EB-5 visa fees will rise sharply from November 30, 2026, after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finalized a new fee schedule for the immigrant investor program, with some initial applications set to cost nearly $8,000.
The increase will significantly raise the administrative cost of seeking permanent residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. USCIS says the new charges are intended to cover the cost of administering the program, meet statutory processing-time targets and strengthen measures aimed at detecting fraud.
For investors applying independently through Form I-526, the initial filing fee will increase from $3,675 to $7,615. Applicants using the regional-centre route through Form I-526E will face an even higher fee of $7,850, also up from $3,675.
The new charges come on top of other costs associated with the application process. A $75 technology fee will apply, while investors will also be required to make contributions to the EB-5 Integrity Fund. These additional charges will push the total cost of an initial filing beyond the basic petition fee.
The cost does not end with the initial application. Investors who reach the stage of seeking the removal of conditions on their permanent resident status will also face a higher filing fee. Form I-829 will increase from $3,750 to $5,000 under the new schedule.
The EB-5 program, created by Congress in 1990, offers foreign investors and their immediate family members a route to U.S. permanent residency. To qualify, investors must place capital into qualifying U.S. commercial enterprises and create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.
The fee increases do not change the program’s existing investment thresholds. The minimum investment remains $800,000 for qualifying targeted employment areas and infrastructure projects, while the standard investment threshold remains $1.05 million.
That distinction is important for prospective applicants because the new rules raise the administrative cost of entering the program without changing the amount of capital that must be invested under the existing framework.
USCIS relies largely on fees collected from applicants rather than taxpayer appropriations to fund its operations. The agency says those fees help cover activities including background checks, compliance reviews and other work required to administer immigration programs.
For people already preparing an EB-5 filing, the effective date will be a significant deadline. USCIS has confirmed that petitions postmarked before November 30, 2026, will remain subject to the current fee schedule. The new charges therefore will not be applied retroactively to filings submitted before the change takes effect.
For prospective EB-5 investors, the November 30 deadline means the cost of entering the program is about to change considerably. While the investment requirements remain the same, the fees attached to the immigration process will become a much larger part of the overall cost of pursuing a U.S. Green Card through the program.
