EB-5 is priced differently from every other program in this research: the headline figure isn't a payment, it's capital you put at risk in a job-creating business, and you might not get it back. Understanding that distinction is the whole cost question.
The two EB-5 thresholds
| Route | Minimum | Visa queue (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| TEA — rural | $800,000 | Reserved set-aside (20%); current for all countries; priority I-526E |
| TEA — high-unemployment | $800,000 | Reserved set-aside (10%); current for all countries |
| TEA — infrastructure | $800,000 | Reserved set-aside (2%); current for all countries |
| Standard (non-TEA) | $1,050,000 | Unreserved; backlogged for China (~2016) and India (~2022) |
Why the $800k route is the one to pick
For most investors the $800,000 TEA route wins on every axis: it's cheaper, and because the RIA created reserved set-asides, those visas are currently available even for Chinese and Indian nationals who face decades-long backlogs in the standard queue. Rural projects additionally get priority I-526E processing. The $1,050,000 standard route costs more and lands in the backlogged unreserved category, so it rarely makes sense.
The regional-center fees you don't get back
On top of the investment, budget roughly $60,000–$90,000 in non-refundable costs:
- Regional-center administration / subscription fee (often $50,000–$70,000)
- USCIS filing fees for the I-526E, I-485 or consular processing, and later the I-829
- Immigration legal fees
- Source-of-funds documentation and, often, securities/escrow costs
When you get the EB-5 capital back, if you do
The capital must stay at risk until the project creates the required 10 jobs, which typically ties it up through the conditional-residence period and beyond. Repayment depends entirely on the project's performance, returns are low by design (this is an immigration vehicle, not an investment play), and getting the principal back is not guaranteed. Choose the project for job-creation reliability and capital security, not yield.
Treating the EB-5 $800,000 as a fee, or choosing a project on promised returns. It's at-risk capital that can be lost, and repayment hinges on the project creating 10 jobs — so capital security and job-creation track record matter far more than yield. The other costly error is going for the $1,050,000 standard route when the $800,000 set-aside route is cheaper, current for backlogged countries, and faster.
So what does the EB-5 visa really cost, all in?
Plan for $800,000 in at-risk capital (or $1,050,000 standard) plus $60,000–$90,000 in non-refundable fees — call it roughly $870,000–$890,000 of total exposure on the TEA route, of which the $800,000 may or may not return. Unlike a recoverable fund or a returnable bond, the defining feature here is that the largest number is genuinely at risk, so the real 'cost' is the portion of capital the project fails to return, if any.
United States golden visa cost calculator
Set route + household for an indicative all-in — investment plus the fees most quotes leave out.
- Qualifying investment ($800k TEA (rural or urban HUA))
- $800,000 recoverable
- Government, legal & transaction fees
- $32,000–$80,000
Indicative estimate, not a quote. Built from United States's published minimum plus typical fees, shown in USD.
FAQs
How much does the EB-5 visa cost in 2026?+
The EB-5 minimum investment is $800,000 or $1,050,000.
- •$800,000 for a targeted employment area (rural, high-unemployment, or infrastructure) project.
- •$1,050,000 for a standard project outside a TEA.
- •Plus roughly $60,000–$90,000 in non-refundable regional-center and USCIS fees.
Is the EB-5 $800,000 a fee or an investment?+
It's an at-risk EB-5 investment, not a fee.
- •The capital goes into a business that must create 10 US jobs.
- •You can lose part or all of it if the project underperforms.
- •Repayment depends on the project and is typically low-return.
Should I choose the $800k or $1.05M EB-5 route?+
For most people, the $800,000 EB-5 set-aside route.
- •It's cheaper, and the reserved visas are currently available even for China and India.
- •Rural projects also get priority I-526E processing.
- •The $1,050,000 standard route lands in the backlogged unreserved queue.
Do I get my EB-5 investment back?+
Only if the EB-5 project performs.
- •Capital must stay at risk until the 10 jobs are created.
- •It's typically tied up through the conditional-residence period and beyond.
- •Returns are low, and repayment is not guaranteed.