The US is sharply increasing fees for its EB-5 immigrant investor programme, raising the cost for foreign nationals seeking a Green Card through investment. The new fee structure, finalised by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), takes effect on November 30.For Indian investors, the change means thousands of dollars in additional government filing costs at a time when demand for the EB-5 route has risen sharply. The higher fees, however, do not change the amount of capital an investor must invest in a qualifying US project.The fee for Form I-526, used by standalone investors, will rise from USD 3,675 to USD 7,615. For investors applying through a USCIS-approved regional centre, the initial Form I-526E fee will increase from USD 3,675 to USD 7,850, news agency PTI reported.Both initial petitions will also carry a USD 75 technology fee, while regional-centre investors will have to pay a separate investor integrity fee. The fee for Form I-829, used to remove conditions on permanent resident status, will rise from USD 3,750 to USD 5,000.
What is the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme ?
Created by the US Congress in 1990, the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme allows foreign investors and their immediate families to seek permanent residency, or a Green Card, by investing in a US commercial enterprise and creating at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers. Applicants must invest USD 1.05 million in a qualifying business or USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or infrastructure project.The minimum investment is currently USD 1.05 million for a qualifying business. The threshold falls to USD 800,000 when the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or an eligible infrastructure project.Applicants can invest as standalone investors or through a USCIS-approved regional centre. If the requirements are met, the investor, their spouse and qualifying children can seek Green Cards.
How much will EB-5 fees increase?
The biggest increase affects the initial petitions used to begin the EB-5 process.For standalone investors, the Form I-526 filing fee will more than double from USD 3,675 to USD 7,615, an increase of USD 3,940.For investors applying through an approved regional centre, the initial Form I-526E fee will rise from USD 3,675 to USD 7,850, an increase of USD 4,175.The fee for Form I-829 will increase from USD 3,750 to USD 5,000.Regional centres themselves will face much larger increases. The fee for an initial Form I-956 application seeking regional-centre designation will rise from USD 17,795 to USD 44,115, while Form I-956F will increase from USD 17,795 to USD 42,675. The annual Form I-956G fee, however, will fall from USD 3,035 to USD 2,165.
What should Indian EB-5 applicants know?
For Indians considering the programme, the key changes are:
- Initial standalone investor fee: USD 3,675 → USD 7,615
- Initial regional-centre investor fee: USD 3,675 → $7,850
- I-829 fee: USD 3,750 → USD 5,000
- Minimum investment: remains USD 800,000 for qualifying TEA/infrastructure projects andUSD 1.05 millionfor other qualifying investments
- Job requirement: at least 10 qualifying full-time jobs
- Effective date of new fees: November 30, 2026
- Visa availability: remains subject to annual and country-specific limits
The fee increase therefore does not change the underlying EB-5 investment requirement. It makes the application process more expensive for Indian investors, while the separate questions of investment risk, project eligibility and Green Card availability remain.For an Indian investor using the regional-centre route, the initial USCIS filing fee alone will be USD 4,175 higher from November 30. The new fees are in addition to the investment capital itself and other expenses such as legal and project-related costs.
Why are more Indians looking at EB-5?
The higher charges come as the EB-5 route has attracted growing interest from Indian nationals, particularly those facing lengthy waits in other employment-based immigration categories.According to data cited by The American Bazaar, EB-5 filings from India rose from around 75 in fiscal year 2022 to nearly 1,900 in fiscal year 2025, an increase of roughly 25 times over three years.The programme has also attracted interest among Indians already living in the US on temporary visas such as H-1B and F-1, who may be looking for an alternative route towards permanent residency.However, Indian applicants should note that paying the higher EB-5 fees does not guarantee an immediate Green Card. EB-5 visas remain subject to annual and country-specific limits, and demand from India has resulted in visa availability constraints in the unreserved category.
Why is the US raising EB-5 fees?
USCIS said the agency is largely funded through the fees it charges rather than taxes.The agency said the fees cover the cost of reviewing applications, conducting background checks, verifying eligibility, detecting fraud and maintaining programme operations.The new fee structure therefore increases the administrative cost of pursuing an EB-5 Green Card, but does not change the programme’s underlying investment thresholds.
Will the fee hike affect the Green Card wait for Indians?
The fee increase itself does not change the number of EB-5 visas available or remove country-specific limits.For Indian applicants, the Green Card timeline will continue to depend on visa availability, the applicant’s EB-5 category, and the number of applications being processed.This makes the distinction between application cost and visa availability important. Indian investors will pay substantially more to file under the new fee structure, but the higher payment does not by itself provide faster Green Card processing or additional visa availability.
