On October 24, 2016, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced that it is raising filing fees by about 30%. The new fees will be effective December 23rd. USCIS is almost entirely funded by the fees paid by applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits. The law requires USCIS to conduct fee reviews every two (2) years to determine the funding levels necessary to administer the nation's immigration laws, process benefit requests and provide the infrastructure needed to support those activities.
Fees will increase for the first time in six years, by a weighted average of 21 percent for most applications and petitions. This increase is necessary to recover the full cost of services provided by USCIS. These include the costs associated with fraud detection and national security (FDNS), customer service and case processing, and providing services without charge to refugee and asylum applicants and to other customers eligible for fee waivers or exemptions.
The EB-5 program's filing fee will change as follows:
I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepeneur is currently $1,500 and on December 23rd it will change to $3,675;
I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence Status is currently $1,070 and on December 23rd it will change to $1,225;
I-829, Petition by Entrepeneur to Remove Conditions' fee will remain at $3,750;
I-924, Application for Regional Center Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program is currently $6,230 and on December 23rd it will change to $17,795