Green Card update: New EB-5 visa fees and application changes for investors explained

Foreign investor applicants using the EB-5 immigrant investor program will encounter increased filing fees and modifications to specific application processes due to a new rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) overseen by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Starting November 30, 2026, new DHS rules will raise fees for EB-5 investors and regional centers. (X/@unumihaimedia)These modifications impact investor petitions, some current investors, and regional centers involved in the program.

The updated fees will be implemented starting November 30, 2026. These changes are part of the Trump administration's efforts to tighten control over legal immigration, which includes modifications to visa and green card programs.

The EB-5 visa initiative enables eligible foreign investors to pursue permanent residency in the US through an investment of at least $1.05 million in a qualifying enterprise, or $800,000 in a targeted employment zone or infrastructure project, with the requirement of creating a minimum of 10 full-time jobs.

Applications, petitions, and requests that are postmarked on or after November 30 must include the fees set forth by the new regulation. Submissions that are postmarked before this date will still adhere to the fee structure that was in place at the time of mailing.

The DHS expects that the updated fee schedule will impact approximately 16,600 EB-5 applications each year. For the nine existing forms included in this regulation, the department has determined a weighted average fee increase of around 70.7%, which translates to roughly $2,946 per application.

The specific fee increases will differ based on the form and any additional fees that may apply. The department has calculated a weighted average fee increase of approximately 70.7% for the nine forms covered by this regulation, equating to about $2,946 for each application.

The filing fee for Form I-526, which is used by individual EB-5 investors, will increase from $3,675 to $7,615. This updated fee incorporates a $75 technology charge. The purpose of this technology fee is to fund enhancements to the USCIS systems that are employed for processing, adjudicating, and archiving EB-5 applications, as stated in the Federal Register notice.

When a regional center investor submits Form I-526E, the initial filing fee amounts to $7,850, which encompasses the technology charge. Additionally, the investor is required to pay a distinct EB-5 Integrity Fund fee, which will rise from $1,000 to $1,100.

An amendment to Form I-526E will incur a fee of $7,775. According to the final regulation, the technology fee is not applicable to an amendment of I-526E. Centers that have more than 20 qualifying investors will now be charged $22,000, an increase from the previous fee of $20,000.

Similarly, those with 20 or fewer qualifying investors will see their fees rise to $11,000 from $10,000. These fees are utilized to fund the oversight of the EB-5 program, which encompasses audits, site visits, and investigations into fraud, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Regional centers that submit their annual Integrity Fund fees between November 1 and November 30 will incur a 10% penalty, which increases to 20% for payments made from December 1 to December 30. Centers that do not pay the fee along with any penalties by December 30 risk losing their designation.

The initial application for regional-center designation using Form I-956 will now be $44,115, while Form I-956F will be priced at $42,675. Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics.

She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events.

Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics.

In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World.

Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC).

She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh.

She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More