2014財年無疑又是一個美國投資移民EB-5區域中心項目(以下簡稱項目)創紀錄的一年——數據不會說謊。2014財年的I-526/I-829申請、I-924申請和EB-5簽證綜合統計數據顯示：項目兌現了大量吸引外國直接投資(FDI)、推動美國經濟發展和創造大量就業的承諾，并且未納稅人增加任何負擔，這已經是不爭的事實。

　　I-526申請統計可以作為衡量項目的有效指標，統計數據也與項目吸引的外國直接投資數量一致。如下圖1-A所示，2014財年，美國移民局共收到10,928份I-526申請，同比增加72.2%，預示項目就將為美國吸引超過55億美元的潛在直接投資。此外，2014財年5,115份I-526申請獲批，也就是說超過25.6億美元外國直接投資已經投入美國各行業的美國投資移民EB-5項目，創造了就業、并推動了地區經濟發展。另外，圖2-A顯示2014財年項目吸引的外國直接投資相比2009財年增加了四倍!不僅說明過去五個財年項目實現了空前增長，也反應了前所未有的就業創造作用和經濟刺激。

　　圖1-A：I-526申請收件數與獲批數統計(2009-2014財年)

　　

 

　　2014財年EB-5數據

　　圖1-B：I-526待審批申請數(2009-2014財年)

　　

 

　　圖2-A：EB-5項目吸引的外國直接投資(單位：百萬美元)(1992-2014)

　　

　　注：FDI=批準通過的I-526申請數*50萬美元

　　圖2-B：各財年最小未決外國直接投資(單位：百萬美元)(1992-2014)

　　

 

　　注：FDI最小未決金額=I-526待審批申請數*50萬美元

　　上圖信息來源：績效和質量辦公室(OPQ)數據分析與報告委(DARB)美國移民局績效分析系統(PAS)

　　但是，圖1-B顯示，2014財年末待審批的I-526申請為12,453份，相比2013財年增加74.6%。這些待審批申請代表62億美元的資本投資(見圖2-B)以及可以創造的24,000個美國就業。2013至2014財年，I-526待審批申請的增長率(74.6%)仍高于I-526申請收件數的增長率(72.2%)，說明投資者對項目的需求非常強勁，移民局有必要調整審批流程，及時審批申請，以完全釋放項目的潛力，最大化項目對美國經濟的推動作用。

　　圖3-1：I-829申請收件數與獲批數統計(2009-2014財年)

　　

 

　　另外，I-829數據顯示2014財年使全美受益的EB-5區域中心項目取得了巨大成功。如圖3所示，2014財年移民局批準通過了1,603項I-829申請，這一數字不僅意味著同比90%的增長，也是1992年項目啟動以來的新紀錄，說明項目成功創造了數以萬計的就業崗位，一千多名外國企業家實現了他們的移民夢，驕傲地成為了美國貢獻者。

　　圖4：各財年批準通過的區域中心數

　　

 

　　注：2014財年的數據來自美國移民局相關方互動會議(2014年12月5日)

　　信息來源：績效和質量辦公室(OPQ)數據分析與報告委(DARB)

　　2014財年，EB-5區域中心項目和行業均實現了巨大發展。根據移民局投資項目辦公室主任Nicholas Colucci在2014年12月華盛頓特區舉行的EB-5相關方互動會議上進行的介紹，2014財年末，獲批的區域中心接近600個，相比2013財年增加230個(見圖4)，同比增長62%。但據Colucci先生介紹，28個區域中心由于“不再具有促進經濟發展”的作用，被下發《終止意向通知》，另有7個區域中心項目因未能進行I-924A報備而被終止。

　　圖5-A：向中國投資人和其它國家投資人簽發的EB-5簽證數量(2009-2014財年)

　　

 

　　圖5-B：(既中國大陸之后)EB-5簽證最多的四個地區

　　

 

　　韓國墨西哥臺灣越南

　　信息來源：美國國務院Courtesy

　　EB-5簽證的簽發數據從另一個角度展示了項目的巨大發展。2014財年，項目首次用盡了全部10,000個年度簽證配額。美國國務院發布消息稱，2014財年共簽發10,692個EB-5簽證，相比2013年增加24.8%。如圖5-A所示，9,128個EB-5簽證是向中國大陸投資人及其家屬簽發的，占2014財年EB-5簽證總簽發數量的85%。2014財年，EB-5簽證配額的用盡說明目前10,000個EB-5簽證配額數已經不能滿足項目巨大的發展需求。項目需要采取新的簽證配額分配政策和永久再授權，以充分發揮項目促進經濟發展和創造就業的能力。圖5-B還列出了2014財年EB-5簽證配額消耗最大的其他四個地區，分別為：韓國、墨西哥、臺灣、越南。

　　另外，EB-5的審批時間和I-526/I-829獲批比例數據對我們判斷2014年的審批趨勢也有所啟迪。

　　圖6：美國移民局EB-5申請審批時間(單位：月)

　　(2014財年，按季度劃分)

　　

 

　　信息來源：美國移民局審批時間信息

　　圖6是2014財年按季度繪制的EB-5審批時間圖。I-526申請的審批時間持續增加，從第一季度的9.9個月增加到2014年末的14.3個月。截止2014年12月30日，I-924區域中心申請的審批時間為6.8個月，EB-5投資人申請取消臨時簽證限制條件的I-829申請的審批時間為8.5個月。

　　圖7-A：I-526通過率和平均水平(1992-2014財年)

　　

 

　　信息來源：績效和質量辦公室(OPQ)數據分析與報告委(DARB)績效分析系統(PAS)

　　圖7-B：I-829通過率和平均水平(1992-2014財年)

　　

 

　　信息來源：績效和質量辦公室(OPQ)數據分析與報告委(DARB)績效分析系統(PAS)

　　2014財年，I-526申請的通過率為80.2%，相比2013財年的79.7%稍有提高，如圖7-A所示，該數據高于1992年項目啟動以來73.66%的平均通過率，接近衰退后(2008-2014財年)81.14%的平均水平。2014財年，I-829申請的通過率為90%(見圖7-B)，雖然相比2013財年93%的通過率降低了5%，但相比1992至2014財年81.2%的平均通過率仍高出很多，并且非常接近經濟衰退后90.8%的平均水平。

　　回顧2014財年，I-526統計數據顯示項目投資需求大幅增長，項目為美國經濟帶來了數十億美元的資本投資。I-829數據說明大量投資人成功解除了臨時綠卡的限制條件，取得永久綠卡，另一方面也說明全美數萬個工作崗位被成功創造。I-924批準數量的大幅增加反應了一直致力于推動美國區域經濟發展的EB-5區域中心行業的快速擴張。所有數據明確說明，“EB-5正在努力工作!為您!也為全美國!”

　　英文原文內容：

　　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.”

　　原文鏈接：

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