China EB-5 Now Unavailable for Remainder of Fiscal Year 2014

China EB-5 Now Unavailable for Remainder of Fiscal Year 2014

Effective August 23, 2014, the employment-based 5th preference category for China has become unavailable. The maximum number of visas available for that category in fiscal year 2014 has been reached. This is the first time since the creation of the EB-5 program 25 years ago, that this has happened! A new allocation of visas will be available October 1, 2014. Please note that the Visa Bulletin does not reflect this news.

The State Department has indicated the interviews scheduled at U.S. Consulates in August and September, 2014, will proceed as scheduled, because visas have already been allocated for those individuals. (There is an exception to this, for some applicants who are returning for a second interview).

If an applicant is in the United States and will attend an interview at the local Field Office of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, the agency will hold the application in abeyance until visa numbers are again available.

Applicants from other countries, or who can claim chargeability to a country other than China, are not affected. Visa numbers for other countries in the employment-based 5th preference category remain available.

—Erin C. Cobb