The United States has announced another set of changes to its elaborate visa system, this time in its investor program fees of the EB-5 visa. It is an employment-based US immigrant investor program granting a green card to foreign nationals who make a qualifying capital investment in a US enterprise and create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for US workers.
As per the newest guidelines, the US has announced a raise in its investor program fees, approximately doubling the existing amount. Let’s take a look at the EB-5 visa fees hike and how it can affect Indian investors.
USCIS Says Costs Must Be Paid By Those Using The Immigration System
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a press release stating that “USCIS is largely funded by filing fees, not taxpayer dollars.”
The press release signaled that the cost of reviewing applications, conducting background checks, verifying eligibility, and maintaining overall operations are costs that must be paid by those using the immigration system. The rule was published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2026. According to it, the following fees will see a hike.
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Key Points Of The EB-5 Visa Fee Hike
- The Form 1-526 fee will rise from the current USD 3,675 (INR 3,52,214) to USD 7,615 (INR 7,29,783). It is used by standalone investors.
- The Form 1-526E fee, used by investors going through a regional center, will rise from the current USD 3,675 (INR 3,52,214) to USD 7,850 (INR 7,52,304).
- Initial I-526 and I-526E petitions will also include a USD 75 (INR 7,189) technology fee.
- The Form I-829 fee, used to remove conditions on a Green Card, will be increased to USD 5,000 (INR 4,79,282) from USD 3,750 (INR 3,59,462).
- The Integrity Fund fee for I-526E investors will move from USD 1,000 (INR 95,856) to USD 1,100 (INR 1,05,426).
- The fee for Form I-956 has been hiked from USD 17,795 (INR 17,05,509) to USD 44,115 (INR 42,28,019).
- The fee for Form I-956F, used to seek approval of an investment in a commercial enterprise, will be hiked to USD 42,675 (INR 40,90,249) from the existing 17,795 (INR 17,05,509).
- The only drop in the newest EB-5 visa update is in the annual I-956G fee. It has dropped from USD 3,035 (INR 2,90,894) to USD 2,165 (INR 2,07,505).
- Additionally, a new Form I-527, for certain investors amending older I-526 petitions, will now cost USD 10,330 (INR 9,90,086).
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Summing Up
The US recently revised its H-1B rules, tightening scrutiny of H-1B visa applications filed by companies that have recently laid off American workers. Adding to that, it has now hiked several fees concerning the EB-5 visa. This is collectively going to make it more difficult for foreign workers to enter and work in the US.
