2014财年无疑又是一个美国投资移民EB-5区域中心项目(以下简称项目)创纪录的一年——数据不会说谎。2014财年的I-526/I-829申请、I-924申请和EB-5签证综合统计数据显示：项目兑现了大量吸引外国直接投资(FDI)、推动美国经济发展和创造大量就业的承诺，并且未纳税人增加任何负担，这已经是不争的事实。

　　I-526申请统计可以作为衡量项目的有效指标，统计数据也与项目吸引的外国直接投资数量一致。如下图1-A所示，2014财年，美国移民局共收到10,928份I-526申请，同比增加72.2%，预示项目就将为美国吸引超过55亿美元的潜在直接投资。此外，2014财年5,115份I-526申请获批，也就是说超过25.6亿美元外国直接投资已经投入美国各行业的美国投资移民EB-5项目，创造了就业、并推动了地区经济发展。另外，图2-A显示2014财年项目吸引的外国直接投资相比2009财年增加了四倍!不仅说明过去五个财年项目实现了空前增长，也反应了前所未有的就业创造作用和经济刺激。

　　图1-A：I-526申请收件数与获批数统计(2009-2014财年)

　　

 

　　2014财年EB-5数据

　　图1-B：I-526待审批申请数(2009-2014财年)

　　

 

　　图2-A：EB-5项目吸引的外国直接投资(单位：百万美元)(1992-2014)

　　

　　注：FDI=批准通过的I-526申请数*50万美元

　　图2-B：各财年最小未决外国直接投资(单位：百万美元)(1992-2014)

　　

 

　　注：FDI最小未决金额=I-526待审批申请数*50万美元

　　上图信息来源：绩效和质量办公室(OPQ)数据分析与报告委(DARB)美国移民局绩效分析系统(PAS)

　　但是，图1-B显示，2014财年末待审批的I-526申请为12,453份，相比2013财年增加74.6%。这些待审批申请代表62亿美元的资本投资(见图2-B)以及可以创造的24,000个美国就业。2013至2014财年，I-526待审批申请的增长率(74.6%)仍高于I-526申请收件数的增长率(72.2%)，说明投资者对项目的需求非常强劲，移民局有必要调整审批流程，及时审批申请，以完全释放项目的潜力，最大化项目对美国经济的推动作用。

　　图3-1：I-829申请收件数与获批数统计(2009-2014财年)

　　

 

　　另外，I-829数据显示2014财年使全美受益的EB-5区域中心项目取得了巨大成功。如图3所示，2014财年移民局批准通过了1,603项I-829申请，这一数字不仅意味着同比90%的增长，也是1992年项目启动以来的新纪录，说明项目成功创造了数以万计的就业岗位，一千多名外国企业家实现了他们的移民梦，骄傲地成为了美国贡献者。

　　图4：各财年批准通过的区域中心数

　　

 

　　注：2014财年的数据来自美国移民局相关方互动会议(2014年12月5日)

　　信息来源：绩效和质量办公室(OPQ)数据分析与报告委(DARB)

　　2014财年，EB-5区域中心项目和行业均实现了巨大发展。根据移民局投资项目办公室主任Nicholas Colucci在2014年12月华盛顿特区举行的EB-5相关方互动会议上进行的介绍，2014财年末，获批的区域中心接近600个，相比2013财年增加230个(见图4)，同比增长62%。但据Colucci先生介绍，28个区域中心由于“不再具有促进经济发展”的作用，被下发《终止意向通知》，另有7个区域中心项目因未能进行I-924A报备而被终止。

　　图5-A：向中国投资人和其它国家投资人签发的EB-5签证数量(2009-2014财年)

　　

 

　　图5-B：(既中国大陆之后)EB-5签证最多的四个地区

　　

 

