U.S. to hike EB-5 Green Card fees

The U.S. has decided to drastically increase fees for immigrants seeking to invest in America and eventually claim permanent residency under the EB-5 investor programme, which remains one of the most reliable ways for Indian entrepreneurs and families to obtain a Green Card.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finalised a rule on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) that seeks to more than double the fees for applying to the EB-5 visa. The rule will be effective from November 30, 2026.

The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme grants permanent residency, or a Green Card, to foreign investors and their immediate families who invest capital in a U.S. commercial enterprise and create 10 full-time jobs for American workers.

The filing fee for Form I-526, used by standalone investors, will rise from $3,675 to $7,615. The fee for an initial Form I-526E petition, used by investors participating through an approved regional centre, will increase from $3,675 to $7,850. Initial I-526 and I-526E petitions will also include a $75 technology fee. Regional-centre investors must additionally pay the programme’s investor integrity fee.

The fee for Form I-829, filed by investors seeking to remove conditions on their permanent resident status, will increase from $3,750 to $5,000.

Charges imposed on regional centres will rise more sharply. The fee for an initial Form I-956 application seeking regional-centre designation will increase from $17,795 to $44,115. The charge for Form I-956F, used to seek approval of an investment in a commercial enterprise, will rise to $42,675 from $17,795. The annual fee for Form I-956G will decrease from $3,035 to $2,165.

The final rule also establishes Form I-527, for certain investors seeking to amend older Form I-526 petitions. The new filing will cost $10,330.

Announcing the new fees, the USCIS said in a press release that the agency is largely funded by the fees it charges, rather than taxes. “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,” the release said.

However, like most employment-based immigration categories, EB-5 visas are subject to annual caps and country limits. As demand from India has increased dramatically over the past decade, a backlog has developed that affects how long investors may wait for a Green Card.

The U.S. Congress created the EB-5 programme in 1990 to encourage investment and job creation. Applicants must invest $1.05 million in a qualifying business, or $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or infrastructure project, and create at least 10 full-time jobs. If an investor meets those requirements, they, their spouse, and qualifying children can apply for a Green Card.