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  • May 16, 2026

How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-956G (w/Examples) + FAQs

Form I-956G is the Regional Center Annual Statement that every approved EB-5 regional center must file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) each fiscal year to keep its designation active and report on its capital, investors, jobs, and projects. You file it once per federal fiscal year, and you must file it on time, with the correct fee, complete certifications, and supporting evidence, or USCIS can issue a Notice of Intent to Terminate the regional center under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.

Missing the December 29 annual deadline, leaving a single line blank, or signing the wrong certification block can trigger termination, fines up to $10,000 per violation, and loss of designation for the regional center. According to the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program Office data, more than 600 regional centers have been terminated since 2018, and the most common reason is failure to file or incomplete filing of the annual statement.

In this guide, you will learn:

  • 📝 How to complete every part of the Form I-956G line by line with named examples
  • 💵 The exact fees, deadlines, and signature rules under the EB-5 RIA statute
  • ⚖️ How federal law and the USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6, Part G shape your reporting duties
  • 🚫 The seven most common mistakes that cause Notices of Intent to Terminate
  • ❓ Ten plain-English FAQs that answer the questions filers ask most often

What Form I-956G Is and Why It Exists

Form I-956G is the yearly compliance report that every USCIS-approved EB-5 regional center must submit. The form lives inside the I-956 form family created by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. USCIS uses the form to track capital flows, job creation, fraud risks, and national-security concerns across the EB-5 program.

Congress passed the RIA to fix years of fraud, sloppy bookkeeping, and weak oversight. The Senate Judiciary Committee findings on EB-5 fraud showed regional centers used to file thin annual reports under the old Form I-924A. The new Form I-956G demands far more detail, sworn certifications, and audit-ready evidence.

The form has a clear purpose under INA §203(b)(5)(E). It tells USCIS that your regional center still operates, still complies with federal securities law, and still creates the jobs you promised. If you skip the filing or file an incomplete form, USCIS may terminate your regional center under 8 CFR 204.6(m)(6).

A common myth says small regional centers with no active investors can skip the filing. That myth is wrong. Every approved regional center must file, even if it has zero new investors and zero active New Commercial Enterprises (NCEs) for the year, per USCIS guidance on annual reporting.

For example, Sunrise Regional Center, LLC in Phoenix has no new investors in fiscal year 2025. The general counsel still files Form I-956G by December 29, 2025, marks the NCE section as inactive, and pays the full fee. By doing so, Sunrise keeps its designation in good standing and avoids a termination notice.

Who Must File Form I-956G

Every regional center designated by USCIS under INA §203(b)(5)(E) must file Form I-956G. This includes new regional centers approved under the RIA on a Form I-956 and legacy regional centers approved before March 15, 2022, that filed an amendment to keep their status.

The filer is the regional center entity itself, not the NCE, not the Job Creating Entity (JCE), and not the individual investor. The principal of the regional center signs the form under penalty of perjury, per the I-956G instructions. The principal carries personal liability for false statements under 18 U.S.C. §1001.

Terminated regional centers do not file. Regional centers that were approved during the fiscal year still file for the partial year. Regional centers in wind-down mode still file until USCIS formally terminates them or accepts a request to withdraw under the USCIS regional center termination guidance.

A common misconception is that a dormant regional center owes nothing. The consequence of believing this myth is automatic termination after one missed cycle. The example: Cascade Capital Regional Center in Oregon stops sponsoring projects in 2024 but does not formally withdraw. The principal skips the December 2025 filing, and USCIS issues a Notice of Intent to Terminate in March 2026, citing failure to file under the RIA.

When and Where to File

The filing window opens at the start of each federal fiscal year on October 1 and closes on December 29 of the same calendar year, per the USCIS I-956G page. USCIS measures the report against the most recent fiscal year that ended September 30. You must file within 90 days of the fiscal year end, with no extensions allowed.

You file online through the USCIS online account portal, or by paper to the USCIS Texas Service Center if a paper option is open. Most filers use the online portal because it confirms receipt instantly. The USCIS direct filing addresses page shows the current paper address when allowed.

