USCIS finalizes new EB-5 fees, effective November 30, 2026

Key takeaways

• The new EB-5 fee schedule takes effect November 30, 2026 — filings before that date use the current fees.
• Form I-526 rises to $7,615 and initial Form I-526E to $7,850.
• Regional center forms rise sharply: initial Form I-956 to $44,115 and Form I-956F to $42,675, though some regional-center fees will decrease.
• A new Form I-527 will cost $10,330 for certain legacy investors.
• Integrity Fund fees increase too: $1,100 for I-526E investors, and $11,000 or $22,000 annually for regional centers depending on investor count.
• Late-payment penalties and potential termination apply to unpaid annual fees.

The new petition fees

For individual investors, the two forms that matter most are going up. Form I-526, the standalone immigrant petition, rises to $7,615. The initial Form I-526E, used by investors pooling into a regional center project, rises to $7,850.

A new Form I-527 will cost $10,330 for certain legacy investors — those navigating the transition rules that followed the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act.

Regional center fees

The increases are steepest on the regional center side. The initial Form I-956 application for regional center designation rises to $44,115, and Form I-956F, the project approval application, rises to $42,675. Some regional-center fees will decrease under the final rule, so the net effect depends on which forms a center actually files.

Integrity Fund fees and penalties

Separate EB-5 Integrity Fund fees also increase. Investors filing Form I-526E will pay $1,100. Regional centers owe an annual fee of $11,000 if they have 20 or fewer investors, or $22,000 if they have more than 20.

The rule also sets late-payment penalties — and regional centers that fail to pay their annual fees risk termination. For regional center operators, calendar discipline around these deadlines is now a compliance issue, not an administrative detail.

What this means for your timeline

If your EB-5 petition is nearly ready, filing before November 30, 2026 avoids the new fees. But a rushed, incomplete petition can cost far more than the fee difference in delays and requests for evidence. The right move depends on where your source-of-funds documentation and project diligence actually stand — not on the calendar alone.

How Jessica can help

Jessica Weiss, Esq. has practiced U.S. immigration law since 1998 and advises EB-5 investors and regional centers at Weiss & Moy, P.C. If you are planning an EB-5 filing or managing a regional center, she can help you understand how these changes affect your plans and your timing.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice.