US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on 29 September that it will raise the fees for its EB‑5 Immigrant Investor Program, with the new rates taking effect on 30 November 2026.
The EB‑5 scheme, created by Congress in 1990, allows foreign investors to obtain lawful permanent residence – a green card – by investing in U.S. projects that create jobs. The programme has long been a vehicle for foreign capital and job creation in the United States.
USCIS said the fee increase is intended to cover the programme’s operating costs, meet statutory processing time targets and support oversight measures, including audits and site visits. The agency relies largely on application fees rather than taxpayer funding to finance its operations, using the money to review applications, conduct background checks, verify eligibility, investigate potential fraud and maintain day‑to‑day programme operations.
The changes follow the EB‑5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, which directed USCIS to conduct a programme‑specific fee study and set charges at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of administering the scheme. The Act also established processing time goals and strengthened oversight requirements, such as compliance reviews, audits and site visits, and measures to detect and prevent fraud and abuse.
The final rule was issued after a proposed rule was published by the Department of Homeland Security in October 2025. USCIS confirmed that the adjustments will be implemented on 30 November 2026.
The fee hike means that foreign investors seeking a green card through the EB‑5 programme will face higher upfront costs. The increase is aimed at ensuring that the programme remains financially sustainable while maintaining rigorous oversight to protect the integrity of the immigration system.
For U.S. investors and those advising them, the new fees represent a significant change in the cost structure of the EB‑5 pathway. The programme’s administrators expect the additional revenue to cover the growing administrative burden and to support continued investment in oversight and fraud prevention.
The decision underscores the U.S. government’s ongoing effort to balance the benefits of foreign investment with the need for robust safeguards and fiscal responsibility within the immigration system.
