The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase fees for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program beginning November 30, 2026. This program is a popular path for Indian investors and their families to obtain US Green Cards by investing in qualifying businesses that create jobs. The fee hike aims to cover administrative costs and enhance program integrity.
- Form I-526 fees will more than double for both standalone and regional center investors.
- Additional fees include a technology fee and an investor integrity fee for regional center participants.
- Fees for removing conditions on permanent residency (Form I-829) will also increase.
- Regional center-related fees will see significant changes, including a new form and fee for amending older petitions.
- The fee changes support compliance, fraud prevention, and faster processing times.
What are the new fees for EB-5 visa applications?
The fee for Form I-526, used by individual immigrant investors, will rise from $3,675 to $7,615. Investors applying through approved regional centers will pay $7,850, up from $3,675. Both types of petitions will also include a $75 technology fee. Regional center investors must pay an additional investor integrity fee.
The fee for Form I-829, which investors file to remove conditions on their permanent resident status, will increase from $3,750 to $5,000.
How will regional center fees change?
Regional centers, which facilitate investments, will face higher fees. The filing fee for Form I-956, for regional center designation, will jump from $17,795 to $44,115. Form I-956F, for approving investments in commercial enterprises, will increase from $17,795 to $42,675. However, the annual fee for Form I-956G will decrease from $3,035 to $2,165.
A new Form I-527 will be introduced for investors seeking to amend older Form I-526 petitions, with a filing fee of $10,330.
Why are these fee increases happening?
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 requires USCIS to conduct a fee study and set fees that fully recover the costs of administering the program. These costs include application reviews, background checks, eligibility verification, fraud detection, audits, and site visits. USCIS is funded mainly through filing fees, not taxpayer dollars, so these increases ensure the program's sustainability and integrity.
What is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?
Established by Congress in 1990, the EB-5 program allows foreign investors and their immediate family members to obtain lawful permanent residence in the US by investing in a qualifying business. The investment must be $1.05 million, or $800,000 if in a Targeted Employment Area or infrastructure project, and must create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.
Once these requirements are met, investors, their spouses, and qualifying children can apply for Green Cards. The program has grown in popularity among Indian investors, leading to backlogs and longer wait times for Green Card processing.
How will the fee changes affect Indian investors?
Indian investors seeking to use the EB-5 program should prepare for significantly higher application costs starting late 2026. The increases may impact budgeting and planning for those pursuing permanent residency through investment. However, the fee adjustments also aim to improve processing times and reduce fraud, potentially benefiting applicants in the long term.
