EB-5 Fee Changes: November 30, 2026

USCIS is scheduled to change many EB-5 filing fees on November 30, 2026. Some charges rise substantially, while several regional-center fees decrease. The rule also changes separate EB-5 Integrity Fund charges, so the amount called a “filing fee” may not be the full government payment for an initial regional-center investor petition.

This guide compares the USCIS schedule in effect on November 12, 2026 with the amounts in the final rule. It covers government charges only. It does not include attorney fees, project or offering costs, business expenses, or other third-party charges. The new amounts should be checked again against current USCIS instructions immediately before filing.

When do the new fees apply?

The Department of Homeland Security published its final EB-5 fee rule on September 30, 2026. The rule is effective November 30, 2026. It says that an application, petition, or request postmarked on or after that date must include the fees established by the rule. The rule's published transition language uses “postmarked”; for an online filing or an unusual filing situation, confirm the applicable date and payment instructions with the current USCIS Fee Schedule, Form G-1055 and the form-specific page before submitting.

Before the change, USCIS's G-1055 PDF marked Edition 10/26/26 lists the current fee schedule. The G-1055 webpage was updated on October 28, 2026. The Federal Register final rule contains the new fee schedule; do not use the old G-1055 amount for a filing governed by the new rule.

Investor petition fees

For a standalone investor petition, the current Form I-526 fee is $3,675. The final rule sets the new I-526 fee at $7,615. The final-rule table labels this amount as including the EB-5 Technology Fee.

For an initial regional-center investor petition, the current Form I-526E filing fee is $3,675. A separate $1,000 EB-5 Integrity Fund petition fee is also required for an initial I-526E, bringing those two current USCIS charges to $4,675. Under the final rule, an initial I-526E filing fee will be $7,850, plus a separate $1,100 Integrity Fund petition fee, for a combined $8,950 in those two USCIS charges. The rule's table labels the initial I-526E form fee as including the EB-5 Technology Fee. Keep the form fee and the separate Integrity Fund charge distinct when comparing or budgeting.

An I-526E amendment is different. The final rule sets its separate form fee at $7,775. The current G-1055 says the existing $1,000 Integrity Fund charge applies to an initial I-526E, not to an amendment. The statute directs USCIS to collect a separate Integrity Fund charge with each petition for regional-center classification (8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5)(J)(ii)(II)). The final rule sets that charge at $1,100 but does not expressly address amended I-526E requests in its codified text or fee table. Before filing an amendment on or after November 30, check the new G-1055 and form-specific USCIS instructions. Do not assume the pre-rule exception carries forward or calculate the new total from the $7,775 form fee alone.

For investors removing conditions on permanent residence, the current Form I-829 fee is $3,750 and the final-rule fee is $5,000. This change concerns the government filing charge; it does not change the eligibility, investment-sustainment, or job-creation standards addressed in the I-829 guide.

The final rule also creates a $10,330 fee for Form I-527, an amendment to a legacy Form I-526. This specialized filing applies only to the circumstances covered by the rule and its instructions. It is not a general substitute for Form I-526 or Form I-526E.

Regional-center filing fees

Several fees paid by regional centers or other program participants also change. The final rule sets the following amounts:

• Form I-956, initial regional-center designation: $44,115, compared with the current $17,795.
• Form I-956, amendment: $9,835, compared with the current $17,795. This fee decreases; not every fee in the rule goes up.
• Form I-956F, project approval: $42,675, compared with the current $17,795.
• Form I-956G, annual statement: $2,165, compared with the current $3,035. This fee also decreases.
• Form I-956H, bona fides of persons involved with a regional-center program: $65; the current schedule lists $0.
• Form I-956K, direct and third-party promoter registration: $2,165; the current schedule lists $0.

These are fees for particular filings, not a single charge that every investor pays. Who must file and pay depends on the role of the investor, regional center, project, or other person in the specific matter. Review the form instructions and final rule rather than adding every amount together.

Separate annual Integrity Fund fees

The final rule also lists annual Regional Center Integrity Fund amounts of $11,000 for a regional center with 20 or fewer total investors and $22,000 for a center above that threshold. The final rule's table shows the prior amounts as $10,000 and $20,000, respectively. This annual regional-center payment is separate from the $1,100 Integrity Fund petition fee for an initial I-526E.

