The EB-5 fee increase is official. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on September 29 that filing fees for the immigrant investor green card will more than double for any petition postmarked on or after November 30, 2026. A regional center investor filing Form I-526E will pay $7,850 instead of $3,675, a jump of 114 percent. Add the Integrity Fund fee of $1,100 and the petition stage costs $8,950 rather than $4,675, so waiting past the deadline adds $4,275 to the bill. Standalone investors filing Form I-526 move from $3,675 to $7,615. Both initial forms also carry a new $75 technology fee. The minimum investment of $800,000 in a targeted employment area and $1.05 million elsewhere does not change on November 30. We will be updating this article monthly.
The bigger money question sits five weeks later. Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the minimum investment amounts are scheduled to adjust automatically for inflation on January 1, 2027, and industry estimates suggest the targeted employment area threshold could rise by roughly $100,000 and the standard threshold by about $150,000. That dwarfs the filing fee. Immigration lawyers say the fee deadline is a useful marker, but they caution that a rushed filing with weak source-of-funds documents or a shaky project can cost far more than $4,275. This guide breaks down every new fee, the investment increase investors should watch, the filing and payment steps, expected processing times, and the official sources where you can confirm each figure.
EB-5 Fee Increase Key Highlights
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announcement | USCIS final fee rule announced September 29, 2026 |
| Federal Register publication | September 30, 2026 |
| New fees apply to | Filings postmarked on or after November 30, 2026 |
| Last day at current fees | November 29, 2026 |
| Form I-526E (regional center investor) | $3,675 now, $7,850 from November 30 |
| Form I-526 (standalone investor) | $3,675 now, $7,615 from November 30 |
| Form I-829 (remove conditions) | $3,750 now, $5,000 from November 30 |
| New technology fee | $75 on initial I-526 and I-526E filings |
| Integrity Fund fee per investor | $1,000 now, $1,100 from November 30 |
| Minimum investment, targeted employment area | $800,000 (scheduled inflation adjustment January 1, 2027) |
| Minimum investment, standard | $1,050,000 (scheduled inflation adjustment January 1, 2027) |
| Regional center program authorization | Expires September 30, 2027 unless Congress extends it |
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New EB-5 Filing Fees From November 30
USCIS says the new schedule is meant to make the program pay for itself and to fund the audits, site visits and fraud checks that Congress required in 2022. The agency estimates the program costs about $105 million a year to run against roughly $56.6 million in revenue at current fees, so the new schedule aims to close a gap of about $48 million. The table below shows the investor-facing changes and the regional center changes that will affect project costs.
| Form | Who Files | Current Fee | Fee From November 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-526E, initial petition | Regional center investor | $3,675 | $7,850 (includes $75 technology fee) |
| I-526E, amendment | Regional center investor | $3,675 | $7,775 |
| I-526, initial petition | Standalone investor | $3,675 | $7,615 (includes $75 technology fee) |
| I-829, petition to remove conditions | Investor | $3,750 | $5,000 |
| I-527, new form | Pre-2022 investor amending a legacy petition | None | $10,330 |
| I-956, initial designation | Regional center | $17,795 | $44,115 |
| I-956, amendment | Regional center | $17,795 | $9,835 |
| I-956F, project approval | Regional center | $17,795 | $42,675 |
| I-956G, annual statement | Regional center | $3,035 | $2,165 |
| Integrity Fund fee per I-526E | Regional center investor | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| Annual Integrity Fund fee, 20 or fewer investors | Regional center | $10,000 | $11,000 |
| Annual Integrity Fund fee, 21 or more investors | Regional center | $20,000 | $22,000 |
How Much Will a Regional Center Investor Pay at the Petition Stage?
Almost all EB-5 investors use a regional center, so the numbers for that route matter most. Today the government cost at the petition stage is $3,675 plus the $1,000 Integrity Fund fee, or $4,675. From November 30 it becomes $7,850 plus $1,100, or $8,950.
Patrick Duckett, an immigration attorney at Manifest Law who has handled EB-5 cases for about a decade, told reporters the increases reflect USCIS trying to make the program financially self-sustaining while paying for the oversight Congress built in. He also pointed out that EB-5 is already a heavy commitment, so higher government costs make it more important for investors to weigh both the immigration side and the investment side of a project before committing money.
A family planning the conditional green card stage should also budget for Form I-829, which rises to $5,000. Spouses and children who file separately must pay their own I-829 fee, which can matter in a divorce or when an investor chooses not to file. If the investor has died, the family can file together on one form.