　　韩国墨西哥台湾越南

　　信息来源：美国国务院Courtesy

　　EB-5签证的签发数据从另一个角度展示了项目的巨大发展。2014财年，项目首次用尽了全部10,000个年度签证配额。美国国务院发布消息称，2014财年共签发10,692个EB-5签证，相比2013年增加24.8%。如图5-A所示，9,128个EB-5签证是向中国大陆投资人及其家属签发的，占2014财年EB-5签证总签发数量的85%。2014财年，EB-5签证配额的用尽说明目前10,000个EB-5签证配额数已经不能满足项目巨大的发展需求。项目需要采取新的签证配额分配政策和永久再授权，以充分发挥项目促进经济发展和创造就业的能力。图5-B还列出了2014财年EB-5签证配额消耗最大的其他四个地区，分别为：韩国、墨西哥、台湾、越南。

　　另外，EB-5的审批时间和I-526/I-829获批比例数据对我们判断2014年的审批趋势也有所启迪。

　　图6：美国移民局EB-5申请审批时间(单位：月)

　　(2014财年，按季度划分)

　　

 

　　信息来源：美国移民局审批时间信息

　　图6是2014财年按季度绘制的EB-5审批时间图。I-526申请的审批时间持续增加，从第一季度的9.9个月增加到2014年末的14.3个月。截止2014年12月30日，I-924区域中心申请的审批时间为6.8个月，EB-5投资人申请取消临时签证限制条件的I-829申请的审批时间为8.5个月。

　　图7-A：I-526通过率和平均水平(1992-2014财年)

　　

 

　　信息来源：绩效和质量办公室(OPQ)数据分析与报告委(DARB)绩效分析系统(PAS)

　　图7-B：I-829通过率和平均水平(1992-2014财年)

　　

 

　　信息来源：绩效和质量办公室(OPQ)数据分析与报告委(DARB)绩效分析系统(PAS)

　　2014财年，I-526申请的通过率为80.2%，相比2013财年的79.7%稍有提高，如图7-A所示，该数据高于1992年项目启动以来73.66%的平均通过率，接近衰退后(2008-2014财年)81.14%的平均水平。2014财年，I-829申请的通过率为90%(见图7-B)，虽然相比2013财年93%的通过率降低了5%，但相比1992至2014财年81.2%的平均通过率仍高出很多，并且非常接近经济衰退后90.8%的平均水平。

　　回顾2014财年，I-526统计数据显示项目投资需求大幅增长，项目为美国经济带来了数十亿美元的资本投资。I-829数据说明大量投资人成功解除了临时绿卡的限制条件，取得永久绿卡，另一方面也说明全美数万个工作岗位被成功创造。I-924批准数量的大幅增加反应了一直致力于推动美国区域经济发展的EB-5区域中心行业的快速扩张。所有数据明确说明，“EB-5正在努力工作!为您!也为全美国!”

　　英文原文内容：

　　Fiscal year (FY) 2014 was definitely another record breaking year for the EB-5 Regional Center Program (the “Program”) – data does not lie. The comprehensive data set of I-526/I-829 petitions, I-924 applications, and EB-5 visa usage statistics of FY2014 illustrates an undeniable fact that the Program is delivering its promises of generating a significant amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) and enhancing economic development in U.S communities as well as creating substantial numbers of American jobs- all at no cost to the taxpayers.

　　Statistics on I-526 petitions are good indicators of the demand for the Program and they also correspond to the amount of FDI that the Program contributes to the U.S. economy. As Figure 1-A shows, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) received 10,928 I-526 petitions in FY2014, which increased by 72.2% from FY2013. In addition, it represents more than $5.5 billion in potential FDI brought by the Program to stimulate economic development in just one single fiscal year. Moreover, 5,115 I-526 petitions were approved in FY2014, which indicates more than $2.56 billion FDI has already been injected into projects across different industries to create American jobs and promote regional economic development. Additionally, Figure 2-A indicates the amount of FDI generated by the Program in FY2014 is a 4-fold increase from FY2009! This not only demonstrates the Program is experiencing unprecedented growth during the past five fiscal years, but also job creation and economic stimulation.

