Short answer: EB-5’s total cost combines the recoverable investment (USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area) and non-recoverable fees: the project admin fee, USCIS and consular fees, and legal fees. Only the main applicant invests; the spouse and children under 21 don’t invest separately.
Main costs (USCIS fees effective April 2024)
| Stage | Item | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | Capital (recoverable under the terms) | USD 800,000 |
| Investment | Project admin fee | Usually tens of thousands of dollars |
| I-526E | USCIS filing fee | USD 11,160 (one, for the main applicant) |
| Green card | Abroad: DS-260 USD 325 each, plus the USD 235 immigrant fee each | Per person |
| Green card | In the US: I-485 USD 1,440 per applicant aged 14+ | Per person |
| I-829 | Removing conditions | USD 9,525 (usually one per family) |
| Other | Medicals, translation, notarisation, transfers | Varies |
| Professional | US immigration lawyer and consultant fees | Depends on scope |
For a family of four
- The investment counts once, so the cost per person is lower.
- Consular or adjustment fees and medicals rise with family size.
- Admin and legal fees are generally per application, not per person.
Costs people overlook
- Opportunity cost: the capital is tied up for years at a low return.
- Transfers and source-of-funds work: bank charges and documents.
- Tax: worldwide income reporting once you hold a green card — see green card tax duties.
Fees change, so confirm the latest USCIS fees before filing. See US EB-5 Investor Immigration. As of October 2026.