Cost for EB-5 visa application is $3,675 to file USCIS form I-526/I-526E; however, to calculate the total costs of EB-5 visa program, there are other items involved such as the minimum investment amount, Biometrics fees, USCIS forms processing fees, legal fees, administrative fees, and relocation expenses.

Key Points:

  • The EB5 Minimum Investment is lower ($800,000 USD) for projects in rural areas or high-unemployment regions also known as TEA. The EB5 Investment Cost for Non-TEA projects is $1.05 million USD.

  • The EB-5 Costs are set to increase in first quarter of 2024 due to proposed filing fee hikes for the I-526/I-526E and I-829 petitions.

How Much Does EB 5 Visa Cost?

An EB5 Visa Costs $3,675 for filing of initial USCIS petition I-526/I-526E for investor visa. This excludes the Biometrics fees of $85 per applicant for regional center investors.

You will need to bear other costs such as minimum investment amount, Biometrics fees, USCIS forms filing and processing fees, legal fees, administrative fees, and relocation expenses.

According to the USCIS, Over 95% of EB-5 investors choose a regional center project for investment, thus our cost lists below are for regional center projects. 

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Details of EB5 Visa Costs and Fees

According to the USCIS, Over 95% of EB-5 investors choose a regional center project for investment, thus our cost estimates below are for regional center investments. 

1. Form I-526 or I-526E Petition Filing Fee (USCIS)

Fees for form I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor) or Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor) is $3,675. This excludes the Biometrics fees of $85 per person for regional center investors. The I-526 processing fee is a one-time payment that covers you, your spouse, and unmarried children under 21.

2. Adjustment of Status/Immigrant Visa Application Fee (USCIS)

The EB-5 Green Card processing fee using USCIS Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is $1,140. Form I-485 applicants aged 14 to 78 are required to pay an additional biometrics fee of $85 per person.

You must file the USCIS Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application) if you are outside of the US. Cost for form DS-260 filing is $325 per person. This excludes medical examination costs. 

3. Form I-829 Petition Filing Fee (USCIS)

The cost of processing USCIS Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status) is $3,750. Applicants aged 14 to 78 need to pay an additional $85 per applicant for biometrics.

Above 3 costs are essentially government fees charged by USCIS. 

4. Regional Center Administration Fee

Your EB5 Visa Cost includes an administrative fee of $50,000 to $70,000 (generally negotiable) if you are investing in a regional center.

5. EB5 Visa Immigration Attorney Legal Fees

The legal cost for an EB5 Visa Immigration Attorney (Lawyer) is between $15,000 to $20,000. Your EB 5 Visa Attorney assists you in filing your immigrant petition and Green Card application. The EB5 Immigration Lawyer Cost also covers services for organizing your source of funds report which is essential in getting your I-526/I-526E approved. 

6. Documents Translation, Tax, Relocation, and Travel Expenses

You may incur paying for translations of documents that are not in English. Translation costs run between $0.25 to $0.50 per word depending on the firm you select and how quickly you need the translated documents finished. Your birth certificate and bank certificates are examples of several personal, financial, and project papers that must be translated into English by a qualified translator.

Upon getting your investment Green Card, you are classified as a temporary visa holder so your US taxes cover your worldwide income. You will need to report your international assets and accounts to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The “Substantial Presence Test” is used to determine whether you are a resident or nonresident for tax purposes. Since the taxation system in the USA is quite complicated, you’ll benefit from consulting a tax attorney to help you with your taxes upon getting your Investment Green Card. Due Diligence up front helps save on costs and processing times later on.

Immigrant investors and their families living abroad need to consider the relocation and travel expenses that come with moving to the United States as well.

Here at Long Prairie Project Investors LLC, we work with immigration attorneys, tax specialists, and investment bankers to ensure that you’re well supported in planning for the EB5 investment cost and all associated fees that lead to your permanent residency in the USA. 

Costs for investors choosing a direct investment

Costs for EB5 Business Plan

The EB5 Visa Cost includes paying an average of $3,500 for the drafting and writing of a business plan if you’re investing in a direct project. Direct EB-5 Projects are not affiliated with any regional center and require you to be actively involved in the management and operation of the business. Typically, regional centers supply their investors with business plans and other project documents to support their I-526E forms. As a direct EB5 investor, you need to work with a company that either specializes in or has substantial experience with EB 5 immigration business plans that are compliant with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations.

