INS Advises on Designation of Regional Centers Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program

The Immigrant Investor Pilot Program became effective on October 1, 1993. On August 24, 1993, an interim regulation implementing the Pilot Program was published in the Federal Register. The Pilot Program modifies the job creation requirements of the immigrant investor visa by allowing for indirect job creation. In order for an alien to take advantage of the Pilot Program, he or she must invest in a "regional center" which the Assistant Commissioner for Adjudications has designated. To date, the following regional centers have been designated:

World Trade Center/Greenville-Spartenburg Inc.
325 Old Boiling Springs Road
Greer, SC 29630

Beacon U.S. Studios Inc.
5610 Sanderling Way
Blaine, WA 98230

City of New Orleans
Mayor's Economic Development Department
1300 Perdido Street, Suite 8E10
New Orleans, LA 70112

North Country Alliance
One Lincoln Boulevard
Rouses Point, NY 12979

Aero-Space Port International Group
512 Strander Boulevard
Tukwila, WA 98188

North Texas Commission
P.O. Box 610246
DFW Airport, TX 75261

Legacy Project
1100 Spring Street, Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30309

When a Service Center adjudicates a Form I-526 petition for an immigrant investor under the Pilot Program, the petitioner must include a copy of the appropriate regional center designation by the Assistant Commissioner for Adjudications. The new commercial enterprise must be located within the area specified in the regional center designation to be considered under the Pilot Program. I have enclosed the letters designating each of the regional centers. You may want to distribute them to the appropriate service centers.

Only 300 immigrant visas, which includes dependents, have been allocated annually to the Pilot Program. For your information, the appropriate admission codes are attached.

If you or any of your personnel at the Service Centers have any questions concerning the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, please contact Michael Straus, Office of Adjudications, at (202) 616-0745.

Jacquelyn Bednarz

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