EB-5 Visa Fees to Double From November 30, 2026, after the US Citizenship and Immigration Services finalised a new fee structure for the immigrant investor programme.
The revised charges will apply to applications, petitions and requests postmarked on or after the effective date.
EB-5 Visa Fees to Double From November 30
Under the new rules, the filing fee for Form I-526, used by standalone investors, will rise from $3,675 to $7,615.
The initial Form I-526E fee for investors using an approved regional centre will increase from $3,675 to $7,850.
Both the initial I-526 and I-526E filings will also include a $75 EB-5 technology fee. Regional-centre investors must additionally pay the programme’s investor integrity fee.
EB-5 Investor Fees Rise Across Applications
The fee increase is not limited to the initial petition.
The Form I-829 fee, which is used to remove conditions on permanent resident status, will rise from $3,750 to $5,000.
Fees for regional-centre applications are also changing.
The initial Form I-956 application for regional-centre designation will increase from $17,795 to $44,115, while the Form I-956F fee for approval of an investment in a commercial enterprise will rise to $42,675 from $17,795.
The new rules also establish Form I-527 for certain investors seeking to amend older Form I-526 petitions. The filing fee for this form will be $10,330.
What the EB-5 Programme Offers Investors
The EB-5 programme allows qualifying foreign investors and their immediate family members to seek permanent residency in the US through investment in a qualifying commercial enterprise and job creation.
The programme was created by Congress in 1990 to encourage investment and employment in the country.
Applicants generally need to invest $1.05 million in a qualifying business, or $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or infrastructure project, and create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying workers.
For Indian investors, the revised charges could significantly increase the government filing costs involved in the EB-5 process.
However, the fee increase does not change the programme’s underlying investment requirements.
Who Will Pay the New EB-5 Fees?
The revised fees apply to applications, petitions and requests postmarked on or after November 30, 2026.
Investors who file before that date will remain subject to the fees applicable to their filing at that time.
EB-5 Visa Fees to Double From November 30 is therefore an important change for investors preparing their applications.
Anyone considering the programme should account for the new USCIS charges along with the separate investment and other costs involved in the immigration process.
