DHS Proposes Significant EB-5 Filing Fee Reductions for Investors, Regional Centers

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed significant reductions to the USCIS EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program filing fees, marking a rare decrease amid a general trend of rising fees. Key reductions include a 14-17% decrease for core investor filings such as Forms I-526 and I-829, and up to a 61% cut for regional center-related filings like Form I-956. The proposal also introduces new petition types and fees, including a $95 technology fee to fund improvements in IT infrastructure, as well as a new Form I-527 for certain legacy investors. These changes aim to align fees with actual administrative costs, improve processing efficiency to reduce backlogs, and maintain program integrity without compromising funding. The EB-5 community has generally welcomed the reductions as a necessary recalibration following prior steep fee increases, with experts noting this as a corrective step acknowledging previous overcharges. The rule is currently in the proposed stage with a 60-day public comment period before finalization, encouraging stakeholders to provide input.