EB5AN says first Grand Park investor wins USCIS approval in 10.7 months

EB5AN said an investor in its Grand Park rural EB-5 project received the first Form I-526E approval from USCIS, signaling that the agency is moving on project-linked petitions. The approval could speed the path to conditional residency for other investors while highlighting the project’s rural set-aside and loan protections.

Why it matters: - The first I-526E approval can give other Grand Park investors a sign that USCIS is actively reviewing project-related petitions. - Rural EB-5 projects get priority processing and access to a reserved visa category, which can shorten wait times for applicants. - Approval also moves the investor closer to conditional permanent residency.

What happened: - EB5AN said an investor in the Grand Park (Senior Loan) Rural EB-5 Project received the project’s first Form I-526E approval from USCIS. - The approval came 10.7 months after filing. - EB5AN said the approval confirms USCIS is adjudicating investor petitions tied to Grand Park. - Sam Silverman, managing partner of EB5AN, said the approval shows Grand Park’s structure, rural TEA qualification and job-creation methodology are working as intended. - Mike Schoenfeld, managing partner of EB5AN, said the approval is an encouraging sign for Grand Park investors.

The details: - Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, a project must file Form I-956F before investors can submit Form I-526E petitions. - Grand Park previously received Form I-956F exemplar approval. - EB5AN described that as part of its record of 100% USCIS project approvals for regional center projects it manages. - Form I-526E is the individual investor petition, and USCIS reviews the investor’s personal eligibility, including the lawful source and path of invested funds. - USCIS has confirmed Grand Park qualifies as a rural TEA. - Rural TEA eligibility allows the $800,000 minimum investment level. - Rural EB-5 investors also receive priority processing of Form I-526E petitions. - Rural projects receive 20% of annual EB-5 visas, and EB5AN said those visas remain current for applicants from all countries. - EB5AN said that can reduce waiting times for investors from high-demand regions. - The project’s senior EB-5 loan is secured by a senior mortgage on key real estate assets and a pledge of 100% equity in the project company. - The structure also includes a job-creation guaranty, a construction completion guaranty and an I-526E approval refund guaranty. - EB5AN said those features reduce immigration and financial risk. - Grand Park is located in Fraser, Colorado, just over an hour from Denver and adjacent to Winter Park Resort. - The master-planned community includes residential, commercial and recreational components. - EB5AN said the project has already shown strong regional demand. - EB5AN said construction is advancing across multiple phases.

Between the lines: - The approval gives EB5AN a concrete example to market the project’s immigration timeline and structure to prospective investors. - The rural designation is the core advantage here, because it combines lower investment thresholds with priority processing and reserved visas. - The loan protections and refund guaranty are designed to address both immigration and capital risk, which is a key selling point in EB-5 offerings.

What's next: - More Grand Park investors could receive I-526E decisions as USCIS continues processing petitions tied to the project. - Successful approvals may support fundraising and investor confidence in the remaining phases of the development. - EB5AN is likely to continue highlighting the project’s rural TEA status, approval history and safety features as the case advances.

The bottom line: - The first USCIS approval is a meaningful milestone for Grand Park investors and a signal that the project’s EB-5 pathway is moving forward.