What Investors Could Lose by Waiting Until November 30?
The direct loss is easy to calculate. A regional center investor who files one day late pays $4,275 more at the petition stage. A standalone investor pays $3,940 more. If the same investor later files the I-829, the higher fee adds another $1,250. Across the full path, a late filer pays roughly $5,500 more in government fees for a regional center case.
That number is real but modest next to the investment itself. An investor putting in $800,000 will see the filing fee increase equal to about half of one percent of the capital. Experts quoted in Indian and U.S. coverage made the same point, saying the USCIS fee is a small slice of the total cost and that project quality matters more than the filing date.
There is a catch on the other side. Filing early only saves money if the case is ready. An I-526E that goes in with incomplete source-of-funds records can draw a request for evidence or a denial, and the investor then loses time and legal fees. For anyone whose diligence on the project and the lawful source of funds is finished, filing before November 30 makes sense. For anyone still comparing projects, an extra few weeks of careful review is usually cheaper than a hurried decision.
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The Bigger Deadline: January 1, 2027 Investment Increase
The more important date for large budgets is January 1, 2027. The 2022 reform law requires the minimum investment amounts to adjust automatically at that point, using the change in the consumer price index since the last reset. The standard amount of $1,050,000 is adjusted first, and the targeted employment area amount is then set at 75 percent of that adjusted figure, with both rounded down to the nearest $50,000.
Several industry analysts have run the numbers using about 16.6 percent cumulative inflation. Their projections land near $1.2 million for standard projects and $900,000 for targeted employment area projects. Others leave room for a slightly higher number. These are estimates and not official figures, and the final amounts depend on the data used at the time of the adjustment. One industry site has floated a figure above $940,000 for targeted employment area projects, but the rounding rule in the statute points to steps of $50,000, which is why we treat $900,000 as the most consistent estimate.
| Scenario | Standard Investment | Targeted Employment Area Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Current amount | $1,050,000 | $800,000 |
| Projected after January 1, 2027 (about 16.6 percent inflation) | About $1,200,000 | About $900,000 |
| Projected increase | About $150,000 | About $100,000 |
How the new amount applies to petitions that are already pending, or to investments already made, is a legal question that investors should confirm with an attorney and with USCIS guidance when it is published. Do not assume that filing before January 1 locks in the lower figure without checking.
Why Indian Investors Are Watching This Closely
Interest in EB-5 from India has been climbing as professionals on H-1B visas look for a way around long employment-based green card backlogs. Coverage in India has focused on the November 30 date, with advisers saying that investors who have already finished project and source-of-funds checks can save the higher fee by filing early. The same advisers repeat the main warning, which is that the fee is a small part of the total and that the project is the bigger risk.
EB-5 gives a green card to the investor, a spouse and unmarried children under 21. About 10,000 visas are available each year for investors and their families, and country-specific limits and visa bulletin cutoffs can affect waiting times for applicants from oversubscribed countries. Check the current Visa Bulletin before assuming a priority date will be available.
How to Apply for an EB-5 Green Card?
There is no single application to submit for the program, since the process runs through several steps over years. Here is the usual order for a regional center investor.
- Choose the route. Most investors pick a USCIS-designated regional center project. Standalone investors build or buy their own business and file Form I-526 instead.
- Select a qualifying investment. The amount is $800,000 in a targeted employment area or an infrastructure project, and $1,050,000 in other cases, until the January 2027 adjustment.
- Document the lawful source of funds. This is the most scrutinized part of the file, and USCIS adjudicators spend extra time on it under the 2022 law.
- Make the investment and file Form I-526E with the filing fee, the Integrity Fund fee and the technology fee.
- Receive a receipt notice and monitor the case through USCIS online tools.
- After approval, obtain a conditional green card through adjustment of status or consular processing, depending on where you live.
- File Form I-829 to remove the conditions once the investment has been sustained and the jobs have been created.
Each investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers. Regional center investors can count indirect jobs toward most of that requirement.
Processing Time: How Long Does an EB-5 Petition Take?
The 2022 law set targets for how fast USCIS should work. The agency says the new fees are designed to support average processing of 240 days for I-526E and I-829 petitions, and 120 days for investments in targeted employment areas. Applications from regional centers are targeted at 180 days, or 90 days for projects in targeted employment areas.
