Employment
Form I-526
Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor (EB-5)
Filed by foreign investors seeking permanent residence through the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Requires substantial capital investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise.
- Filing fee
- $3,675
- From November 30, 2026: $7,615
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- Foreign investors investing $1,050,000 in a new commercial enterprise
- Investors investing $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA)
- Investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs
Send with it
- Evidence of lawful source of investment funds
- Business plan showing job creation
- Evidence of investment or active investment process
- Corporate organizational documents
- Tax returns and financial statements
Worth knowing
- Regional Center projects may simplify the job creation requirement
- Ensure impeccable documentation of lawful source of funds
- Processing times are very long - plan accordingly
- Consult an experienced EB-5 attorney before investing
Common mistakes
- Insufficient proof of lawful source of funds
- Investing in a project that does not create enough jobs
- Not understanding the regional center structure
- Missing the 2-year conditional residence removal deadline
Questions
- How much does Form I-526 cost?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-526 is $3,675. From November 30, 2026 it is $7,615.
- How long does Form I-526 take?
- Typically 24 to 60 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.