USCIS Increases EB-5 Immigrant Investor Fees Effective November 30, 2026 while Keeping Core $800,000 Investment Thresholds Unchanged

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule on September 30, 2026, significantly increasing filing fees across the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program effective November 30, 2026.

The fee overhaul impacts investor petitions, regional center designations, integrity monitoring, and dependent compliance filings. While administrative filing costs will more than double for initial petitions, official regulations maintain the core capital investment thresholds at $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) and infrastructure projects, and $1.05 million for non-TEA projects.

Updated USCIS EB-5 Investor and Regional Center Fee Structure

Under the final rule released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), petition charges are updating to fund operational overhead, background checks, fraud detection, and digital filing infrastructure.

Standalone investor filings under Form I-526 will increase from $3,675 to $7,615, while Regional Center investor petitions under Form I-526E will rise from $3,675 to $7,850. All initial investor petitions will also incur a mandatory $75 technology fee. Furthermore, Regional Center designation filings under Form I-956 will increase from $17,795 to $44,115.

EB-5 Form & Application Type	Current Filing Fee	New Fee Effective November 30, 2026	Net Adjustment
Form I-526 Standalone Investor Petition	$3,675	$7,615	+$3,940 (+107%)
Form I-526E Regional Center Investor Petition	$3,675	$7,850	+$4,175 (+113%)
EB-5 Technology Processing Fee	Not applicable	$75	New Fee
Form I-829 Removal of Conditions	$3,750	$5,000	+$1,250 (+33%)
I-526E Individual Integrity Fund Fee	$1,000	$1,100	+$100 (+10%)
Form I-527 Legacy Investor Amendment	Not available	$10,330	New Form
Form I-956 Regional Center Designation	$17,795	$44,115	+$26,320 (+148%)
Form I-956F Commercial Enterprise Approval	$17,795	$42,675	+$24,880 (+140%)
Form I-956G Regional Center Annual Statement	$3,035	$2,165	-$870 (-29%)
Form I-956H Bona Fide Determination	Not applicable	$65	New Fee
Form I-956K Promoter Registration	Not applicable	$2,165	New Fee

Integrity Fund Adjustments and Regional Center Compliance Penalties

The revised regulations update fees established under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 to fund mandatory audits and compliance monitoring. In addition to the individual investor Integrity Fund fee rising to $1,100, annual Regional Center Integrity Fund charges will also increase:

• Regional Centers with 20 or fewer investors: Annual fee increases from $10,000 to $11,000.
• Regional Centers with more than 20 investors: Annual fee increases from $20,000 to $22,000.

Late payment penalties have been established to enforce strict compliance. Payments made between November 1 and November 30 incur a 10% penalty fee, while payments settled between December 1 and December 30 incur a 20% penalty. Failure to remit Integrity Fund payments by December 30 results in automatic termination of Regional Center designation.

Practical Investor Mobility & International Travel Guide

Global investors—particularly from primary source markets such as India, China, Vietnam, and the GCC region—utilize the EB-5 program to secure U.S. permanent residency while maintaining international business travel. Prospective applicants can manage their travel logistics and filing strategies using the following guidelines.

Pre-November 30 Filing Window Strategy

• Grandfathering Current Rates: Investors who complete source-of-funds documentation and submit eligible Form I-526 or I-526E petitions postmarked on or before November 29, 2026, will lock in the current $3,675 filing fee, avoiding the higher charges.
• Capital Threshold Consistency: The base capital requirements established by the U.S. Department of State remain fixed at $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) and $1.05 million for non-TEA projects.

International Travel Authorization During Adjustment of Status

• Form I-485 Concurrent Filing: Investors residing in the U.S. under valid non-immigrant visas (such as H-1B, L-1, or F-1) can file Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) concurrently with Form I-526E when visa bulletin numbers are current.
• Advance Parole Travel Clearance (Form I-131): Applicants must secure an approved Advance Parole document (Form I-131) prior to departing the United States while Form I-485 is pending. Traveling internationally without approved Advance Parole results in the automatic abandonment of the adjustment application.

Dependent Protections and Independent Filing Provisions

• Independent Form I-829 Petitions: Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can file independent Form I-829 petitions to remove conditions on permanent residence if the principal investor passes away or fails to file, ensuring long-term family settlement rights.

Key Frequently Asked Questions: US EB-5 Visa Fee Increase 2026

When do the new USCIS EB-5 fee increases take effect?

The new fee schedule takes effect on November 30, 2026. All EB-5 investor and Regional Center petitions postmarked on or after November 30 will be subject to the higher fee rates.

What are the new filing fees for Form I-526 and Form I-526E?

Form I-526 standalone investor petition fees will increase from $3,675 to $7,615. Form I-526E Regional Center investor petition fees will increase from $3,675 to $7,850. Both filings will also require a new $75 technology fee.

Are the minimum EB-5 investment capital amounts changing?

No. The minimum required capital investment remains unchanged at $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) or infrastructure projects, and $1.05 million for standard non-TEA projects.

Can EB-5 applicants travel internationally while their Green Card application is pending?

Yes, but investors residing in the U.S. who file Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status must obtain an approved Advance Parole travel document (Form I-131) before leaving the United States to avoid abandoning their pending residency applications.

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