Is the $800,000 a cost or an investment?

Investment — capital placed at risk in a business with the expectation of return. USCIS requires the capital to be 'at risk,' meaning there is no guarantee of return. If the business succeeds, capital is returned after conditions are removed (typically 5–7 years). Non-recoverable costs are filing fees, administrative fees, and professional fees.

How much does EB-5 cost for a family?

Additional costs for derivatives (spouse and children): separate I-485 filing fees ($1,440 per member over 14, $950 under 14 with parent filing). Some attorneys charge additional fees for derivative filings. Regional center administrative fees are typically per investor, not per family member.

Are there ongoing costs after filing?

Potential ongoing costs include I-765 renewal fees ($410 if EAD expires before I-485 approval), legal fees for RFE responses, and I-829 filing fees ($3,750) when removing conditions. Some regional centers charge annual reporting or fund management fees.

Can I finance the EB-5 investment with a loan?

Yes, provided the loan is secured by the investor's assets (not the EB-5 investment itself or the new commercial enterprise). USCIS accepts loan proceeds as source of funds if the investor demonstrates the loan is legitimate, collateral is the investor's own property, and the investor bears personal liability.

What Does EB-5 Actually Cost?

The total cost includes four categories: investment capital, USCIS filing fees, regional center administrative fees, and professional service fees. The distinction between investment (capital at risk, intended to be returned) and costs (non-recoverable expenses) is essential.

Derived|USCIS Fee Schedule; EB5Status analysis

Investment Capital

Investment Type	Amount	Source
TEA (Rural, HUA, Infrastructure)	$800,000	INA § 203(b)(5)(C)(ii)
Non-TEA (Standard)	$1,050,000	INA § 203(b)(5)(C)(i)

Official Data|INA § 203(b)(5)(C); effective March 15, 2022

Subject to CPI-U adjustment every five years. Next adjustment projected after January 1, 2027. Filing I-526E before the September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline locks in current amounts.

USCIS Filing Fees

(effective April 1, 2024)

Form	Purpose	Fee	Notes
I-526E	Immigrant Petition	$3,675	Plus $85 biometrics
I-485	Adjustment of Status	$1,440	Includes biometrics, initial I-765 and I-131
I-829	Remove Conditions	$3,750	Includes biometrics

Official Data|USCIS Fee Schedule, 8 CFR § 106.2, effective April 1, 2024

Total USCIS fees for a single investor: approximately $8,950. For families (investor, spouse, child over 14), fees increase due to additional I-485 filings for derivatives.

Filing fees are subject to change through USCIS rulemaking.

Regional Center Administrative Fees

Regional centers charge administrative fees for project management, economic impact analysis, compliance reporting, and immigration documentation support. These fees are not regulated by USCIS.

Typical ranges: $50,000 to $75,000 per investor (some projects charge higher). Non-refundable, paid separately from investment capital.

Some projects charge fund management or subscription fees (included in administrative fee or separate). Investors should review offering documents (Private Placement Memorandum).

Editorial|EB5Status analysis of publicly available offering documents; ranges are approximate

Professional Service Fees

Legal Fees

Immigration attorney fees for the complete EB-5 process (I-526E through I-829): typically $15,000 to $50,000. Depends on case complexity, firm size, and geographic market. Some charge flat fees per filing; others charge for the complete process.

Factors increasing legal costs:

Complex source of funds (multiple sources, international transactions, business ownership structures)
Requests for Evidence (RFEs) requiring additional legal work
Family-related complications (derivative filings, age-out risk, consular processing)

Accounting and Translation

Source of funds documentation often requires professional accounting support for financial statements, fund tracing, and foreign tax record reconciliation. Costs vary widely by country and complexity: from a few thousand dollars (straightforward cases) to $10,000+ (complex business ownership structures).

Certified translation of foreign-language documents required for all USCIS filings. Typical EB-5 case: $2,000 to $5,000 in translation fees.

Editorial|EB5Status analysis; fee ranges are approximate and vary significantly

Total Cost Summary

For a single investor filing under a TEA regional center project:

Approximate non-recoverable costs:

USCIS filing fees: $8,950
Regional center administrative fees: $50,000–$75,000
Legal fees: $15,000–$50,000
Accounting and translation: $3,000–$15,000
Total range: $77,000 to $149,000

Investment capital ($800,000 for TEA) is additional but intended to be returned after conditions are removed. Total capital commitment including non-recoverable costs: approximately $877,000 to $949,000 for TEA investment.

Use the Cost Calculator to estimate your specific costs

Derived|EB5Status analysis; individual costs will vary