USCIS Changes Fees for EB-5 Investor Visa Program
The government is changing how much people pay for a special visa that lets them invest money and live in the U.S.
Affects: EB-5 · Source: USCIS
What happened
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the fees for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
This program helps people who invest money in the U.S. become eligible for a Green Card.
The new fees will help USCIS pay for running the program and make sure it works well.
These changes will also help strengthen ways to prevent fraud and ensure fairness.
The new fees are planned to start on November 30, 2026.
By the numbers
- 1990 — year Congress created the EB-5 program
- 2022 — year the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act was passed
- 2025 — year the proposed rule was published in October
The bigger picture
Before this change, the fees for the EB-5 program might not have fully covered the costs of running it. This could mean USCIS did not have enough money to process applications quickly or check for problems like fraud.
A law passed in 2022, called the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, told USCIS to study the program's costs. The law said USCIS should set fees that cover all expenses. This helps USCIS do its job better, like reviewing applications, doing background checks, and preventing fraud. USCIS mostly gets its money from fees, not from taxpayer dollars.
What this means for you
EB-5 investors
If you plan to apply for the EB-5 program, you will need to pay new, higher fees starting November 30, 2026. These fees are meant to help ensure the program runs well and is fair for everyone.
Employers
No direct change for you. This fee adjustment is specifically for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which involves individual investors, not typically employers directly sponsoring workers.
Green card applicants
If you are applying for a Green Card through the EB-5 program, these new fees will apply to your application. If you are applying for a Green Card through other ways, there is no direct change for you from this announcement.
All immigrants
No direct change for you. This fee change is only for the special EB-5 investor visa program. It does not affect fees for other types of visas or immigration benefits.
What you should do
- Nothing right now — just good to know if you are interested in the EB-5 program.
Key dates
- 2026-09-29: Date of this announcement
- 2026-11-30: New EB-5 fees go into effect
Words explained
- EB-5 Program
- A special visa program where people can invest money in the U.S. to create jobs and get a Green Card.
- Green Card
- A card that lets people live and work permanently in the United States.
- USCIS
- This is the government office that handles immigration and citizenship in the U.S.
- Integrity Measures
- These are steps taken to make sure a program is honest, fair, and free from cheating.
Common questions
When do the new EB-5 fees start?
The new fees for the EB-5 program will start on November 30, 2026. If you apply before this date, you will pay the old fees.
Why are the EB-5 fees changing?
The fees are changing so that USCIS has enough money to run the EB-5 program. This includes processing applications, checking for fraud, and meeting goals for how fast they process cases. USCIS is mainly funded by fees, not taxes.
Does this change affect other visa types?
No, this announcement is only about the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program fees. It does not change fees for other types of visas or Green Cards.
Where can I find the new fee amounts?
This announcement does not say the exact new fee amounts. It only says that fees are being adjusted. You will need to check the USCIS website closer to November 30, 2026, for the specific new fees.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.