EB-5 Green Cards Get Pricey: Invest More, Immigrants!
Published Date: 10/23/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government plans to change the fees for the EB-5 immigrant visa program, which helps people invest in the U.S. to get green cards. These updates will support new rules from the 2022 EB-5 Reform Act and make sure the program stays fair and strong. If you’re involved with EB-5 visas, watch for fee changes and get your comments in by December 22, 2025!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Most EB-5 Filing Fees Reduced
DHS proposes lower fees for many EB-5 forms. For example, Form I-526/I-526E initial would fall from $11,160 to $9,625 (a $1,535 or 14% decrease), Form I-829 from $9,525 to $7,860 (a $1,665 or 17% decrease), and Form I-956 from $47,695 to $28,895 (a $18,800 or 39% decrease). DHS projects about 11,260 EB-5 form filings annually and a volume-weighted per-form average fee decrease of about 14.7% (about $2,259).
New I-527 Amendment Fee: $8,000
USCIS proposes a new Form I-527 (Amendment to legacy Form I-526) with a proposed filing fee of $8,000. Filers who need to submit this amendment would pay that fee under the proposed rule.
Regional Centers: Integrity Fund Fees & Penalties
The rule would codify EB-5 Integrity Fund charges: designated regional centers must pay an annual fee of $10,000 or $20,000 depending on total investor counts, and USCIS would collect $1,000 from each regional center petitioner with their filing of a Form I-526E. DHS proposes penalties for late payment: 10% if paid day 31–60 after due date, 20% if paid day 61–90, and termination of regional center designation if unpaid after 90 days.
New $95 EB-5 Technology Fee
The proposed rule would add a $95 EB-5 technology fee to the initial Form I-526 and I-526E filing amounts. That $95 fee is listed separately and would be collected with the initial petition.
Clarifies Derivative I-829 Filing Rules
The proposed rule clarifies when an investor's spouse and children (derivatives) should file Form I-829. If the principal investor is deceased, all derivatives may be included on a single Form I-829; otherwise each derivative must file a separate I-829, and any derivative filing separately must meet the same filing deadline that would have applied to the principal investor.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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