These are goals and not guarantees. DHS declined to write them into the regulation and described them as targets. USCIS also reported that I-526E cases take slightly longer to review than standalone cases, at roughly 9.14 hours of officer time against 8.76 hours, largely because of the stricter source-of-funds review. Actual waiting times change month to month, so use the USCIS processing times page to see the current figures for your form and service center.
Payment Schedule: When Each EB-5 Fee Is Due
| Stage | What You Pay | When |
|---|---|---|
| Initial petition | I-526E or I-526 fee, technology fee, Integrity Fund fee (regional center route) | At filing, and the postmark date decides which fee schedule applies |
| Adjustment of status or visa processing | Separate government fees for the green card stage | When you file those forms, and unchanged by this rule |
| Removal of conditions | I-829 fee of $5,000 from November 30 | Within the window before the conditional green card expires |
| Regional center annual fee | Integrity Fund fee, paid by the center | Each October 1, with late penalties after 30 days |
| Legacy investors amending a petition | I-527 fee of $10,330 | Only when the regional center is terminated or a project is barred |
Always follow the payment instructions on the current USCIS form, and keep proof of mailing so the postmark can be shown if a question arises about which fee schedule applied.
Regional Center Changes and the New Form I-527
The fee rule hits new regional centers and new projects hardest, which can affect the cost of capital for developers and eventually the terms offered to investors. An initial designation under Form I-956 rises from $17,795 to $44,115. Project approval under Form I-956F reaches $42,675. At the same time, amendments and annual statements fall in price.
The rule also adds Form I-527, a $10,330 filing for investors who filed before the 2022 law and whose regional center is terminated or whose project is barred. The form lets those investors amend a petition and protect their eligibility, and USCIS says it keeps the original priority date. Not every legacy investor needs it. Someone whose project is complete, with enough jobs and sustained capital, may not need to file one just to move to a new center. Late payment penalties for regional centers are now codified, with termination possible for centers that fail to pay within 90 days.
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Why the Fees Moved: The Court Fight and the Fee Study
The path to the new schedule was messy. USCIS raised EB-5 fees sharply in April 2024 as part of an agency-wide rule. In November 2025, a federal court in Colorado stayed those EB-5 fees in Moody v. Noem, finding that the 2022 law required a program-specific fee study before DHS set them. USCIS went back to the older fees and has said it will not refund investors who paid the higher amounts.
The final rule follows a new fee study using projections for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with annual EB-5 filings estimated at about 16,600. That volume, which includes roughly 8,500 I-526E filings a year, spreads costs more widely across investor forms. The result is that investor fees end up below what DHS proposed in October 2025 and well below the April 2024 schedule, though still above what investors pay today. The I-526E, for example, was set at $11,160 in the blocked 2024 schedule and $9,625 in the 2025 proposal. It lands at $7,850 in the final rule.
Program Deadlines to Keep in Mind: September 2027 and the Grandfathering Date
Two other dates keep appearing in EB-5 conversations. The regional center program is authorized through September 30, 2027, and Congress has to extend it for it to continue. September 30, 2026 was the grandfathering date, the cutoff tied to protections for investors who had filed by then if the program were to lapse. Law firms have been clear that September 30, 2026 is not the program’s expiration date. Because it has already passed, new filings now depend on the program being extended after September 2027, so investors should ask each regional center how their project would handle a lapse.
Should You File Before November 30?
This is general information, not legal advice. Investors weighing the deadline can use these questions.
- Is the project fully vetted, including the business plan, the job creation model and the track record of the sponsor?
- Is the source-of-funds paper trail complete, with translations and tax records ready?
- Is the investment itself ready to be made and documented, rather than still being negotiated?
- Have you confirmed with a licensed immigration attorney how the January 2027 amount applies to your timeline?
- Can you absorb the extra $4,275 if a careful filing takes a few more weeks?
If the answer to the first three is yes, the deadline gives a clear incentive. If any of them is no, the cost of a weak filing probably outweighs the fee savings.