Late filings face automatic consequences. USCIS may issue a Notice of Intent to Terminate, charge a fine, or both. The EB-5 RIA Section 203(b)(5)(H) gives USCIS the power to fine a regional center up to $10,000 per violation for late, false, or incomplete annual statements.

A common myth claims that filing on December 30 still counts. That myth is wrong. The consequence of one day late is the same as one year late under the statute. For example, Atlantic Coast Regional Center in Miami uploads the form at 11:59 PM Eastern on December 29, 2025, and stays compliant. Pacific Heights Regional Center uploads at 12:01 AM on December 30 and receives a termination notice three months later.

Filing Fee, Integrity Fund Fee, and Payment Method

The current Form I-956G filing fee is $4,470, set by the USCIS fee schedule effective April 1, 2024. Regional centers also pay the EB-5 Integrity Fund fee under INA §203(b)(5)(J), which is $20,000 per year for centers with more than 20 investors and $10,000 for centers with 20 or fewer investors.

You pay both fees together when you file the annual statement. You may pay by credit card with Form G-1450, by check made out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or through Pay.gov inside the USCIS online filing system. USCIS will reject the form without payment.

The Integrity Fund fee is separate from the filing fee. It funds USCIS site visits and fraud audits. Missing the Integrity Fund fee is a common reason for rejection. The consequence is a returned filing and a missed deadline if you do not refile in time.

A common misconception holds that small regional centers do not pay the Integrity Fund fee. They do, but at the lower $10,000 tier. For example, Mountain View Regional Center with 12 investors pays $4,470 plus $10,000, for a total of $14,470. Skyline Regional Center with 215 investors pays $4,470 plus $20,000, for a total of $24,470, per the USCIS Integrity Fund fee notice.

How to Fill Out Form I-956G Line by Line

The current form runs 17 pages and 11 parts. Each part asks for sworn data backed by records you must keep for five years under the USCIS records-retention rules. Below is a part-by-part walkthrough with named examples.

Part 1: Regional Center Information

Part 1 asks for the legal name, USCIS regional center identification number, mailing address, and principal contact. The legal name must match the USCIS approval notice. A typo here can trigger a Request for Evidence (RFE).

The plain-English meaning is simple. USCIS wants to confirm the entity in front of it is the same one it approved. The consequence of a wrong name or wrong ID number is a rejected filing and a missed deadline. The common myth is that nicknames or “doing business as” names work. They do not.

For example, Liberty Regional Center, LLC, ID RCW1234567890, lists its full legal name and full ID number in Part 1. The principal lists the headquarters address in Boston, the principal’s direct phone, and a backup email. Liberty does not list its trade name “Liberty EB-5” because that name is not on the approval notice.

Part 2: Aggregate Capital and Investor Data

Part 2 reports total capital raised, total capital deployed, and total number of investors across all NCEs sponsored during the fiscal year. You report cumulative numbers since the regional center began and year-over-year change. The USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6, Part G, Chapter 3 explains how to count capital.

The plain-English meaning is a balance sheet of EB-5 capital. The consequence of a wrong number is an audit, a fine, or termination. The myth is that you can round to the nearest thousand. You cannot. You must report exact figures from your audited books.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center in Denver reports $182,400,000 in cumulative capital raised, $164,200,000 deployed, and 218 investors. The CFO ties the numbers to the audited financial statements and the SEC Form D filings of each NCE. Pinecrest keeps the workpapers in a secure archive for five years.

Part 3: NCE-Level Reporting

Part 3 lists each NCE the regional center sponsored during the year. You give each NCE name, EIN, address, capital raised, capital deployed, project status, and TEA designation. The USCIS NCE rules at 8 CFR 204.6(h) define the NCE.

You must list every NCE, active or inactive. The consequence of skipping an NCE is a false certification under 18 U.S.C. §1001. The myth is that wound-up NCEs do not count. They do, until USCIS confirms wind-down through I-829 adjudications for all investors.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center sponsors three NCEs in 2025: Pinecrest Hotel NCE LLC, Pinecrest Senior Living NCE LLC, and Pinecrest Tech Park NCE LLC. The CFO lists each EIN, each capital amount, and the TEA status confirmed by the state TEA designation letter.