The annual payment follows a separate calendar. USCIS's Integrity Fund page states that the regional-center fee is due on October 1, but the page's published example and fee amounts predate the 2026 final rule. The final rule's November 30 transition statement addresses applications, petitions, or requests postmarked on or after that date. It should not be treated as a clear instruction to recalculate an annual payment that was already due on October 1, 2026. Regional centers should confirm the applicable fiscal-year charge and payment instructions directly with current USCIS guidance or counsel before paying.

Common fee-comparison mistakes

Treating the I-526E fee as one amount. The form fee and the separate Integrity Fund petition charge are distinct. For an initial filing under the new schedule, the two figures are $7,850 and $1,100. The final rule does not expressly resolve whether the separate petition charge applies to an amended I-526E; confirm the current USCIS schedule and form instructions rather than assuming the pre-rule exception continues.

Assuming every fee increases. The rule raises several investor and regional-center charges, but it reduces the I-956 amendment and I-956G fees. Compare the correct form and filing category, not just the heading “fee increase.”

Adding the Technology Fee twice. The final-rule table identifies the I-526 and initial I-526E amounts as including the EB-5 Technology Fee. It says that the technology charge applies to some, but not all, filings of those forms. Check the relevant instructions rather than adding another $75 to a listed total automatically.

Using a figure from the wrong schedule. The current G-1055 is useful for a filing before the effective date. A filing governed by the November 30 rule must use the new schedule. The controlling date and payment method can depend on how and where the benefit request is filed, so verify them using current USCIS instructions.

Combining unrelated costs. The figures in this article are USCIS government fees. They do not estimate legal services, investment capital, regional-center or project charges, banking expenses, or other transaction costs. An EB-5 plan should not be priced by adding unrelated amounts from different parties or filing stages.

How to check a filing amount before submission

Start with the filing category and the person or entity that is legally responsible for that fee. Then check the current G-1055 and the specific USCIS form page on the date the package will be submitted. Confirm whether a separate Integrity Fund payment applies, whether the filing is an initial request or an amendment, which payment method is accepted, and which effective-date rule controls.

Keep the receipt or payment confirmation with the filing record. If a regional-center annual payment is involved, treat it as a separate obligation and verify the fiscal year, investor-count category, due date, and current USCIS payment instructions. A past USCIS webpage or a fee table copied from an earlier year may not reflect the rule that applies to a later payment.

The Federal Register final rule is the source for the November 30 fee schedule; the official GovInfo PDF of the published rule also reproduces its fee table. USCIS's G-1055 Fee Schedule, EB-5 fee announcement, and Integrity Fund guidance should be checked for current operational instructions. The source review for this article was completed on November 12, 2026.

Short answers about the fee transition

Is the new initial I-526E charge $7,850 or $8,950?

The Form I-526E filing fee is $7,850 under the final schedule. An initial I-526E also has a separate $1,100 Integrity Fund petition fee, so those two USCIS charges total $8,950 before any legal, project, or other costs. The new rule's separate-fee treatment for amendments should be confirmed as explained below.

Does the new $1,100 charge apply to an I-526E amendment?

The current G-1055 expressly says its $1,000 Integrity Fund charge does not apply to an amendment. The final rule raises the separate petition charge to $1,100, but its table does not state an amendment-specific exception. Confirm the new schedule and form instructions before filing an amendment; do not rely on the old schedule to determine the post-November amount.

Does every investor pay a regional-center filing fee?

No. Fees for Forms I-956, I-956F, I-956G, I-956H, and I-956K depend on which entity or person is making a particular regional-center filing. They should not be added to an investor's petition total unless that filer is responsible for the specific request.

Do all EB-5 fees increase on November 30?

No. The I-956 amendment fee falls from $17,795 to $9,835, and the I-956G annual-statement fee falls from $3,035 to $2,165. Other listed fees rise or become newly payable. Check the form and filing category rather than assuming a uniform increase.

Does the new annual Integrity Fund amount automatically apply to an October 1 payment?

Do not assume that it does. USCIS states that the annual regional-center fee is due October 1, while the final rule's transition provision addresses applications, petitions, or requests postmarked on or after November 30. Confirm the applicable fiscal-year charge with current USCIS instructions before paying an annual fee.

Do the fee changes decide whether an investor qualifies?

No. Paying a government filing fee does not establish eligibility or guarantee that USCIS will accept or approve a filing. The investor's legal eligibility and evidence are separate from the amount due, and each must be checked under the rules applicable to the case.

General information only

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. EB-5 filing costs and requirements depend on the form, filing category, payment date, and the facts of the matter. USCIS fees and instructions can change. Before filing or making an investment decision, confirm the current official fee schedule and obtain advice from a qualified U.S. immigration attorney about the specific case.