USCIS Starts 2026 by Terminating More EB‑5 Regional Centers: Integrity Fees and I‑956G Under the Microscope

Background: An Unprecedented January Crackdown

As someone who follows the EB‑5 program closely, I was stunned when, in the first week of 2026, the immigration agency announced a new compliance alert and began terminating a wave of regional centers. While termination notices are not new, the sheer number and the specific grounds this time around signal a tougher era of enforcement. Under the EB‑5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), regional centers now face strict obligations: pay an annual Integrity Fund fee, file a detailed Form I‑956G each year, and submit to periodic audits. According to practitioners, failing any of these requirements has quickly become the leading reason for termination.

Why Regional Centers Are Being Terminated

The latest round of termination notices cite three recurring issues. Understanding these pitfalls helps investors and project sponsors avoid them:

• Non‑payment of the Integrity Fund fee: Every October, active regional centers must pay an annual fee into the Integrity Fund (US$10 000 for centers with 20 or fewer investors, or US$20 000 for larger centers). A former USCIS official recently noted that failure to pay this fee is now the number one reason for termination. One industry leader bluntly warned that “if the fee isn’t getting paid, terminations are rolling.”
• Missing or incomplete Form I‑956G: By late December each year, regional centers must file a comprehensive annual statement (Form I‑956G) detailing investors, job creation, fund administration and securities law compliance. Many centers submitted the old I‑924A form or left sections blank. USCIS regards these filings as evidence of continued eligibility; omissions or inaccuracies now trigger termination notices.
• Ignoring audit requests: The RIA authorizes USCIS to audit every regional center at least once every five years. Auditors request detailed documentation about fund flows, job‑creation models and the role of the fund administrator, and they expect responses within 14 days. Panelists on a recent IIUSA webinar explained that refusing to participate in an audit or obstructing auditors is a termination‑worthy offense.

Understanding the Compliance Burden

Many regional centers underestimated the complexity of the new compliance regime. The Integrity Fund fee is more than a formality: USCIS uses the fund to finance audits, site visits and investigations. Failure to pay the fee by the October 30 deadline raises questions about a center’s financial stability and willingness to follow the law. Meanwhile, the redesigned Form I‑956G requires far more information than its predecessor. Centers must report each petition filed, disclose escrow arrangements and certify compliance with securities laws. Legal advisors warn that even small errors can invite agency scrutiny.

What Happens During a USCIS Audit

An audit is not a routine paperwork review; it is an in‑depth examination of a regional center’s operations. USCIS auditors may request bank statements, fund‑administrator reports, evidence of job creation and even contracts with developers. They can interview staff and visit project sites. In the webinar referenced earlier, former officials stressed that auditors expect full cooperation and complete records; refusing to provide information or obstructing their work can lead to immediate termination. Audits used to be rare, but the Integrity Fund now finances them, and many centers are being audited for the first time.

Investor Implications and Good‑Faith Protections

For investors, a termination notice can be alarming, but it is not always fatal. The RIA includes a “good‑faith investor” protection. If your regional center is terminated, you have 180 days to preserve your priority date by taking one of three actions: (1) demonstrate that your new commercial enterprise still meets EB‑5 requirements despite the termination, (2) associate with another approved regional center and amend your petition, or (3) reinvest in a new qualifying project under a different center. Investors whose petitions were filed before March 15 2022 may even reinvest at the previous US$500 000 minimum if they choose a rural or high‑unemployment project. It is critical to work with experienced counsel during this window, as failure to act could result in loss of the priority date and visa eligibility.

Lessons for 2026

The surge of terminations at the start of 2026 signals that USCIS intends to enforce the RIA strictly. Regional centers must budget for the Integrity Fund fee, gather data throughout the year to complete Form I‑956G accurately and prepare for surprise audits. Investors should confirm that their center remains in good standing and that their projects are well‑documented. As one compliance consultant put it, the era of lax oversight is over; centers that treat reporting and fees as optional will not survive.

Looking ahead, I expect further guidance on how USCIS interprets “reasonable cause” for failing to pay fees or submit reports. For now, prudence suggests erring on the side of caution: file early, pay on time and keep immaculate records. These steps will help ensure that your EB‑5 journey continues smoothly, even as regulators tighten the screws.