Part 4: JCE-Level Reporting

Part 4 reports each JCE that received EB-5 capital and the jobs created at the JCE level. You give the JCE legal name, EIN, address, NAICS code, jobs created, and the methodology used (direct, indirect, or induced). The USCIS job-creation rules require an economic methodology accepted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The plain-English meaning: USCIS wants to know the businesses that put EB-5 dollars to work and the jobs the dollars produced. The consequence of weak data is a finding that the regional center failed to create the required 10 jobs per investor. The myth is that projected jobs count forever. They do not, because USCIS now demands evidence that projected jobs become actual jobs.

For example, Pinecrest Hotel JCE Inc. receives $30 million in EB-5 capital and reports 412 indirect jobs using the RIMS II input-output model. The economist signs a methodology memo and the regional center attaches the memo to the I-956G filing.

Part 5: Fund Administration

Part 5 reports who administers the EB-5 funds and how the funds are tracked. The RIA mandates an independent fund administrator or an annual audit by a CPA firm under INA §203(b)(5)(G)(ii). You must list the administrator’s name, address, and license.

The plain-English meaning: an outside watchdog must protect investor money. The consequence of skipping a fund administrator and skipping the audit is termination. The myth is that the principal can self-administer. The principal cannot, unless the regional center commissions an annual independent audit and files the audit report with USCIS.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center hires NES Financial (now JTC Group) as its fund administrator and lists the administrator’s data in Part 5. The CFO attaches the engagement letter and the most recent administrator certification.

Part 6: Investor-Level Data

Part 6 demands data on each investor: name, country of birth, Form I-526 or I-526E receipt number, capital amount, NCE, and current status. You report new investors, investors who completed I-829, and investors who withdrew.

The plain-English meaning: USCIS wants to track every investor in the program. The consequence of bad data is delays in I-526E and I-829 adjudications for your investors. The myth is that you can omit investors who have green cards. You cannot, until USCIS approves their I-829 and removes the conditional status, per the USCIS I-829 page.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center lists 18 new investors in 2025, 14 from China, 3 from India, and 1 from Vietnam, each with a unique receipt number and an $800,000 capital contribution. The CFO matches the data to the USCIS investor reports.

Part 7: Promoters and Migration Agents

Part 7 lists every person or company that promoted EB-5 offerings on behalf of the regional center. You list legal name, address, country, written agreement date, and compensation. The RIA created strict promoter rules under INA §203(b)(5)(K).

The plain-English meaning: USCIS wants to know who brought investors to the door. The consequence of an unregistered promoter is a fine and a termination risk. The myth is that overseas migration agents are exempt. They are not, since the RIA reaches all promoters worldwide.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center lists Beijing Bright Future Consulting Co. Ltd. as a promoter, with a written agreement dated March 4, 2024, and a 5% commission. The CFO attaches the agreement and the Form I-956K filed by the promoter.

Part 8: Securities Compliance

Part 8 asks whether the regional center, NCE, or any principal has been the subject of an SEC, FINRA, state securities, or criminal action. You answer yes or no, then explain. The SEC EB-5 enforcement page lists past cases.

The plain-English meaning: USCIS wants to flag fraud risk. The consequence of a false “no” is fraud charges and termination. The myth is that minor violations need not be reported. They must be, because the form covers any administrative or judicial action.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center answers “no” because it has no SEC, FINRA, or state actions. The principal signs after a FINRA BrokerCheck review. Old Harbor Regional Center, however, lists a 2019 SEC consent decree, attaches the order, and writes a remediation memo.

Part 9: National Security and Foreign Influence

Part 9 covers the RIA’s national-security disclosures. You report investors and capital from countries on the Department of Commerce sanctioned countries list. You confirm no prohibited foreign government ownership.

The plain-English meaning: Congress wants to keep foreign adversaries out of EB-5. The consequence of a wrong answer is automatic termination under INA §203(b)(5)(F)(iii). The myth is that dual nationals can be ignored. They cannot.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center confirms zero investors from sanctioned states. The CFO attaches a Treasury OFAC SDN list screening report dated within 30 days of filing.

