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Total Cost of an EB-5 Visa (2026 Guide)

One of the most common questions prospective investors ask is:

“How much does an EB-5 visa cost?”

While the minimum EB-5 investment is $800,000, the total cost of the EB-5 process is significantly higher once government filing fees, legal fees, and regional center costs are included.

This guide explains the complete cost structure of the EB-5 immigrant investor program in 2026.

1. EB-5 Investment Amount

The largest component of the EB-5 program is the required investment capital.

Current Minimum Investment

• Minimum Investment Targeted Employment Area (TEA): $800,000
• Minimum Investment Non Targeted Employment Area: $1,050,000

Most EB-5 projects today qualify as Targeted Employment Areas (TEA), meaning most investors contribute $800,000.

Important: This capital must be at risk and invested into a qualifying EB-5 project that creates at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.

2. Regional Center Administrative Fees

Most EB-5 investors participate through regional center projects.

Regional centers typically charge an administrative fee (sometimes called a syndication fee) to cover:

• project structuring
• compliance
• administration
• investor services

Typical Regional Center Administrative Fee: $50,000 – $80,000 (negotiable)

These fees vary depending on the project and developer. We negotiate these fees with the Regional center as we place multiple investors in the projects, so, depending on a variety of factors like how many spots are left, the strength of the project, etc, the projects are willing to reduce this fee.

3. Immigration Attorney Fees

EB-5 immigration cases are complex and require extensive documentation, especially regarding source of funds.

Most immigration attorneys charge fees for three stages:

Typical Legal Fees for attorney services

I-526E Petition: $12,000 – $15,000

Adjustment of Status / Consular Processing: $3,000 – $5,000

I-829 Petition (Removal of Conditions): $4,000 (Paid later)

Estimated total legal fees: $20,000 – $25,000

4. USCIS Filing Fees

EB-5 investors must also pay several government filing fees.

I-526E Petition

I-526E Filing Fee: $3,675

EB-5 Integrity Fund Fee: $1,000

Total: $4,675

Adjustment of Status (if inside the U.S.)

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I-485 (Green Card Application): $1,440

I-765 (Work Permit): $260

I-131 (Travel Document): $630

Total per applicant: $2,330

I-829 Petition (Removal of Conditions)

Filed about 2 years after receiving conditional permanent residence.

I-829 Filing Fee: $3,750

Biometrics Fee: $85 per applicant

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Estimated Total Cost: $850,000 – $875,000

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Important Things Investors Should Know

✔ The $800,000 investment is not a fee.
It is invested in a project and may be returned depending on the project structure.

✔ The other costs (legal fees, USCIS fees, admin fees) are non-refundable expenses.

✔ The EB-5 investment must remain at risk for several years until the immigration process is completed.

Frequently Asked Question

Is the EB-5 investment refunded?

Many EB-5 projects structure investments as loans to the project, meaning investors may receive repayment after 5–6 years.

However, repayment is not guaranteed, since the investment must remain at risk to qualify under EB-5 rules.

EB-5 Process Overview

Typical EB-5 process timeline:

1. Select EB-5 project
2. Invest capital
3. File I-526E petition
4. Apply for conditional green card
5. Receive 2-year conditional permanent residency
6. File I-829 petition
7. Receive permanent green card

More EB-5 Resources

Explore additional guides:

• Why you should work with an Investment specialist
• Eb-5 Grandfathering deadline
• EB-5 Processing Guide
• H1B to EB-5

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