　　However, as Figure 1-B shows, 12,453 I-526 petitions are still pending in the end of FY2014, which has increased by 74.6% from 7,131 in FY2013. These petitions awaiting adjudication represent $6.2 billion in capital investment (see Figure 2-B) that could be used to create more than 24,000 American jobs. From FY2013 to FY2014, the growth rate of I-526 pending (74.6%) is still higher than the growth rate of I-526 receipts (72.2%), which indicates that investor demand for the Program is so strong that USCIS needs to optimize the adjudication process in order to fully unleash the potential power of the Program in a timely manner to maximize its economic impact to the country.

　　Furthermore, I-829 data illustrates the substantial success of the Program in FY2014 that benefits the entire country. As Figure 3 shows, 1,603 I-829 petitions were approved by USCIS in FY2014, which is not only a 90% in-crease from FY2013, but also a record breaking number since the beginning of the Pro-gram in 1992. It represents tens of thousands of jobs successfully created by the Program and more than a thousand foreign entrepreneurs living out their immigration dreams to become proud contributors to U.S. communities.

　　Both the Program and the industry experience significant growth in FY2014. Based on the briefing provided by USCIS Investor Program Office Chief Nicholas Colucci at the last EB-5 stakeholder engagement meeting in Washington D.C. this December 2014, the number of approved Regional Centers increased by 230 from FY2013 to near 600 at the end of FY2014 (see Figure 4)- a 62% growth rate from FY2013. However, 28 Regional Centers were sent Notices of Intent to Terminate (NOITs) since they “no longer served to promote economic growth” and seven Regional Centers were terminated in FY2014 due to failure to file Form I-924A, according to Mr. Colucci.

　　The EB-5 visa usage statistics demonstrate the substantial growth of the Program from a different angle. In FY2014, it was the first time the Program reached its 10,000 annual visa quota. According to the U.S Department of State, 10,692 EB-5 visas were issued in FY2014 with a growth rate of 24.8% from FY2013. As Figure 5-A shows, 9,128 EB-5 visas were issued to Mainland China investors and their family members, which accounts for 85% of total EB-5 visa usage in FY2014. The EB-5 visa unavailability in FY2014 indicates the current 10,000 EB-5 visa quota is no longer meeting the drastic demand and growth of the Program. A new visa allocation policy as well as the permanent reauthorization of the Program are needed to fulfill the Program’s capability of enhancing economic development and creating jobs for Americans. In addition, Figure 5-B presents the other top four investor markets using the highest amount of EB-5 visas in FY2014, which are South Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

　　On the other hand, EB-5 processing time and I-526/I-829 approval rate statistics shed some light on the adjudication trends of the Program in FY2014.

　　Figures 6 represents the trends of EB-5 processing time by quarter in FY2014. For I-526 petitions, the processing time continued to increase from the first quarter from 9.9 months to 14.3 months in the end of FY2014. Also, as of September 30, 2014, the processing time to adjudicate I-924 petitions for a potential regional center was 6.8 months, while it took 8.5 months to process the I-829 petition to remove conditions for an EB-5 investor.

　　The I-526 approval rate slightly increased to 80.2% in FY2014 from 79.7% in FY2013. As Figure 7-A indicates, it is higher than the overall average approval rate of 73.66% since the beginning of the Program in 1992 and is approaching the average level of 81.14% during the post-recession time period (FY2008-FY2014). For I-829 petitions, the approval rate in FY2014 was 90% (see Figure 7-B), which has, however, decreased by 5% from the approval rate of 95% in FY2013. But it is still considerably higher than the overall average approval rate of 81.2% from FY1992 to FY2014 and very close to the average level of 90.8% of the post-recession time period.

　　Looking back on FY2014, I-526 statistics show a significant increase of investor demand for the Program as well as the billions of dollars of capital investments the Program is generating for the U.S. economy. I-829 data demonstrates that as conditions are removed and investors earn their permanent green cards, at the same time tens of thousands of U.S. jobs are being created across the country. The substantial increase of I-924 approvals represents the fast growing EB-5 Regional Center industry that is contributing to regional economic development in U.S. communities. All data together is speaking with a loud and clear voice: “EB-5 is Working. For You. For America.”

　　原文链接：

　　https://iiusa.org/blog/research-analysis/rcbj/rcbj-retrospective-eb5-data-year-unprecedented-growth-eb5-regional-center-program-fy2014/