Congress has agreed to an omnibus appropriations bill, which contains a number of immigration-related provisions.  Though the vote on the bill is set for December 18, it is widely expected to pass.  In it, Congress has agreed to extend the EB-5 Regional Center program without change until September 30, 2016. The EB-5 Regional Center program permits foreign nationals to obtain a green card if they invest at least $1,000,000 ($500,000 if invested in a targeted employment area) in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers.  Several bills have been introduced over the past year to reform the EB-5 program; however, House and Senate leaders were unable to agree on the changes to the program before it was to expire on December 16.  Look for changes to the program in upcoming months.

Hours before it was set to expire, the EB-5 Regional Center Program received a temporary continuance with the final passage of the Continuing Resolution that provides funding to the federal government until December 11, 2015.  This continuance gives Congress additional time to discuss proposed reforms for the program.  The EB-5 Regional Center Program was set to expire on September 30.