DHS to Increase EB-5 Investor Visa Filing Fees

New visa fee schedules take effect on November 30, 2026, for EB-5 program applicants.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Immigration

DHS to Increase EB-5 Investor Visa Filing Fees

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The Department of Homeland Security is set to implement higher filing fees for the EB-5 immigrant investor program beginning November 30, 2026. This adjustment aims to recover the costs associated with the administration and technological processing of program applications.

Why it matters

The fee changes reflect a government effort to offset the operating costs of the EB-5 visa program, which facilitates immigration for individuals who invest in U.S. businesses. The rule impacts thousands of annual filings and includes new requirements for regional center integrity fees.

The new fee schedule features a 70.7% weighted average increase for nine covered forms, including a rise in the Form I-526 filing fee to $7,615. DHS estimates the rule will affect approximately 16,600 EB-5 filings annually.

The players

Department of Homeland Security

This cabinet department is responsible for public security and oversees the administration of immigration services.

USCIS

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is the agency within DHS that processes visa applications and fee collections.

The details

The updated regulation introduces a technology fee designed to support the systems used for adjudicating investor visa applications. Regional centers with more than 20 investors will now face a $22,000 annual Integrity Fund fee, while smaller centers must pay $11,000.

Regional centers face a 10% penalty for integrity fees not paid by November 1, 2026.
The new EB-5 fee schedule officially takes effect on November 30, 2026.
Regional centers face a 20% penalty for integrity fees not paid by December 1, 2026.
The final deadline for regional centers to pay required integrity fees is December 30, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents often argue that increasing costs for the EB-5 immigrant investor program may reduce the competitiveness of the United States in attracting high-net-worth international capital. Advocacy groups for regional centers frequently push back against fee hikes, citing concerns that higher financial barriers could deter prospective business investment.

Investors currently planning to enter the program should be aware that filing fees for Form I-526 and I-829 will rise significantly after the November 30 deadline. These changes specifically impact the mandatory costs associated with the $800,000 to $1.05 million minimum investment requirements.

The takeaway

Prospective applicants should account for the increased administrative costs when budgeting for their investment migration strategy. Regional centers must also prepare for new annual fee deadlines to avoid compounding penalties starting in November.