Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC ConsultantOn 30 September 2026 US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published its final fee rule for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program in the Federal Register. The rule takes effect on 30 November 2026, 60 days after publication. Any application or petition postmarked on or after that date must include the new fee.
USCIS states that the rule is intended to recover the full cost of operating the programme, meet the processing-time goals set by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) and fund integrity measures such as audits and site visits.
EB-5 investor petition fees before and after the rule
| Form | Current fee | Fee from 30 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| I-526, standalone investor petition | US$3,675 | US$7,615 |
| I-526E, regional centre investor petition (initial) | US$3,675 | US$7,850 |
| I-526E, amendment | US$3,675 | US$7,775 |
| I-829, removal of conditions | US$3,750 | US$5,000 |
| I-527, amendment to a legacy I-526 (new form) | None | US$10,330 |
The rule also introduces a US$75 EB-5 technology fee on initial investor petitions. Law-firm summaries of the rule report that the investor's EB-5 Integrity Fund fee moves from US$1,000 to US$1,100, and that the rule changes how that fee is adjusted for inflation.
Regional centre fees
The largest increases fall on regional centres and their projects, which matters to investors because sponsors recover their costs through administrative fees.
- Form I-956, initial regional centre designation: US$17,795 to US$44,115.
- Form I-956F, application for approval of an investment in a commercial enterprise: US$17,795 to US$42,675.
- Form I-956G, regional centre annual statement: US$3,035 to US$2,165, a reduction.
- Annual Integrity Fund fee: US$10,000 to US$11,000 for centres with 20 or fewer investors, and US$20,000 to US$22,000 for larger centres.
What this means for applicants
The minimum investment has not changed: US$800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project and US$1,050,000 elsewhere. What changes is the government filing cost. An investor who files Form I-526E after 30 November 2026 pays US$4,175 more at the petition stage and US$1,250 more at removal of conditions than one who files before it. Against an US$800,000 investment the sums are modest, but they are non-refundable and they apply to every new filing.
For Canadian citizens and for US residents on other passports who already have a project selected, the practical step is to complete the source-of-funds file and file before 30 November. A petition filed in haste with incomplete lawful-source evidence costs far more in delay than the fee saved, so we would not shorten due diligence on the project to meet the date. Investors with a pre-RIA petition who need to amend it should take advice on the new Form I-527 before the fee applies.
Our EB-5 guide sets out the full cost of the route alongside the other US residence options. To review your timing against the new fee schedule, book a consultation with us.