Urgent Notice to All Chinese EB-5 Investors: Increased USCIS Scrutiny of Applicants Connected to Certain Chinese Technology Companies

May 19, 2026 - 12:35

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is ramping up national security reviews for EB-5 immigrant investor petitions tied to certain Chinese technology companies. Recent cases show that USCIS is moving beyond traditional checks on where the money came from. Instead, officers are now digging into an applicant's job history, corporate connections, and the type of industry they worked in.

The agency is looking for potential risks related to foreign influence, cybersecurity, data privacy, and surveillance technology. Practitioners have reported increased scrutiny for people linked to specific Chinese tech firms and universities. In some cases, USCIS has issued Notices of Intent to Deny that cite broader U.S. government concerns about national security rather than problems with the investment itself.

Many of these denials do not stem from issues like proving the source of funds or meeting standard EB-5 eligibility rules. The focus is shifting to the applicant's employment background and the perceived geopolitical risk of their former employer. Industries under the microscope include telecommunications, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, data platforms, and surveillance technology.

This trend reflects a wider push by U.S. authorities to vet Chinese nationals working in sensitive tech sectors more carefully. For investors with ties to these fields, the path to an EB-5 visa is becoming more complex and uncertain.