What Are EB-5 Investment Costs?
The true cost of obtaining a U.S. Green Card through the EB-5 program extends beyond the statutory minimum investment capital. A complete budget must account for government filing fees, regional center administration overhead, immigration legal counsel, and the complex process of documenting your lawful source of funds.
Minimum Investment Amountsआधिकारिक डेटा
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) restructured the minimum investment tiers. Note that these are subject to a mandatory CPI-U inflation adjustment that takes effect on January 1, 2027. See key dates for all upcoming regulatory deadlines.
Source: RIA Section 102(a)(3), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(5)(C)
| Investment Type | Current Minimum |
|---|---|
| Targeted Employment Area (TEA) & Infrastructure | $800,000 |
| Standard / Non-TEA / Direct Investment | $1,050,000 |
USCIS Filing Feesआधिकारिक डेटा
These are mandatory government fees paid directly to USCIS during the application process.
Source: USCIS Fee Schedule (Effective April 1, 2024)
| Form | Purpose | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| I-526E | Immigrant Petition (Regional Center) | $3,675 |
| I-526 | Immigrant Petition (Direct Investment) | $3,675 |
| I-485 | Adjustment of Status (Per Person) | $1,440 |
| I-131 | Advance Parole / Travel (Per Person) | $630 |
Regional Center Admin Feesव्युत्पन्न
Regional Centers typically charge an administrative fee to cover project structuring, legal compliance, and ongoing SEC/USCIS reporting. This generally ranges from $20,000 to $80,000.
Regional center administrative fees have a wide range. Published sticker prices typically run $60,000 to $80,000, but investors who work directly with regional centers can often negotiate fees closer to $20,000. Our default uses the lower negotiated rate.
Attorney & Legal Feesव्युत्पन्न
Retaining qualified immigration counsel is required. Their fees cover compiling the I-526E petition, representing you to USCIS, and managing the overall case execution. This typically ranges from $15,000 to $35,000.
Additional Soft Costsव्युत्पन्न
- Source of Funds Tracing & Documentation: $5,000 to $15,000
- Document Translation Services: $2,000 to $5,000
- Medical Examinations: $200 to $500 per person
- Consular Processing Travel & Travel: $3,000 to $10,000 (if adjusting from abroad)
Cost Comparison by Investment Category
| Category | Min. Investment | Typical RC Fee | Est. Total Cost | Visa Set-Aside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural TEA | $800,000 | $20k-$80k | ~$865,000 | 20% (Priority Processing) |
| High Unemployment TEA | $800,000 | $20k-$80k | ~$865,000 | 10% |
| Unreserved / Standard | $1,050,000 | $20k-$80k | ~$1.11M | None |
| Direct Investment | $1,050,000 | $0 | ~$1.11M | None |
Rural TEA
Rural projects enjoy the $800,000 lower investment threshold and draw from the 20% reserved visa set-aside pool, which currently has no visa backlog for any country. Additionally, rural petitions receive expedited processing from USCIS. Total estimated costs approach $865,000.
High Unemployment TEA
Projects located in urban areas suffering from severe unemployment qualify for the $800,000 threshold and a 10% reserved visa pool. While they do not receive statutory expedited processing, total estimated costs are typically around $865,000.
Unreserved
Standard investments that do not meet TEA criteria require the full $1,050,000 minimum investment. These investors draw from the Unreserved visa pool, which is heavily backlogged for Indian and Chinese nationals according to the Visa Bulletin.
Direct Investment
In a Direct Investment, the applicant establishes and runs their own business rather than relying on a Regional Center. While this avoids paying a $50,000+ Regional Center administrative fee to a third party, the investor must satisfy the $1,050,000 non-TEA threshold (unless locating their own business in a TEA) and personally manage the direct creation of 10 W-2 jobs. Review the full EB-5 requirements for job creation specifics.
CPI-U Investment Amount Adjustment
Under the RIA, USCIS is statutorily required to adjust the minimum EB-5 investment amounts upward to match cumulative inflation (CPI-U). The next scheduled adjustment will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Investors must file before the September 30, 2026 deadline to secure the current $800,000 TEA and $1.05M Non-TEA minimums. After inflation is calculated, the new estimated minimums will take effect:
- TEA Projects: Expected to increase from $800,000 to approximately $900,000.
- Non-TEA Projects: Expected to increase from $1,050,000 to approximately $1,150,000.
Example Cost Scenarios
Chinese National, Rural RC
Indian National, HUA RC
Self-Petitioner, Direct
When Do You Pay? Cost Timeline
Pre-Filing (Preparation)
Initial legal retainers and project due diligence.
- • Partial Attorney Fee ($10k-$15k)
- • Initial Source of Funds gathering costs
I-526E Filing (The Big Bill)
Funds are remitted and the petition is filed.
- • EB-5 Minimum Capital ($800k or $1.05M)
- • Regional Center Admin Fee ($20k-$80k)
- • USCIS I-526E Fee ($3,675)
- • Remaining Attorney Fees
Post-Approval
Upon I-526E approval or if concurrently filing.
- • USCIS AOS Fees (I-485, I-131, I-765)
- • Attorney filing fees for AOS or consulate processing
Conditional Residency
Two years later to remove conditions (I-829).
- • USCIS I-829 Fee ($3,775 per family)
- • I-829 Attorney Fees ($5k-$10k)