Bloomberg Law reports that the updated EB-5 investor visa program fees have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget as a final step before the official release.
Andrew Kreighbaum, Immigration and Labor Reporter, covering employment-based immigration for Bloomberg Law, including everything from foreign workers in tech to seasonal labor and legal protections for Dreamers, reported that the EB-5 investor visa fee regulation has cleared the White House Review.
To apply for a U.S. green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, foreign investors have to use the Form I-526. Currently, the filing fee for Form I-526 is $11,160. Additionally, the total cost for an EB-5 investor visa ranges from $21,130 to $22,225, depending on the filing location.
EB-5 Investor Visa Program
The EB-5 visa program is considered to be the fastest pathway to obtain a US Green Card. Subsequently, through the Naturalization process, green card holders can obtain US citizenship.
Green card holders are lawful permanent residents of the US, allowed to stay and work in the US legally.
To obtain the EB-5 visa, foreigners must invest $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or $1,050,000 in other areas and create or maintain at least ten full-time jobs for American workers.
The EB-5 program offers immigrants a road to a green card by investing in enterprises that create jobs in the United States. The majority of funds invested through the program go to firms known as regional centers, which allow several visa applicants to pool their funds.
EB-5 Visa Program Process
Form I-526 is to be filed for the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, while the Form I-526E or Immigrant Petition by a Regional Center Investor is a document for foreign investors seeking a US green card through the EB-5 program by investing in a USCIS-approved regional center.
The I-526 petition grants two years of conditional residency in the US under the EB-5 visa application process. To become an EB-5 visa holder and permanent resident, an I-829 petition must be filed before the conditional residency expires, taking 22-45 months.
The EB-5 program allows concurrent filing, enabling applicants to petition for Adjustment of Status while obtaining work authorization and remaining in the US. This visa expedites the green card application process after 18 months.
The Adjustment of Status process is advantageous for individuals currently in the U.S. on temporary visas, enabling them to transition to permanent residency without leaving the country.
EB-5 Regional Center Program
EB-5 visa program is authorized until September 30, 2027, with protection for investors under current law and it cannot be unilaterally eliminated without congressional approval.
Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors.
In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
More than $4 billion has been invested in US economy under EB-5 since its most recent reauthorization in 2022. There is a high demand for green cards by EB-5 investors, according to recent data on investor petitions.