Visa Bulletin
October 2026 Visa Bulletin (first of FY2027)
| Category | Chargeability | Final Action Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved · China | Chart B: March 1, 2021 | December 1, 2016 Chart B ↑ 4 years | Chart A unchanged; Chart B jumped from March 1, 2017. |
| Unreserved · India | Chart B: May 1, 2024 | December 1, 2023 Back from Unavailable | Listed Unavailable at the end of FY2026; restored with the new fiscal year. |
| Rural / High Unemployment / Infrastructure | All chargeabilities, Chart A and B | Current | 20% / 10% / 2% set-asides; no wait currently. |
A Chart B advance is not an approval. Check USCIS's monthly filing-chart guidance before filing an adjustment application. Official Data |State Dept
Processing Times
| Form | Stage | Estimated range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-526E | New petition | 18 to 28 months | Rural projects may process faster |
| I-829 | Remove conditions | 36 to 52 months | Longer wait for condition removal |
| I-485 | Concurrent filing | 12 to 18 months | When a visa number is available |
Estimated ranges based on USCIS published processing times. Actual times vary by case. Official Data |USCIS
Minimum Investment Amounts Over Time
| Period | TEA | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 – Nov 2019 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | Set by IMMACT 1990; TEAs designated by states |
| Nov 21, 2019 – Jun 22, 2021 | $900,000 | $1,800,000 | EB-5 Modernization Rule; later vacated by court |
| Jun 22, 2021 – Mar 15, 2022 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | Reverted after vacatur; regional center program lapsed |
| Mar 15, 2022 – present | $800,000 | $1,050,000 | RIA; CPI-U adjustment every 5 years, next Jan 1, 2027 |
Annual visa allocation (RIA)
EB-5 receives about 7.1% of the 140,000 worldwide employment-based visas; unused reserved visas carry over for one year.
USCIS Fee Schedule
"Current" is the schedule USCIS reinstated after the November 2025 Moody v. Noem court order stayed the 2024 EB-5 increases; "From Nov 30" is the final rule published September 30, 2026 (91 FR), applying to filings on or after November 30, 2026. Verify against the current USCIS fee schedule.
Investor side
| Form | Item | Current | From Nov 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-526E | Immigrant petition, regional center investor (initial) | $3,675 | $7,850 |
| I-526 | Immigrant petition, standalone investor | $3,675 | $7,615 |
| — | EB-5 Integrity Fund fee (with I-526E) | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| I-526E | I-526E amendment | $3,675 | $7,775 |
| I-527 | Amendment to legacy I-526 (new form) | — | $10,330 |
| I-485 | Adjustment of status (adult) | $1,440 | $1,440 |
| I-765 | Employment authorization (with I-485) | $260 | $260 |
| I-131 | Advance parole | $630 | $630 |
| DS-260 | Immigrant visa application (consular) | $345 | $345 |
| — | USCIS immigrant fee (consular) | $235 | $235 |
| I-829 | Removal of conditions | $3,750 | $5,000 |
Regional center side
| Form | Item | Current | From Nov 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-956 | Regional center designation (initial) | $17,795 | $44,115 |
| I-956 | Regional center amendment | $17,795 | $9,835 |
| I-956F | Project application (before investors file) | $17,795 | $42,675 |
| I-956G | Regional center annual statement | $3,035 | $2,165 |
| I-956H | Bona fides of persons involved | — | $65 |
| I-956K | Promoter registration | — | $2,165 |
| — | Integrity Fund annual fee (>20 investors) | $20,000 | $22,000 |
| — | Integrity Fund annual fee (≤20 investors) | $10,000 | $11,000 |
EB-5 Forms at a Glance
| Form | Filed by | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| I-526E | Investor | Immigrant petition by regional center investor |
| I-526 | Investor | Immigrant petition by standalone investor |
| I-527 | Pre-RIA investor | Amend a legacy I-526 after regional center termination (from Nov 30, 2026) |
| I-485 | Investor & family | Adjust status to conditional permanent resident |
| DS-260 | Investor & family | Immigrant visa application at consulate |
| I-765 / I-131 | Investor & family | Work permit / advance parole |
| I-829 | Investor & family | Remove conditions on residence |
| I-956 | Regional center | Apply for regional center designation |
| I-956F | Regional center | Application for approval of an investment in a project |
| I-956G | Regional center | Annual statement |
| I-956H | RC-involved persons | Bona fides of persons involved |
| I-956K | Promoters / agents | Registration of direct and third-party promoters |
Key Dates
- 2026-11-30New EB-5 fee rule takes effect (I-526E $7,850 + $1,100 Integrity Fund)
- 2027-01-01First CPI-U adjustment of investment amounts (every 5 years)
- 2027-09-30Regional center program authorization expires