AIIA uses FOIA requests to promote transparency and accountability within the EB-5 program. By obtaining internal government data and documents, AIIA helps EB-5 stakeholders—investors, project developers, and attorneys—gain access to accurate, up-to-date information that affects visa processing, policy decisions, and program operations. This ensures the community can make informed decisions based on verified facts rather than speculation.

FOIA requests can reveal critical details about USCIS and Department of State operations, including visa processing statistics, I-526E petition inventories, policy interpretation records, and administrative data such as staffing or case management practices. These insights shed light on how EB-5 applications are processed and where inefficiencies or inconsistencies may exist within the system.

Access to government-held data allows EB-5 investors and industry participants to understand the real status of the program, anticipate policy shifts, and identify problem areas such as delays or arbitrary denials. Transparency builds trust, empowers stakeholders to hold agencies accountable, and ensures that investment and immigration decisions are grounded in reliable information.

AIIA’s FOIA initiatives have provided the community with unprecedented insight into the operations of the Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) and USCIS. Notable outcomes include access to data on I-526E petition inventories, information about arbitrary denials and source-of-funds issues, and staffing and administrative records. These disclosures have deepened the community’s understanding of EB-5 processes and highlighted areas needing reform.