EB-5 Filing Fees Go Up on November 30th, 2026: What the Increase Means for Investors and Regional Centers

Filing I-956F and other applications before the EB-5 fee increase could mean major savings for Regional Centers, but investors have another impending date that’s more important.

It’s been quite a journey for the EB-5 filing fees paid by Regional Centers and investors. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) mandated am EB-5 fee study that would result in an adjustment of fees in order to properly fund the program. Then, in 2024, U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) raised the fees without conducting the fee study, resulting in litigation that ultimately saw the fees returned to their previous levels.

Last year, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlined a plan to increase fees once again, followed by a public comment period where the industry could provide its input about how increases might affect the financial realities of EB-5 investment. The comment period ended on December 23rd, 2025. Since then, we’ve waited to see if that advice would be taken, and what the final fee levels would ultimately be.

The final rule has been published, and we now know what EB-5 fees will be, at least through the remainder of the Regional Center Program’s current authorization, which expires September 30th, 2027. There is some good news, some bad news, and an opportunity for Regional Centers to save big if they act before November 30^th.

How USCIS EB-5 fees will change on November 30th, 2026

The final rule published in the Federal Register outlines the increases in USCIS EB-5 fees so the agency can “recover the full costs of administering the EB-5 program and seek to attain statutory processing time goals.”

Certain fees will go up more than others, but for most forms, the increases are lower than those made (and then rescinded) in 2024. This chart (included in the final rule) covers some of the most significant forms and their new fees:

Note that for forms I-527, I-956 (initial), and I-956F, the increase is greater than what was proposed. I-956 and I-956F fees are paid by Regional Centers, greatly increasing their burden. Investor application fees are lower than what was proposed, but when compared to the fees currently being paid, both investors and Regional Center filings are facing an increase of more than 100%.

The final rule is based on a fee study that calculated the necessary revenue required to operate the program based on “projected costs.” As Suzanne Lazicki notes, these projections can be problematic, as the projected volume greatly exceeds the number of EB-5 visas, which would inherently result in backlogs that could decrease demand, resulting in lower revenue.

“The final rule persists in declining to make any firm timely processing commitments,” says Lazicki. If backlogs, slow processing, and a potential lapse in reauthorization of the Regional Center Program cause a decrease in filings, revenue will fall short of what is needed to fully fund the program.

Why are EB-5 filing fees going up in 2026?

An increase in filing fees was not unexpected; since the passage of the RIA, we have known that they would go up, following a fee study. As EB5Investors.com explains, the purpose of the biennial fee study is “to ensure the program remains self-sustaining” and that “the agency can clear case backlogs, fund back-end security, conduct mandatory compliance audits, carry out project site visits, and work toward faster statutory processing-time goals.”

“Unlike most government agencies, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not dependent on taxpayer dollars,” explains the agency. “USCIS receives 96 percent of its funding from filing fees and not from congressional appropriations.” This means the agency can continue to function even when other parts of the government shut down, but it also means the agency must determine adequate fee levels to cover costs.

When fees were initially hiked, it was done without the fee study, which is why that decision was reversed. Since November 2025, investors have been able to use the pre-April 2024 amounts. Now fees are set to go up, but at a level lower than the initial increase of April 2024. For some in the industry, this is a definite win.

“While the fees still represent an increase from previous levels, the rollback is a direct result of industry engagement during the rulemaking process,” says industry trade organization Invest In the USA (IIUSA).

USCIS states that “The new fees are designed to go into effect on Nov. 30, 2026.” With the final rule released on September 30th, that gives investors and Regional Centers 60 days to file before fees go up. Whether or not it’s worth trying to get an application in before November 30th is a harder question to answer.

Should investors and Regional Centers file before the EB-5 fee increase on November 30th?

EB-5 petitions are now going to be more costly, so filing before November 30th will save money. How much money depends on your position in the industry, as the increases are different for investor filing fees and EB-5 Regional Center fees.

What the I-526E filing fee increase means for investors

For investors, the fee increase isn’t likely to matter. Yes, I-526E filing fee has more than doubled, but when you’re investing as much as $1,050,000, a few thousand dollars extra is not enough of a motivating factor to make someone rush into a project without performing proper due diligence, especially when their immigration status is at stake.

Why the 2027 EB-5 minimum investment increase matters more

Investors also have other deadlines to worry about: in January 2027, EB-5 minimum investment amounts are scheduled to increase, and in September 2027, the Regional Center Program’s authorization is set to expire. These two deadlines are much more significant for investors, as missing them can have far greater ramifications than missing the filing fee deadline. It’s likely that investors will focus on meeting one of these other two deadlines and accept whatever filing fee they’re subject to.

What the I-956F fee increase means for Regional Centers

For Regional Centers, the issue is a bit different. The fee for an I-956F project application is set to increase $24,880. That’s a lot of money for a Regional Center already trying to keep costs down. It would definitely be worth it to get an I-956F filed before the deadline, if the Regional Center has a project nearing that stage. However, since many projects were scheduled to accept investors before the September 30th, 2026, grandfathering deadline, it’s possible that many Regional Centers don’t have projects at the right stage to take advantage of this window where filing fees are still low.

Reducing EB-5 Regional Center costs through efficiency

If Regional Centers are unable to file before November 30, they may face significantly higher EB-5 filing fees that could further erode already thin margins, particularly in light of the administrative demands created by the RIA’s integrity measures. In the EB-5 space, success depends on minimizing unnecessary costs and adopting efficient, cost-effective solutions to meet these requirements

JTC works with Regional Centers to automate key processes through institutional-grade fund administration. We offer an array of services, including escrow, cosignatory, fund accounting, audit services, and more, so you can outsource necessary functions to a trusted partner that can integrate with your existing processes. Talk to a JTC representative today about how we can help you maximize efficiency to stay ahead of the complex EB-5 regulatory landscape.

Read more on why EB-5 Regional Centers need more than a fund administrator