4 hrs ago
US EB-5 Fees Rise Sharply for Indian Green Card Seekers
The EB-5 program lets a foreign investor seek a US Green Card by investing in a qualifying business.
The investment generally must be $1.05 million, or $800,000 in certain areas or infrastructure projects.
It must also help create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers.
Starting November 30, many EB-5 application fees will become more expensive.
The largest increases affect some investor applications and regional centers.
USCIS says the fees help pay for application reviews, background checks, eligibility checks, fraud detection, and program operations.
Indian applicants face an additional issue because the yearly supply of some EB-5 visas has already been reached.
Therefore, paying the new fee does not guarantee that a Green Card will be available immediately.
USCIS will increase several EB-5 filing fees beginning November 30.
The standalone I-526 fee will rise from $3,675 to $7,615, while the I-526E fee will increase to $7,850; each also carries a $75 technology fee.
The I-829 fee will increase from $3,750 to $5,000 for investors seeking to remove residency conditions.
Regional-center fees will rise substantially, including I-956 to $44,115 and I-956F to $42,675, while the annual I-956G fee will fall to $2,165.
India’s FY2026 limit for EB-5 unreserved visas has been reached, so paying higher fees does not guarantee immediate visa availability.
- Who
- USCIS, foreign EB-5 investors and their families, regional centers, and especially applicants from India.
- What
- USCIS is raising fees for applications and other filings under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
- Where
- The changes apply to the US immigration system and affect applicants in India and other countries.
- When
- The new fees take effect November 30; the State Department said India’s FY2026 unreserved EB-5 visa limit resets October 1.
- Why
- USCIS says user fees fund application reviews, background checks, eligibility verification, fraud detection, and program administration.
Investor concerns
USCIS rationale
Higher application costs
Investor concerns
Investors and their families will face substantially higher filing expenses in addition to the required investment and other project and immigration costs.
USCIS rationale
USCIS says the agency is largely funded by user fees, which pay for application reviews, background checks, eligibility verification, fraud detection, and program operations.
Visa availability
Investor concerns
Indian applicants may pay the higher fees without receiving an immediately available Green Card because annual caps, country limits, demand, and priority dates still affect visa availability.
USCIS rationale
The fee rule changes the cost of filing but does not change the core requirements to invest qualifying capital, create jobs, and document a lawful source of funds.
Regional-center costs
Investor concerns
Regional centers and investors using them may face sharply higher charges, including increased designation and project-approval fees.
USCIS rationale
USCIS is also reducing the annual I-956G fee from $3,035 to $2,165, although the articles do not state that this offsets the larger increases.
Key facts
- Effective date
- November 30
- Standalone I-526 fee
- Rises from $3,675 to $7,615, plus a $75 technology fee
- Regional-center I-526E fee
- Rises from $3,675 to $7,850, plus a $75 technology fee
- I-829 fee
- Rises from $3,750 to $5,000
- Regional-center designation fee
- Form I-956 rises from $17,795 to $44,115
- Commercial-enterprise approval fee
- Form I-956F rises from $17,795 to $42,675
- India visa availability
- The FY2026 limit for India’s EB-5 unreserved visas has been reached, according to the State Department
Quotes
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
US federal agency administering immigration and citizenship services
“This means the cost of reviewing applications, conducting background checks, verifying eligibility, detecting fraud, and maintaining programme operations must be paid by those who use the immigration system.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
Related news
Trump Extends $100,000 H-1B Fee Through September 2027
October 2026 Visa Bulletin Brings Mixed Green Card News
Trump Extends $100,000 H-1B Fee Order Amid Legal Challenges
Trump H-1B Fee Proposals Could Hit Indian Workers Hard
US Citizenship Becomes Costlier and Harder for Green Card Holders
H-1B Fee Extension Deepens Uncertainty for Indian Professionals and Students
USCIS Citizenship Backlog Reaches 742,138 Amid Slow Processing
Indian Mid-Sized Firms Turn to L-1A for US Expansion
Indian IT Firms Cut H-1B Visa Registrations Sharply
