EB-5 government fees have gone through three steps in two years — increase, court stay, re-adjustment — and the numbers circulating online contradict each other. This article relies on the final rule published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2026 and on USCIS announcements to set out the current schedule and the schedule effective November 30, 2026. Always confirm amounts on the USCIS fee page on the day you file.
Why the fees kept changing
| Date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2024 | USCIS government-wide fee rule takes effect | I-526/I-526E rise to $11,160, I-829 to $9,525, I-956/I-956F to $47,695 |
| November 12, 2025 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado partially stays the EB-5 portions in Moody v. Noem | Court finds the RIA required a program-specific fee study before EB-5 fees could be adjusted |
| November 18, 2025 | USCIS announces reversion to the pre-April 2024 EB-5 fees | Filings postmarked after November 26 with the higher fee are rejected |
| October 23, 2025 | DHS publishes the EB-5-specific proposed fee rule | Industry, including IIUSA, comments for lower fees |
| September 30, 2026 | Final rule published (91 FR, FR Doc. 2026-20016) | Lower than proposed; effective November 30, 2026 |
Investor-side fees
| Stage | Form | Current (through Nov 29, 2026) | From Nov 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petition | I-526E (regional center investor, initial) | $3,675 | $7,850 (includes $75 EB-5 technology fee) |
| Petition | I-526 (standalone investor) | $3,675 | $7,615 |
| Petition | EB-5 Integrity Fund fee (with I-526E) | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| Amendment | I-526E amendment | $3,675 | $7,775 |
| Amendment | I-527 (amend legacy I-526, new form) | — | $10,330 |
| Adjustment | I-485 (adult) | $1,440 | unchanged |
| Adjustment | I-765 EAD (with I-485) | $260 | unchanged |
| Adjustment | I-131 advance parole | $630 | unchanged |
| Consular | DS-260 visa fee | $345 | unchanged |
| Consular | USCIS immigrant fee | $235 | unchanged |
| Removal of conditions | I-829 | $3,750 | $5,000 |
Government cost of an initial I-526E filing: $4,675 today; $8,950 from November 30 (an increase of $4,275).
Regional-center-side fees
| Form | Purpose | Current | From Nov 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-956 | Regional center designation (initial) | $17,795 | $44,115 |
| I-956 | Designation amendment | $17,795 | $9,835 |
| I-956F | Project application | $17,795 | $42,675 |
| I-956G | Annual statement | $3,035 | $2,165 |
| I-956H | Bona fides of persons involved | — | $65 |
| I-956K | Promoter registration | — | $2,165 |
| Integrity Fund annual fee | more than 20 investors | $20,000 | $22,000 |
| Integrity Fund annual fee | 20 or fewer investors | $10,000 | $11,000 |
These costs are usually passed through to investors indirectly via regional center administrative fees.
Key points of the new rule
- Study first, then price. The rule rests on the EB-5-specific fee study the RIA required, with the goal of making EB-5 revenue cover program costs (DHS projects annual costs of about $105 million against roughly $56.6 million of revenue at current fees — a gap of about $48.4 million).
- Lower than proposed. The October 2025 proposal set the I-526 at $9,625; the final figure is $7,615. IIUSA credits industry comments for the reduction.
- Integrity Fund fees rise 10% for inflation, based on CPI-U from 2022 to 2025.
- A new Form I-527 lets pre-RIA I-526 petitioners amend their petition to preserve eligibility when their regional center is terminated or their NCE/JCE is debarred.
- The filing date controls. Petitions filed on or after November 30, 2026 pay the new fees.
Costs beyond government fees
Attorney fees, regional center administrative fees, third-party fund administration, translation and notarization are outside this article; they vary by project and firm and should be confirmed in writing before subscribing.
Further reading: USCIS Finalizes EB-5 Fee Rule · RIA Integrity Measures and the I-956 Form Family · Data Hub: fees
Key takeaways
- Government fees for an initial I-526E filing total $4,675 today and $8,950 from November 30, 2026.
- The 2024 EB-5 increases were stayed by a court and are no longer the current schedule.
- The I-829 rises from $3,750 to $5,000; the I-956F from $17,795 to $42,675.
- Non-EB-5-specific fees such as the I-485, I-765 and I-131 are unaffected by this rule.
- The November 30 fee change and the January 1, 2027 inflation adjustment of investment amounts are separate events.
Sources
- Federal Register, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Fee Rule,” September 30, 2026, FR Doc. 2026-20016
- USCIS alert, “USCIS Adjusts EB-5 Fees to Cover Program Costs and Strengthen Integrity Measures” (September 29, 2026)
- USCIS alert, “USCIS Adjusts EB-5 Fees Under Court Order” (November 18, 2025); Moody v. Noem, No. 24-cv-00762 (D. Colo.)
- IIUSA, “DHS Reduces EB-5 Fees in Final Rule After IIUSA-Led Industry Pushback” (September 30, 2026)