USCIS Awards Civitas Investor High-Unemployment Area (HUA) I-526E Approval for Santa Monica Promenade Project
October 28, 2025
Civitas Capital Group, a leading EB-5 regional center operator and trusted real estate capital partner, today announced that a Korean investor in its Santa Monica Promenade project has received Form I-526E approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This is the first I-526E petition approval for the Santa Monica Promenade project, which is designated high-unemployment area (HUA) (as opposed to “rural”), thus not eligible for expedited processing. Civitas is thrilled to note that although HUA I-526E petition approvals often take 18 to 24 months to process, the Santa Monica Promenade project EB-5 investor’s I-526E petition was approved in just over 12 months.
Project construction was completed in April 2025. All EB-5 investments have been secured, and the project is closed to new EB-5 investors.
“This USCIS approval demonstrates the strength of the EB-5 project,” said Jeff Kiser, Director and Head of EB-5 Investor Relations at Civitas. “We are proud to show that investors in high-unemployment areas can achieve timely results when the project is straightforward and meets all program requirements.”
The Santa Monica Promenade project is a high-street retail and creative office project at 1404 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. Civitas helped bring this flagship mixed-use project to fruition by providing a senior loan to an experienced local developer. The project received Form I-956F approval from USCIS in August 2024.
Third Street Promenade, with more than 10 million visitors annually, runs for three blocks and offers a premier pedestrian experience, anchored by iconic brands like Apple, Alo, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany, as well as movie theatres, local boutiques, and sidewalk cafés.
ABOUT CIVITAS CAPITAL GROUP
Civitas Capital Group is a leading EB-5 regional center operator and trusted real estate capital partner. Since 2009, Civitas has invested in over 50 real estate development projects with a 100% USCIS approval rate, always anchored by the firm’s core values of Focused Creativity, Institutional Stewardship, and Respect & Grace. On behalf of thousands of EB-5 investors and their families, the firm digs deeper to uncover opportunities that others miss, combining decades of underwriting experience with flexible structuring and uncompromising integrity. The result: Civitas is trusted by EB-5 investors and real estate innovators to deliver creative solutions, disciplined execution, and enduring commitment. Follow Civitas Capital Group on LinkedIn. Learn more at civitascapital.com.
