USCIS Hikes Fees for EB-5 Investor Visa Golden Tickets
Published Date: 9/30/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting November 30, 2026, USCIS is updating the fees for the EB-5 immigrant visa program, which helps investors and their families get green cards. These changes reflect new rules from the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and include adjusted costs to keep the program fair and efficient. If you're applying or renewing your EB-5 visa after this date, be ready to pay the new fees!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
New EB-5 Fees Start Nov 30, 2026
The rule takes effect November 30, 2026. Any EB-5 application, petition, or request postmarked on or after that date must be filed with the new fees set by this rule.
Average EB-5 Form Fees Rise ~70.7%
USCIS raises EB-5 form fees by about 70.7 percent on average, which is roughly a $2,945.90 increase on a weighted-average basis. DHS estimates this will affect about 16,600 EB-5 program form filings each year.
Integrity Fund Fees Increased (Specific Amounts)
The EB-5 Integrity Fund fees are increased by 10 percent: the I-526E Integrity Fund fee goes from $1,000 to $1,100; the Regional Center fee goes from $10,000 to $11,000; and certain Regional Center fees go from $20,000 to $22,000.
Termination Costs Reallocated to Initial Filings
USCIS updated how it recovers regional center termination and reaffirmation costs: those costs will be allocated only to initial Form I-956 (Application for Regional Center Designation) and Form I-956F (Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise), and will no longer be applied to Form I-956 amendments.
New Form I-527 Filing Costs Counted as Costs
The rule treats impacts associated with filing the new Form I-527 as costs. The final economic analysis categorizes filing impacts from the new Form I-527 (and some separate I-829 filings for dependents) as costs to filers.
Technology Fee Added to Some EB-5 Fees
Some final EB-5 fees include an additional technology fee. The EB-5 Reform Act authorizes DHS to include up to one percent of the petition fee for technology improvements, and the final rule states that in some cases a technology fee is included.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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