Expected Costs of the EB-5 Visa Program
To complete the EB-5 process, foreign nationals must file three separate petitions with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor), Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), and Form I-829 (Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status).
The filing of Form I-526E must include proof that the investment funds were legally obtained and details of the proposed project that specifically show how the project will meet the requirements of the EB-5 program as a new commercial enterprise (NCE) capable of creating 10 full-time jobs that will last for two years. As part of Form I-485, investors need to provide documentation of their eligibility for immigration to the United States, which may include medical records and other legal documents. The final petition, Form I-829, must demonstrate that the investment has resulted in the creation of the required 10 jobs, that the investment has remained at risk, and that the investor’s capital has not yet been paid back.
These petitions are filed in stages throughout the investment process, and each stage carries its own set of costs. To give an idea of how much money the entire process costs and where that money goes, we have provided a breakdown of fees for each petition or stage. The breakdown provided is based on an investment of $800,000, which is the dollar amount required for an investment in a TEA or an infrastructure project. The fees outlined below are estimates and should be used for demonstration purposes only.