u/maverikKumar

We're planning to file our EB-5 petition before September 2026 and are currently working with a consultant who's guiding us on choosing the project, regional center, and attorney.

Before we commit, I'd love to hear from people who went the DIY route:

• Has anyone filed EB-5 without a consultant and connected with a regional center directly? How did that go, and how did you vet the regional center / project on your own?
• What are the real pros and cons of using a consultant versus doing it yourself?

One thing that's giving me pause: a few attorneys declined to take our case because we're going through these (USCIS-approved) consultants, citing a conflict of interest. Has anyone run into this? Is that a red flag about the consultant, standard caution from the attorneys, or something else?

Any experiences, lessons learned, or things you wish you'd known would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!