The USCIS Has Eliminated the Need For Biometrics for Form I-526E Petitioners

HI INDIA NEWS DESK
WASHINGTON, DC- Effective March 15, USCIS has removed the requirement for petitioners filing Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor, to submit biometrics and the associated $85 fee. USCIS has determined that collecting biometrics from all regional center investor petitioners is not necessary to confirm compliance with the relevant immigration laws, but may request biometrics submission from a petitioner as necessary under other applicable authorities.

USCIS has received approximately 980 Form I-526E petitions with the biometrics fee since its release in 2022. USCIS will refund these fees in the coming weeks and petitioners do not need to contact USCIS to request a refund.

A revised edition of Form I-526E dated 03/15/23 with updated instructions has been released. USCIS will only accept this edition of Form I-526E effective May 15, 2023. Until then, petitioners can submit either the new edition or the previous edition of Form I-526E (dated 06/01/22). However, petitioners should note that the previous edition still contains instructions about the biometrics submission requirement that are no longer accurate.

Form I-526E was first published on July 12, 2022, as part of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. The form is used by investors who pool their investments with one or more qualified immigrants participating in the Regional Center Program to petition USCIS for status as an immigrant to the United States under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.