Visa Office Predicts Possible Retrogression of EB-5 Numbers for China in Second Half of FY 2012

Charles Oppenheim, Chief, Visa Control and Reporting at the Department of State’s Visa Office, spoke at the Invest in the USA (IIUSA) EB-5 conference held on October 15-16, 2012, in Washington, DC. Among other things, he noted that 7,641 EB-5 visas were issued in fiscal year 2012, a record high. Of that total, 80 percent went to EB-5 investors from China. EB-5 visa numbers may be just as high in FY 2013, he said, adding that EB-5 numbers for China in the second half of FY 2012 may need to be retrogressed because of country cap limits.