Processing Costs for Business Entity Formation

Another component of the EB 5 Visa Cost to account for as a direct investor is the formation of a new business entity such as a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC) which ranges from $1,000 to $1,500. You’ll have to engage the services of an EB-5 Visa Lawyer or a company to help you set up your new commercial enterprise (NCE) that meets the Immigrant Investor Visa Program requirements.

How Much is the Minimum EB5 Investment Amount Required in 2023?

The EB5 Minimum Investment is $800,000 USD for projects located in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs) while the investment amount for Non-TEA projects is $1.05 million USD. Investing in a Targeted Employment Area TEA project, such as those in rural or high unemployment regions, qualifies you for priority processing of your initial petition which is extremely beneficial if you’re from a high-demand country such as India and China.

Will the EB 5 Visa Cost Increase in the Future?

In first quarter of 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (of which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency) proposed fee increases for the EB-5 category. This is in addition to the new EB-5 Integrity Fund fee which went into effect in March 2023.

The proposed fee for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor, and Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor, is $11,160, a $7,485 or 204% increase from the current $3,675 fee. The proposed fee for Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, is $9,525, a $5,775 or 154% increase if the proposal goes into effect. To date, there is no time frame on when this will happen but we are continuing to monitor it closely. 

What Factors Change the Cost of EB-5 Visa Program for an Investor?

While form filing fees are fixed for the EB-5 Visa, certain factors make the total cost variable for investors such as below.

  • The number of dependents included in your application affects the cost of EB5 Visa Green Card processing. Each member of your family will have to file and pay for Form I-485 or Form DS-260 to obtain a USA Green Card.
  • Legal fees for EB 5 Visa Attorney services vary depending on the firm you hire, the extent of services covered, and the experience of the lawyer. Immigration Lawyers in locations such as New York and San Francisco tend to be more expensive.
  • Immigrant investors and their families who are outside the USA will have to factor in relocation and travel costs for moving to the United States.
  • The EB5 Minimum Investment is lower if you’re investing in a rural TEA, high-unemployment TEA, or infrastructure project.
  • Regional center investors will have to pay an administrative fee used to structure a commercial project according to EB5 Program standards.
  • Direct project investors need to allot a budget for business entity formation and business plan writing costs.
  • Currency exchange rate fluctuations impact the cost.

What is the Biggest EB 5 Visa Cost Factor?

The EB5 Investment Cost of $800,000 or $1.05 Million is the biggest factor in the funding you need to allot for your Immigrant Investor Visa application. The EB5 Investment Cost is lower if you invest in a TEA (Target Employment Area) or an infrastructure project.

Does the EB5 Investment Cost Affect Processing Times?

Yes, investing in a TEA or infrastructure project not only lowers the total EB5 cost but also speeds up processing times for your Investment Green Card application. Investment in a rural area or high-unemployment region qualifies you for a reserved or EB-5 set aside visa and expedited processing. You’ll get your I-526/I-526E form approval in 12 months instead of the average of 29 months Processing times for countries with high EB-5 demand. We at EB5 BRICS guide immigrant investors like you in meeting the EB5 minimum investment requirement and choosing safe and secure projects.

FAQs about EB 5 Visa USA Cost

EB 5 investors should expect to get their money back if the borrower/developer successfully develops and executes on the development project that the EB 5 investor invests in through an EB 5 USA regional center.
Yes, an EB 5 Investor can take a loan to make an EB 5 investment if certain USCIS requirements are met.
Yes EB-5 can certainly work for you so long as you meet the two major requirements of EB 5, first the investment must be ‘at risk’ and second the investment must create 10 new full-time jobs in the US economy.
On average, investments that tend to be more secure give 1% to 3% rate on return.
You will need required documents to prove the source of funds for EB5 investment amount to be legit. Source of funds, i.e., how the money to be invested was earned/accumulated must be properly, thoroughly and convincingly documented and presented. An investor should submit all (or as many as possible) of the various types of documentary evidence relating to source of funds for both the investor and the investor’s spouse and from any additional sources such as banks and relatives in case all or part of the funds were obtained through a loan or gift.

A US Bank Account is preferred to be opened so that funds can be sent into that account help by the investor.
After that, monies are transferred into an EB-5 Escrow Account – a 3rd party (the escrow agent) who receives, holds, and then disburses the money upon satisfaction of mutually agreed upon release conditions (between investor and the EB-5 issuer).