US EB-5 Visa Fees Set to Increase in 2026 Under New USCIS Rule
As USCIS changes fees to cover program costs, processing, and integrity safeguards, US EB-5 visa fees will rise as of November 30, 2026.
The United States is planning to boost fees for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program beginning November 30, 2026, with applicants bearing more of the expense of running the investor immigration program.
The fee changes are the result of a USCIS review authorized under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. The law requires EB-5 fees to pay the entire cost of operating the program and meeting its processing criteria.
Why Are the EB-5 Visa Fees Increasing?
According to USCIS, the higher fees will help pay the effort required to process EB-5 applications and maintain program oversight, which includes:
Application processing and eligibility review
Background checks and verifications
Compliance reviews and audits
Site visitors
Fraud prevention and program integrity measures
Unlike many government programs supported through general taxation, USCIS is mainly reliant on filing fees to fund its operations.
What Is the EB-5 Program?
The EB-5 program enables eligible foreign investors to obtain permanent residency in the United States by making a qualifying investment that helps to create jobs in the country.
For investors, the program has traditionally been one of the investment-based paths to a US Green Card, albeit eligibility, investment conditions, and visa availability are distinct from the fee issue.
The most recent adjustment reflects a larger trend in immigration systems: governments are increasingly pushing administrative costs directly onto applicants rather than absorbing them through general public spending.
When will the new EB-5 fees take effect?
The increased EB-5 costs are set to take effect on November 30, 2026. The rule finalizes a proposal issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security in October 2025.
Applicants contemplating the EB-5 method should therefore review the applicable fee schedule and filing requirements before submitting an application, especially if their filing deadline falls around November.
Travunited Take:
We regard the higher EB-5 costs as an additional cost for investors, but the November 30 deadline allows applicants to thoroughly consider their ideas and filing approach.