Part 10: Certifications

Part 10 contains the principal’s signature, the date, and the certifications. The principal certifies under penalty of perjury that the data is true, that the regional center complies with securities law, and that the funds are accounted for. The I-956G instructions list the exact certifications.

The plain-English meaning: the principal puts personal credibility on the line. The consequence of a false certification is a felony under 18 U.S.C. §1001. The myth is that an attorney can sign for the principal. The attorney cannot.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center CEO Maria Chen signs Part 10 in wet ink for the paper version, or with a digital signature on USCIS online filing. The general counsel signs Form G-28 separately.

Part 11: Preparer and Interpreter

Part 11 covers any preparer (often the immigration attorney or the CFO’s outside accountant) and any interpreter who helped translate documents. You list name, firm, address, and signature. The USCIS rules on Form G-28 cover attorney representation.

The plain-English meaning: USCIS tracks every hand that touched the form. The consequence of leaving Part 11 blank when an attorney prepared the form is an RFE. The myth is that paralegals do not count. They do.

For example, Pinecrest Regional Center lists attorney David Kim of Kim & Park LLP as preparer and lists no interpreter because all documents are in English. David Kim signs Part 11 and files Form G-28 with the bundle.

Three Common Filing Scenarios

The three most common scenarios show how the form plays out in real life.

Filing Situation Required Action
Regional center with active investors and active NCEs File full Form I-956G, list every NCE, JCE, and investor, attach audit and fund-administrator certification, pay $4,470 plus the tiered Integrity Fund fee
Regional center with no new investors but one ongoing project File Form I-956G, mark Part 6 “no new investors,” still report all open investors, pay both fees
Regional center in wind-down with all investors at I-829 stage File Form I-956G, mark NCEs as inactive, attach wind-down plan, pay both fees, request voluntary termination if appropriate

Three Named-Person Examples

The examples below put the rules into action.

Filer Profile Filing Outcome
Maria Chen, CEO of Pinecrest Regional Center in Denver, with 218 investors and 3 NCEs, files online December 1, 2025, with audit, fund administrator certification, and total fees of $24,470 USCIS accepts the filing within 30 days and posts Pinecrest as compliant on the public list
David Kim, attorney for Atlantic Coast Regional Center in Miami, with 14 investors and 1 NCE, files online December 28, 2025, with $14,470 in total fees USCIS accepts the filing and Atlantic Coast remains in good standing
James Patel, principal of Cascade Capital Regional Center in Portland, with 6 investors but no formal wind-down, misses the December 29, 2025, deadline USCIS issues a Notice of Intent to Terminate in March 2026 and Cascade has 30 days to respond

Key Entities You Must Know

USCIS, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the EB-5 Integrity Fund all play roles in the I-956G ecosystem. USCIS approves and supervises regional centers. The SEC polices securities offerings. The BEA supplies the input-output models for job counting.

The regional center, the NCE, the JCE, the investor, the promoter, the fund administrator, and the auditor all appear by name on Form I-956G. Each plays a distinct role under the USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6, Part G. The principal of the regional center signs the form and carries personal liability.

The Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) inside USCIS reads the filing. The IPO contact page lists ways to reach it. Congress oversees IPO through the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.

The EB-5 Integrity Fund pays for the fraud audits and site visits the RIA created. IIUSA is the trade group that lobbies for regional centers. Invest in the USA publishes annual statistics that mirror the I-956G data.

Mistakes to Avoid

The list below shows seven mistakes that draw a Notice of Intent to Terminate.

Dos and Don’ts

The list below highlights what to do and what to skip.

  • Do file online through USCIS my account for a faster receipt and a digital paper trail
  • Do keep five years of supporting evidence under the USCIS records-retention rule
  • Do hire an independent fund administrator under INA §203(b)(5)(G)(ii) to satisfy Part 5
  • Do screen every investor against the Treasury OFAC SDN list within 30 days of filing
  • Do attach a Form G-28 when an attorney prepares the form, so USCIS can route RFEs correctly
  • Don’t wait until December 28 to start the filing, since one upload error can push you past the deadline
  • Don’t ignore the Integrity Fund fee, because the federal register notice makes the fee mandatory
  • Don’t rely on projected jobs alone, since the USCIS job-creation guidance demands actual or supportable estimates
  • Don’t copy last year’s filing without updates, because outdated data triggers an RFE
  • Don’t answer “no” in Part 8 when any principal has a securities action, since the SEC enforcement page is searchable

Pros and Cons of Online Filing

The list below compares online and paper options.