EB-5 Filing Fee Calculator
EB-5 Filing Fee Calculator
Compare government filing fees before and after the November 30, 2026 fee change. Filings postmarked on or after November 30 pay the new fees.
| Fee schedule that applies | – |
| Petition stage cost at that date | – |
| I-829 cost at that date | – |
| Total at that date | – |
| Total if filed by November 29, 2026 | – |
| Extra paid by filing late | – |
Projected Minimum Investment After January 1, 2027
The law adjusts minimum investments for inflation on January 1, 2027. Enter an assumed cumulative CPI-U change. This is an estimate, not an official figure.
| Standard investment now | $1,050,000 |
| Targeted employment area investment now | $800,000 |
| Projected standard investment | – |
| Projected targeted employment area investment | – |
| Projected increase, targeted employment area | – |
Official Resources and Links for EB-5 Investors
| Resource | Use It For | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program | Program rules, forms and policy updates | https://www.uscis.gov/eb-5 |
| USCIS Forms page | Download Form I-526, I-526E, I-829 and I-956 | https://www.uscis.gov/forms |
| USCIS fee schedule and calculator | Confirm the fee that applies to your filing | https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees |
| USCIS Case Status Online | Check the status of a receipt number | https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do |
| USCIS online account login and registration | Create an account to track cases | https://my.uscis.gov |
| USCIS processing times | See current average times by form | https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times |
| Federal Register | Read the final EB-5 fee rule (FR Doc. 2026-20016) | https://www.federalregister.gov |
| Department of State Visa Bulletin | Check visa availability and cutoff dates | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html |
| USCIS Contact Center | Ask questions about a pending case | https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter |
FAQs About the EB-5 Fee Increase
When does the EB-5 fee increase take effect?
The new fees apply to filings postmarked on or after November 30, 2026. Filings postmarked by November 29 use the current fee schedule.
How much will the EB-5 I-526E fee be?
The I-526E fee rises from $3,675 to $7,850, and a regional center investor also pays a $1,100 Integrity Fund fee. The total at the petition stage is $8,950.
Does the fee increase change the EB-5 investment amount?
No. The rule only affects USCIS filing fees. The investment amount stays at $800,000 or $1,050,000 until the scheduled inflation adjustment on January 1, 2027.
Will the EB-5 minimum investment increase in 2027?
Yes, the law requires an automatic adjustment on January 1, 2027. Industry estimates point to about $900,000 for targeted employment area projects and $1.2 million for other projects, but these are not official numbers.
What is the new EB-5 technology fee?
It is a $75 fee included in the initial I-526 and I-526E filing fees. USCIS says it will help fund the move to electronic case processing.
Do I get a refund if I paid higher EB-5 fees earlier?
USCIS said it will not refund investors who paid the higher 2024 amounts before the court stayed them, since the court did not order reimbursement.
What is Form I-527?
It is a new $10,330 form for investors who filed before 2022 and need to amend their petition after a regional center is terminated or a project is barred.
Is the EB-5 regional center program expiring?
It is authorized through September 30, 2027. It has not expired, and Congress has to act for it to continue after that date.
How much does an EB-5 visa cost in 2026?
The investment is $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 elsewhere. Government filing fees are on top of that and rise on November 30. Legal, administrative and project fees vary and are separate.
Can I get a green card by investing $800,000?
Yes, if the money goes into a qualifying project in a targeted employment area or an infrastructure project, and the investment creates the required jobs. You must also prove the funds came from a lawful source.
How long does EB-5 take to get a green card?
The 2022 law sets processing goals of 240 days for I-526E petitions, or 120 days for targeted employment area investments, but actual times vary. Visa availability can add waiting time for applicants from some countries.
Who can get an EB-5 green card with the investor?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can receive green cards with the investor.
Is the EB-5 investment refundable?
Not guaranteed. It is a real investment at risk, and returns depend on the project. USCIS requires that the capital be at risk and sustained.
What happens if my regional center is terminated?
Investors who filed before 2022 may be able to amend their petition with Form I-527 and keep their priority date, depending on their case. Speak to an attorney about your specific situation.
Can Indian citizens apply for EB-5?
Yes. Citizens of most countries can apply, but visa bulletin cutoffs can affect waiting times for applicants from oversubscribed countries such as India and China.
Conclusion
The EB-5 fee increase gives investors a clear date and a clear dollar figure, $4,275 at the petition stage for regional center cases. It is worth acting on for anyone whose paperwork and project checks are already done. It is not worth rushing for anyone who is still deciding, because the fee is small beside the investment, the legal costs and the risk of a weak filing.
The January 1, 2027 inflation adjustment is the bigger financial event, and the September 2027 authorization date is the bigger policy risk. Confirm every number on the official USCIS pages above, work with a licensed immigration attorney, and treat any projected investment amount as an estimate until it is published. We will keep updating this guide as USCIS releases new guidance.
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