Currahee Club Rural EB-5 Project Wins USCIS Exemplar Approval

EB5AN said USCIS approved Currahee Club’s Form I-956F filing, clearing the rural South Carolina-style golf and residential project for EB-5 investor review under the program’s rules. The approval lets future investors seek the $800,000 rural minimum and priority visa processing while USCIS focuses on individual eligibility.

Why it matters: - USCIS exemplar approval gives Currahee Club a key regulatory green light under the EB-5 program. - The ruling can speed the path for investors because USCIS has already reviewed the project documents. - Rural EB-5 projects also get a reserved share of annual visas, which can shorten waits for investors.

What happened: - EB5AN said the Currahee Club (Senior Loan) Rural EB-5 Project received Form I-956F exemplar approval from USCIS on Aug. 17, 2026. - The approval confirms USCIS reviewed the project documents and found them compliant with EB-5 program requirements. - EB5AN said Currahee Club now joins its portfolio of approved EB-5 projects. - The firm said the approval extends its record of 100% USCIS project approvals for regional center projects it manages.

The details: - Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, every EB-5 project must file Form I-956F before investors’ Form I-526E petitions can be approved. - Form I-956F includes the project’s business plan, capital structure, job creation methodology and compliance framework. - EB5AN managing partner Sam Silverman said USCIS confirmed Currahee Club’s project structure, rural TEA qualification and job creation methodology meet EB-5 requirements. - EB5AN managing partner Mike Schoenfeld said USCIS will defer to the approved project documents and focus mainly on each investor’s individual eligibility. - Investors in rural EB-5 projects qualify for the $800,000 minimum investment level. - Rural EB-5 investors also receive priority processing for Form I-526E petitions. - Rural projects receive 20% of annual EB-5 visas reserved exclusively for that category. - EB5AN said USCIS’s approval also confirms the project’s senior EB-5 loan structure complies with program rules. - The EB-5 loan is secured by two pledges of 100% of membership interests and a first-priority security deed on portions of the property.

Between the lines: - The approval reduces one major layer of uncertainty for investors, but it does not replace review of each investor’s source-of-funds and eligibility documentation. - Rural designation is strategically important because it combines a lower investment threshold with visa set-asides and faster processing. - EB5AN is positioning Currahee Club as part of a proven rural-development playbook, alongside other communities it says have delivered strong EB-5 outcomes.

What happened: - Currahee Club is a master-planned golf and residential community on Lake Hartwell in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, about 75 miles from Atlanta. - The project spans about 1,087 acres. - Existing amenities include a Jim Fazio-designed 18-hole championship golf course, a 48,000-square-foot clubhouse, a sports campus with pool and tennis courts, dining facilities, guest accommodations and a nature trail. - Future plans include new residential lots and homes, a boutique hotel, a dedicated event center and a community boat dock. - EB5AN said the golf course has more than 350 members. - EB5AN said more than 200 lots and homes were sold under previous ownership. - The project is near Twin Lakes Georgia, which EB5AN described as one of the most successful rural projects in EB-5 history. - EB5AN said Twin Lakes Georgia has more than 350 I-526E approvals, 900 homes sold and 800 homes delivered. - EB5AN said Currahee Club follows the same development model as Bay Creek in Virginia, another waterfront golf community it manages.

What's next: - Investors can now rely on the approved project file when submitting their own EB-5 applications. - USCIS will next focus on each investor’s personal eligibility and source-of-funds review. - Currahee Club will continue moving through its development and EB-5 fundraising process with the project-level approval in hand.

The bottom line: - USCIS approval removes a major project-level hurdle and strengthens Currahee Club’s pitch to EB-5 investors seeking rural visa advantages.