  • Pro: Online filing through USCIS my account gives an instant receipt
  • Pro: Online filing accepts payment through Pay.gov without a separate Form G-1450
  • Pro: Online filing reduces the risk of lost mail
  • Pro: Online filing creates a permanent digital record for audits
  • Pro: Online filing lets the principal sign with a digital signature, saving wet-ink hassles
  • Con: Online filing requires a verified USCIS account with two-factor authentication
  • Con: Online filing has no batch-upload feature, so each NCE entry takes time
  • Con: Online filing limits attachments to 25 MB per file, per the USCIS upload guidance
  • Con: Online filing does not let two principals sign separately, only one digital signature
  • Con: Online filing system outages happen, and a December outage can push a filer past the deadline

Recap of Key Rulings and Guidance

The Behring Regional Center v. Mayorkas case in 2022 forced USCIS to honor legacy regional center designations after the RIA. The court ruled that USCIS could not deauthorize legacy regional centers without notice and comment. The ruling shaped how USCIS now processes I-956G filings from legacy centers.

The USCIS Policy Manual Volume 6, Part G, updated in 2024, sets the current rules for annual reporting. The manual codifies the audit requirement, the fund-administrator requirement, and the promoter-registration requirement. Filers must read the policy manual before filing.

The SEC v. Ariel Quiros and Jay Peak case set the standard for fraud disclosure on Part 8. Quiros ran a regional center that misused $200 million in EB-5 funds. The case is the reason Part 8 demands sworn answers about every prior action.

The 2023 USCIS stakeholder engagement on Form I-956G clarified that “no activity” filings still need every part completed. The agency does not allow shortcut filings. The engagement notes are the most-cited source for filers in 2025 and 2026.

FAQs

Is filing Form I-956G mandatory every year?

Yes. Every approved regional center files annually under the EB-5 RIA, even with no investors, no NCEs, and no project activity, until USCIS terminates or the center withdraws.

Can a regional center skip the Integrity Fund fee?

No. The fee is a separate, mandatory payment under INA §203(b)(5)(J), at $20,000 for centers with more than 20 investors and $10,000 for smaller centers, due with the I-956G.

Does USCIS extend the December 29 deadline?

No. The statute fixes the deadline at 90 days after fiscal year end, and the USCIS I-956G page confirms no extensions, force majeure, or grace periods exist.

Can the regional center’s attorney sign Part 10?

No. Only the principal of the regional center may sign Part 10 under penalty of perjury, per the I-956G instructions and 18 U.S.C. §1001.

Is an independent fund administrator always required?

No. A regional center may choose an annual CPA audit instead, per INA §203(b)(5)(G)(ii), but it must pick one of the two options every year without exception.

Do legacy regional centers still file Form I-956G?

Yes. Legacy regional centers approved before March 15, 2022, file the same Form I-956G after the Behring v. Mayorkas settlement preserved their status under the RIA framework.

Can a regional center pay the fee with a personal check?

No. Payment must come from the regional center’s business account by check to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, by Form G-1450, or through Pay.gov online.

Does USCIS publish the I-956G data?

Yes. USCIS posts aggregate data through the Immigrant Investor Program Office reports and the public regional center list, while keeping investor names confidential.

Can a terminated regional center reinstate by filing Form I-956G late?

No. A terminated regional center must file a new Form I-956 for designation, since a late annual statement does not cure a termination under 8 CFR 204.6(m)(6).

Does the I-956G replace the older Form I-924A?

Yes. Form I-956G replaced Form I-924A for fiscal years ending September 30, 2022, and after, with broader disclosures, sworn certifications, and integrity-fund reporting under the RIA.

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