EB-5 Filing Fees Update (November 2025): The Key Changes Investors Need to Know
November 19, 2025 · EB-5 · 10 min read
In November 2025, a U.S. federal court ruled that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had violated administrative procedure when it sharply raised EB-5 filing fees in 2024. The result: the entire higher fee schedule was vacated, and USCIS was required to reinstate the lower fees that applied before April 2024. Investors filing today pay EB-5 filing fees at roughly one-third of the higher rates. The window is defined rather than open-ended: a new fee schedule is already working its way through rulemaking.
Current EB-5 filing fees (as of November 2025)
According to USCIS’s official update, the fees now stand as follows:
- Form I-526E (Petition by Regional Center Investor): US$3,675
- EB-5 Integrity Fund fee, payable separately with the petition: US$1,000
Total payable to USCIS at this stage: US$4,675
These are the fees actually in effect as of November 2025, and USCIS has updated them in its online filing system and on its official website.
Why filing an EB-5 petition now is a strategic move
Avoiding the risk of another fee increase in 2026
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking public comment on a new fee schedule expected to take effect later this year:
- I-526E: up from US$3,675 to US$9,625
- Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status: up from US$3,750 to US$7,860
In other words, even though these figures are lower than the 2024 increase, they are still close to three times the fees in force today. Should the new schedule be adopted — expected in early 2026 — investors who file after it takes effect would carry that additional cost.
Securing an earlier place in the processing queue
Lower fees tend to prompt a wave of new filings. Because USCIS groups petitions by visa availability rather than working strictly in the order received, filing early does not guarantee a place in line, but it does put your petition into an earlier cohort. That matters in particular for:
- Families with a child approaching age 21
- Investors working toward a visa number in the current fiscal year
- Those who want to complete the investment process early and settle into their new life
A favorable EB-5 visa environment right now
- No backlog — as of November 2025, priority dates for EB-5 were current, so investors did not have to wait for a visa number. Priority dates are reviewed monthly in the Department of State Visa Bulletin and can move.
- USCIS adjudication has stabilized under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA)
- Targeted Employment Area (TEA) designations are now defined more clearly, which makes adjudication more predictable
Three favorable conditions currently coincide on an EB-5 timeline: lower fees, current priority dates, and a settled policy framework.
Strategic analysis and what EB-5 investors should do now
Lower EB-5 filing fees are a welcome and unusual development. Turning them into a genuine advantage, however, calls for a clear plan rather than following the crowd.
Start preparing your petition now
Preparing an EB-5 petition — particularly the documentation proving your lawful source of funds — can take 2–4 months. Filing now lets you take advantage of the lower fees and places your petition in an earlier cohort for adjudication.
Choose a transparent, well-structured EB-5 project
Lower fees are no substitute for thorough project due diligence. A project whose Form I-956F has been approved by USCIS, located in a qualifying Targeted Employment Area (TEA), with capital protection features and a clear job creation plan, is the most important foundation for:
- Managing the risk to your US$800,000 investment
- Supporting your family’s path to lawful permanent residence
Work with advisors who know EB-5 petitions in depth
Many investors pick an appealing project and still run into trouble for lack of solid legal advice. Filing the wrong form, documentation that falls short of the evidentiary standard, or a missed administrative requirement can each lead to a denial or add years to a case.
An advisory firm with hands-on experience across a wide range of EB-5 cases, a working knowledge of USCIS procedure, and a current reading of policy changes is central to a durable U.S. immigration plan.
IMM Group: a long-standing partner for EB-5 investors
The global investment and citizenship landscape is constantly changing and increasingly complex. Investors need an advisory partner that not only helps build a strong application but also serves as a reliable anchor for the family’s future. That is why, across all our global investment and citizenship solutions, IMM Group sets itself apart as a strategic advisory partner, working alongside you with experience and integrity.
As a pioneering, long-established firm with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, we are not salespeople, and we go beyond advice: we design global investment and citizenship solutions built on:
- Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Our experience successfully handling hundreds of cases, including complex ones, enables us to conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, even during market crises.
- In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager is certified in investment migration advisory by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
- Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
- Receiving and giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you also help hundreds of students facing exceptional hardship gain a chance to change their lives.
If you are considering a U.S. green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess your petition’s likelihood of success. We will keep your personal data confidential and use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.
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