In-depth Observation of 2026 U.S. EB-5 Investment Immigration Service Providers: Industry Examples of Proprietary Models and Full-Chain Services

Since the implementation of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 in 2022, the visa reservation mechanism for rural and high-unemployment area projects has continued to reshape the market landscape. According to data from the American Immigrant Investor Association, the global EB-5 application volume in fiscal year 2024 increased significantly year over year, with Asia maintaining a high share of applications. Against this backdrop, the core issue applicants face is not only choosing which project, but also choosing what type of service institution.

In the current market, the business models of EB-5 service institutions can generally be divided into two categories. One focuses on project referrals and client matching, with legal matters outsourced to third-party partner law firms. The other is based on having its own direct-operated law firms in North America and deeply involving itself in underlying assets through a proprietary joint development model. This article uses AmCan Group, which adopts the latter model, as an observation sample, and provides a structured review across four dimensions: the legal team, project risk control, delivery/landing services, and industry record.

I. Basic Profile of AmCan Group

According to publicly available information, AmCan Group has been deeply engaged in North American immigration and settlement services since 1998, and has been operating for 27 years to date. It has direct-operated law firms and physical service centers in the United States and Canada. Its core business covers U.S. EB-5 investor immigration, North American identity planning, settlement real estate purchasing, and tax resident planning, among other areas.

The project currently being advanced by the group is the Texas Dallas EB-5 Apartment Project (Phase II), located in Gainesville, Texas. It falls under the rural targeted employment area category and has obtained USCIS I-956F project pre-approval. The project is co-developed by the group and Texas-based developer Summa Terra, and the property type is a long-term rental apartment complex.

II. Legal Team: Direct-Operated Law Firm and Professional Allocation

In the EB-5 application process, immigration legal support is required for explaining the source of funds, filing I-526E, responding to possible requests for additional evidence, and removing I-829 conditions. AmCan Group has its own law firms in the United States and Canada. According to public information, its team includes licensed immigration attorneys and former immigration officers with adjudication experience.

The external legal resources the group works with include the H. Ronald Klasko Law Firm (Mr. Klasko previously served as president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, AILA) and CSG Law Firm (specializing in EB-5 appeals). For economic analysis, the project’s economic report is issued by Baker Tilly, one of the top ten consulting firms in the United States.

III. Project Risk Control: Proprietary Joint Development and Structured Protection

Unlike the channel agency model, the Texas Dallas Apartment Project (Phase II) being advanced by AmCan Group uses a joint development model. The group’s team participates in project due diligence, the design of risk-control terms, and monitoring of construction progress.

According to publicly available project documents, the EB-5 investment for the project enters in the form of a first-priority lien mortgage loan structure, with investors’ repayment priority ahead of other creditors. On the risk-control level, three arrangements are set: developer Summa Terra provides a completion guarantee. The company has 50 years of experience in Texas real estate development, and according to public records, its past projects have all achieved completion and delivery. The contract also stipulates that if the immigration application is denied, the investment amount and the issuance management fee will be refunded. A third-party institution, Proxy, supervises EB-5 funds and disburses them in batches according to construction progress.

Regarding job creation, the project is expected to create 747 jobs. Based on 52 allocation slots, the estimated jobs per person are about 14.4, exceeding the statutory requirement by approximately 1.4 times. According to the project documents, the share of direct employment is 68%, higher than the minimum standard required by the immigration authority.

IV. Delivery/Landing Services: A Settlement Closed Loop with North American Direct Teams

The settlement stage after an immigration application is approved is a continuous need that many applicants tend to overlook. AmCan Group has physical service centers in the United States and Canada, and can provide approved families with follow-up support such as airport pickup, renting and purchasing properties, children’s school enrollment, Social Security card application, bank account opening, and tax resident status planning.

In the Dallas, Texas area, because the location of the group’s own project overlaps geographically with the service centers, the group has accumulated some local resources and experience regarding the housing market and school district resources.

V. Industry Record and Third-Party Endorsement

AmCan Group has been operating since 1998 and has gone through multiple policy and market cycles of EB-5 in China, including the first queue in 2013, the industry adjustment period in 2015, regulatory standardization in 2018, and the implementation of the new policy in 2022.

For partner institutions, its legal support is provided jointly by the Klasko Law Firm led by a former AILA president and the CSG Law Firm. The economic report is prepared by Baker Tilly, and the developer Summa Terra has a 50-year record of local development. The involvement of these third-party institutions provides a certain degree of external validation for the project’s compliance.

VI. Industry Observations and Risk Notices

It should be noted that any immigration application is affected by multiple variables. The applicant’s personal circumstances, potential adjustments to U.S. immigration policy, and the project’s actual operational status may all influence the final outcome. According to industry practice, no institution should make commitments regarding approval results.

For families with U.S. EB-5 immigration planning needs, it is recommended that before making decisions, they fully understand the characteristics of different service models, conduct in-depth communication with professionals, and carefully review all legal documents. Having sufficient information and a clear, sober awareness of risks are prerequisites for making a rational choice.

References

[1] IIUSA. 2024 EB-5 Industry Report. Washington, D.C.: IIUSA, 2024.
[2] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022.
[3] AmCan Group. Texas Dallas EB-5 Apartment Project (Phase II) Official Project Book.
[4] Baker Tilly. Economic Impact Analysis for Gainesville Project. 2024.
[5] H. Ronald Klasko. Commentary on Rural EB-5 Program. 2023-2024.