USCIS is raising the fee for Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor.
Form I-526E is the initial immigrant application filed by EB-5 investors. Currently, the fee is $3,675. USCIS is raising the fee to $11,160.
This new fee amount will go into effect soon. If you are interested in an EB-5 investment, you should consider investing now to avoid the higher filing fee.
In this article, we explain the increased fee and why you should invest soon.
New Form I-526E Fee Published in the Federal Register
Limited Window to Invest under Current Fee Amount
New Form I-526E Fee Published in the Federal Register
On January 31, 2024, USCIS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would raise the Form I-526E fee to $11,160—more than three times the current fee of $3,675. The proposed rule is set to go into effect April 1, 2024, 60 days after its publication.
This is not the first time USCIS has attempted to change the Form I-526E filing fee. In 2020, USCIS sought to change the filing fee, but that proposal was enjoined by a federal court and was never implemented. While the proposed rule could be subject to a lawsuit, no such lawsuit currently exists.
If you are thinking about making an EB-5 investment, you should be prepared for the rule to go into effect as published.
Limited Window to Invest under Current Fee Amount
With the new fee amount effective on April 1, you have a brief window of opportunity to invest under the current fee amount. You should strongly consider making your investment now and filing Form I-526E before the new fee amount goes into effect.
We expect this change to cause a surge in EB-5 applications. By making your EB-5 investment and filing Form I-526E early, you can secure a more favorable position in the I-526E adjudication queue.
Invest Now with a Partial Investment
EB5AN strives to make it easy for you to invest now. All of EB5AN’s projects allow you to invest a partial amount with a commitment to invest the full $800,000 within 12 months. We have several open EB-5 offerings, including best-in-class rural projects like Wohali Utah, Kindred Resort, and Twin Lakes Georgia. By investing a partial amount now, you can benefit from the lower Form I-526E filing fee and an earlier priority date.
Hire a Qualified EB-5 Attorney
Filing the Form I-526E application takes time and requires a skilled, experienced attorney. You need an attorney you can trust to complete your application correctly and on time. With the April 1 deadline looming, you need to hire a qualified EB-5 attorney soon.
Many of the attorneys EB5AN suggests to EB-5 investors have limited space for new clients. Schedule a call, and we can help connect you with an attorney who will get your application completed on time.
