US to increase EB-5 investor visa fees from November 30
Key Points(5)
- The United States will increase fees for its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program from November 30, 2026, as immigration authorities seek to recover the cost of administering the programme and strengthen measures to prevent fraud.
- Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the fee adjustments on September 29, saying the changes are intended to cover the programme’s operating costs, meet statutory processing time targets and support oversight measures, including audits and site visits.
- Congress established the EB-5 programme in 1990 to encourage economic growth through foreign investment and job creation.
- It allows eligible foreign investors to qualify for lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a Green Card, through investments in the United States that meet the programme’s requirements.
- The fee changes follow the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which directed USCIS to conduct a programme-specific fee study and set charges at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of administering the scheme.
The United States will increase fees for its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program from November 30, 2026, as immigration authorities seek to recover the cost of administering the program and strengthen measures to prevent fraud.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the fee adjustments on September 29, saying the changes are intended to cover the program’s operating costs, meet statutory processing time targets and support oversight measures, including audits and site visits.
Congress established the EB-5 program in 1990 to encourage economic growth through foreign investment and job creation. It allows eligible foreign investors to qualify for lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a Green Card, through investments in the United States that meet the program’s requirements.
The fee changes follow the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which directed USCIS to conduct a program-specific fee study and set charges at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of administering the program.
The legislation also established processing time goals and strengthened oversight requirements, including compliance reviews, audits and site visits, as well as measures to detect and prevent fraud and abuse.
USCIS said it relies largely on application fees rather than taxpayer funding to finance its operations. Those fees cover the costs of reviewing applications, conducting background checks, verifying eligibility, investigating potential fraud and maintaining program operations.
The new fees are intended to ensure that users of the EB-5 program cover the costs associated with processing their applications and meeting the program’s oversight requirements.
The final rule follows a proposed rule published by the Department of Homeland Security in October 2025.
USCIS said the adjustments are scheduled to take effect on November 30, 2026.
