U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has finalized a new fee schedule for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program which will take effect on November 30, 2026.
USCIS states that the adjustment in fees are intended to ensure EB-5 fees fully recover the cost of operating the program, allow the agency to meet statutory processing time goals, and fund integrity measures such as audits and site visits.
What Is Changing for Investors
The most significant change for prospective investors is the fee for the investor petition. The fee for Form I-526E, filed by regional center investors, will rise from $3,675 to $7,850. The fee for Form I-526, filed by standalone investors, will rise from $3,675 to $7,615. Investors seeking to remove conditions on their permanent residence through Form I-829 will see the fee increase from $3,750 to $5,000.
The key investor-facing changes are summarized below:
| Form | Current Fee | New Fee (Nov. 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| I-526E (Regional Center Investor, initial) | $3,675 | $7,850 (includes technology fee) |
| I-526E Amendment | $3,675 | $7,775 |
| I-526E Integrity Fund fee | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| I-526 (Standalone Investor) | $3,675 | $7,615 (includes technology fee) |
| I-527 Amendment to Legacy Form I-526 (NEW FORM) | N/A | $10,330 |
| I-829 (Removal of Conditions) | $3,750 | $5,000 |
New Technology Fee
The new I-526 and I-526E petition fees include a $75 technology fee. This is not an extra payment: the $75 is already part of the $7,615 (I-526) and $7,850 (initial I-526E) amounts in the table above. I-526E amendments do not include it.
USCIS says the money will help fund improvements to its information systems, which may include moving EB-5 filings from paper to electronic processing.
Regional Center Fees
Regional centers will see the largest increases. The fee for Form I-956, used to request an initial regional center designation, will rise from $17,795 to $44,115.
The fee for Form I-956F (Application for Approval of Investment in a Commercial Enterprise) will rise from $17,795 to $42,675.
The fee to amend an existing regional center designation on Form I-956 will drop from $17,795 to $9,835. The amendment fee is decreasing because DHS moved the cost of regional center terminations onto initial I-956 and I-956F filings, so routine amendments no longer carry it.
Why USCIS Is Raising Fees
USCIS is funded primarily through filing fees rather than taxpayer appropriations. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 directed USCIS to conduct a program-specific fee study and to set EB-5 fees at a level that recovers the full cost of administering the program. The Act also established processing time goals and strengthened program integrity requirements, including compliance reviews, audits, site visits, and measures to detect and prevent fraud and abuse.
What Investors Should Do Now
New fees apply to petitions and applications postmarked or filed on or after November 30, 2026. Filings postmarked before that date will be assessed under the current fee schedule.
That said, the fee savings should not come at the expense of a complete, well-documented filing. An incomplete petition, particularly one with gaps in source of funds documentation, can lead to Requests for Evidence, delays, or denial, which may cost far more than the fee difference.
With thoughtful planning, investors can choose the filing approach that best fits their timeline and goals.
For questions about EB-5 eligibility or how these changes may affect your case, please email Jacqueline Treviño at jtrevino@psbplaw.com.