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- EB-5 investor Green Card fees to increase substantially.
- New fee structure effective from November 30, 2026.
- Hikes impact foreign investors, especially Indian applicants.
Green Card Update: Amid ongoing crackdown over illegal immigration, the Trump administration is set to sharply increase fees for immigrants who invest in the country through the EB-5 investor programme. The new fees, which have been finalised by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will take effect from November 30, 2026. The announcement is significant as this investor programme is a popular route for foreign entrepreneurs and families seeking permanent residency.
EB-5 Application Fees To Rise
According to a press release by the USCIS, the fee for Form I-526, used by standalone investors, will increase from USD 3,675 to USD 7,615. For investors applying through an approved regional centre, the fee for an initial Form I-526E petition will rise from USD 3,675 to USD 7,850. Both applications will also carry a USD 75 technology fee.
Regional-centre investors will additionally have to pay the programme’s investor integrity fee. The fee for Form I-829, which investors file to remove conditions on their permanent resident status, will increase from USD 3,750 to USD 5,000. Meanwhile, the charge for an initial Form I-956 application for regional-centre designation will rise from USD 17,795 to USD 44,115.
About EB-5 Programme
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme allows foreign investors and their immediate family members to become eligible for a US Green Card by investing in a qualifying US commercial enterprise and creating at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.
How Will It Impact Indians?
The move is expected to raise the overall cost for Indian entrepreneurs and families using the EB-5 route to seek permanent residency in the US. Also, the demand for this programme among Indians has grown significantly in recent years, which has further contributed to a backlog for Indian applicants, affecting Green Card waiting times.
According to the USCIS, the higher fees are intended to cover the cost of running the EB-5 programme, meet statutory processing-time targets and support other measures. Notably, the new fees do not change the basic investment or job-creation requirements of the EB-5 programme.
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