regional centers competing for the same set-aside visas.

Among the full complement of regional centers authorized to sponsor EB-5 investments, EB5AN stands apart for its capacity to deliver approvals at a rate that exceeds its share of total filings. Although detailed data on EB5AN’s exact percentage of overall rural filings is not available, the fact that 360 approvals attributable to EB5AN were recorded by mid-May—when USCIS had adjudicated roughly 1,800 rural petitions in total—indicates that EB5AN’s clients enjoy an approval frequency that significantly outpaces the industry average.

That dynamic translates directly into shorter adjudication timelines and reduced uncertainty for EB-5 investors who select EB5AN projects.

EB5AN’s Commitment to USCIS Compliance and Project Quality

This performance gap reflects more than just operational prowess; it springs from a rigorous focus on project and documentation quality. EB5AN’s team applies a data-driven methodology to identify rural development opportunities with robust underwriting, proven cash flow projections, and clear capital stacks.

Each project undergoes thorough due diligence. By prioritizing transparency and compliance at every stage, EB5AN ensures that the economic impact analyses and job-creation models align seamlessly with USCIS guidelines—minimizing the likelihood of requests for evidence (RFEs) or notices of intent to deny (NOID).

Equally important is EB5AN’s strategy for securing project-level I-956F approvals. Under the RIA, each regional center must demonstrate that its underlying commercial enterprise meets certain criteria before investors file their I-526E petitions.

Before accepting EB-5 capital, EB-5 projects must file Form I-956F, in which they describe their project and USCIS compliance in great detail.

EB5AN is pleased to note that we have received 18 I-956F approvals, many faster than the average processing times. These approvals mean our investors can rest assured that their capital will go into fully compliant projects that meet or exceed USCIS standards.

Moreover, one of the key components of Form I-526E is the project documentation. An I-956F approval means USCIS has already vetted and approved an EB-5 project.

Therefore, investing in an I-956F-approved project increases your chances of a fast I-526E approval.

Highly Qualified Managing Partners

EB5AN’s principals, Sam Silverman and Mike Schoenfeld, have sponsored 15 EB-5 projects since 2013. Every single fund has either been repaid or remains in good standing.

EB5AN is also one of the select regional centers whose investors have received I-829 approvals and completed the EB-5 process. This is a result of our commitment to transparency and quality.

Our total project development costs exceed $2.9 billion, and we have created over 19,000 EB-5 jobs.

Our track record includes successfully navigating EB-5 processing under both standard I-526 and RIA-compliant I-526E frameworks, managing redeployment requirements, and facilitating capital formation for projects ranging from hospitality and multifamily housing to upscale condominiums.

This depth of expertise enables EB5AN to anticipate USCIS trends—such as shifts in adjudication focus or the likelihood of policy changes under different administrations—and adapt accordingly.

You can read more about Sam and Mike’s credentials here.

EB-5 Investors Are Turning to Rural Projects

Beyond EB5AN’s internal success, the broader rural processing environment has become markedly faster in recent months.

According to USCIS data, adjudications of rural I-526E petitions climbed steadily from 150 in 2022 to 778 in 2023, before slowing to 198 in 2024—a reflection of the initial surge in filings followed by a plateau as the market stabilized.

Yet EB5AN’s share of those approvals remained consistent at roughly 20%.

And now internal data shows another acceleration: EB5AN investors received 360 rural I-526E approvals by mid-May 2025.

For prospective EB-5 investors, partnering with a regional center that delivers nearly one-fifth of all rural approvals means greater predictability and a demonstrably faster path to permanent residence.

Even though rural filings now represent approximately 58% of overall I-526E receipts, less than one-third of those petitions have been adjudicated by USCIS to date—leaving a significant backlog in the pipeline. Against this backdrop, EB5AN’s capacity to secure I-526E approvals efficiently offers a crucial advantage for you as an EB-5 investor.

This faster adjudication translates into real-world benefits that extend beyond mere timing. Investors who receive their I-526E approval earlier can proceed with their conditional Green Card applications, work and travel internationally as permanent residents, and plan their relocation with greater certainty. Speedier approvals also mitigate the risk of policy shifts that could affect EB-5 processing or congressional visa allocations.

By contrast, lengthy processing times expose investors to delays in consular processing or adjustment of status—delays that may compound with future retrogression and cut-off dates on the monthly Visa Bulletin.

EB5AN’s superior performance in rural adjudications is not an accident of timing but the product of a deliberate, end-to-end value proposition. From initial project sourcing to the final adjudication stage, EB5AN emphasizes compliance, communication, and collaboration. Investors benefit from direct access to the deal team, regular updates on policy changes and adjudication trends, and proactive guidance on document preparation.

This hands-on approach fosters a level of transparency often absent in a crowded field of regional centers, where competing priorities or resource limitations can leave investors in the dark.

Moreover, EB5AN’s accomplishments reflect trends in the broader EB-5 program under the Trump administration. Despite concerns that policy or budgetary shifts could slow adjudications, rural processing times have continued to improve. What was once taking nearly a year is now routinely closing in eight to ten months—a trajectory that aligns with EB5AN’s internal data and suggests that USCIS’s commitment to rural priority processing remains strong.

Rural or Urban? Schedule a Free Consultation for Further Guidance

Investors must carefully consider whether to invest in a rural or urban project.

Urban petitions, which numbered 5,191 through January 2025, have seen only 361 adjudications—a rate of roughly 7%—leaving urban investors with no reliable estimate of when their petitions will clear. Even more striking, only 74 urban petitions were processed between February 2023 and January 2025. By comparison, rural petitions in that same period saw a 24% adjudication ratio.

Investors who choose an EB5AN-sponsored rural project benefit from two layers of security: the priority processing afforded to rural petitions under the RIA and the project-level compliance that comes with EB5AN’s meticulous preparation and track record.

For individuals mapping out their EB-5 journey, these data points reveal a critical insight: Not all regional centers are created equal. While over 500 regional centers vie for the same pool of rural set-aside visas, EB5AN’s investors consistently secure a disproportionate share of approvals—a testament to both the strength of its projects’ underwriting and the skill of its team’s execution. Prospective investors must therefore evaluate sponsors not only by the projects they present but by their demonstrated ability to gain I-526E approvals through USCIS’s evolving policies.

Each I-526E approval represents an investor who can proceed with confidence, relocate their family, and pursue long-term plans in the United States.

In a program often characterized by uncertainty over processing timelines and shifting regulatory terrain, EB5AN’s performance offers a rare measure of predictability—and for EB-5 investors seeking the fastest and most reliable path to a Green Card, that predictability can make all the difference.

For further guidance on making a successful EB-5 investment, schedule a free consultation with EB5AN.