U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Fee Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <CFR>8 CFR Parts 106 and 216</CFR> <DEPDOC>[CIS No. 2777-24; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0139]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1615-AC93</RIN> <SUBJECT>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Fee Rule</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed rulemaking. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to adjust Employment-Based Immigration, Fifth Preference (EB-5) immigration benefit request fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This rule also proposes to codify certain elements of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and implement new statutory requirements. DHS intends for the rule to provide USCIS with the resources necessary to accomplish the goals of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and enhance and maintain the integrity of the EB-5 program. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Submission of Public Comments:</E> Written comments must be submitted on this proposed rule on or before December 22, 2025. The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight eastern time at the end of that day. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> You may submit comments on the entirety of this proposed rule package, identified by DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0139, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E> In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), the summary of this rule found above may also be found at <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E> Follow the website instructions for submitting comments. Comments must be submitted in English, or an English translation must be provided. Comments that will provide the most assistance to USCIS in implementing these changes will reference a specific portion of the proposed rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that support such recommended change. Comments submitted in a manner other than the one listed earlier, including emails or letters sent to DHS or USCIS officials, will not be considered comments on the proposed rule and may not receive a response from DHS. Please note that DHS and USCIS cannot accept any comments that are hand delivered or couriered. In addition, USCIS cannot accept comments contained on any form of digital media storage devices, such as CDs/DVDs and USB drives. USCIS is also not accepting mailed comments at this time. If you cannot submit your comment by using <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E> please contact the Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, by telephone at 240-721-3000 for alternate instructions. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746; telephone 240-721-3000. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Purpose and Major Provisions of the Regulatory Action</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Summary of the Proposed EB-5 Program Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Summary of Economic Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Background and Purpose</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. The EB-5 Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. USCIS Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Legal Authority and Guidance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Other Legal Authorities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Full Cost Recovery</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. EB-5 Fee Schedule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Current EB-5 Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. State of EB-5 Fee Schedule Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Fee-Setting Approach</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. The Processing Times Referenced in the Integrity Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. USCIS Efficiency Improvements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Completion Goals Are Not Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. EB-5 Fee Study Methodology</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Volume</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Completion Rates</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Legacy Workloads</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Cost Reallocation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Regional Center Termination Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. EB-5 Fee Study Projected Costs and Revenue</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. EB-5 Fee Study Cost Projections</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. EB-5 Fee Study Revenue Projections</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. EB-5 Fee Study Cost and Revenue Differential</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. EB-5 Fee Study Results and Proposed Fee Adjustments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Proposed EB-5 Immigration Benefit Request Fee Adjustments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. EB-5 Technology Fee</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Form I-527, Amendment to Legacy Form I-526</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. EB-5 Integrity Fund Fees and Penalties</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. EB-5 Integrity Fund</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Current EB-5 Integrity Fund Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Proposed Inflation Adjustment to EB-5 Integrity Fund Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. EB-5 Integrity Fund Penalties</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Proposed Penalties</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Calculation of Investors To Determine Amount Owed</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Timeline and Payment Process</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Technical Change</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VI. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review), and Executive Order 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Economic Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Congressional Review Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Family Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Abbreviations</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ABC Activity-Based Costing</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CEQ Council on Environmental Quality</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFO Chief Financial Officer</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CPI-U Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DOL Department of Labor</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EB-5 Employment-Based Immigration Visa Classification, Fifth Preference</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">E.O. Executive Order</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FDNS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FY Fiscal Year</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GAO Government Accountability Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IEFA Immigration Examinations Fee Account</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">INA Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IOAA Independent Offices Appropriations Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IPO Immigrant Investor Program Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IRFA Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">JCE Job-Creating Entity</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAICS North American Industry Classification System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NCE New Commercial Enterprise</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NEPA National Environmental Policy Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OIRA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OPQ Office of Performance and Quality</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PRA Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RIA Regulatory Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SBA Small Business Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SOC Standard Occupational Code</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TEA Targeted Employment Area</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">USCIS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VPC Volume Projection Committee</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Public Participation</HD> DHS invites all interested parties to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, comments, and arguments on all aspects of this proposed rule. DHS also invites comments that relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this proposed rule. Comments must be submitted in English, or an English translation must be provided. Comments that will provide the most assistance to USCIS in implementing these changes will reference a specific portion of the proposed rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that support such recommended change. Comments submitted in a manner other than the one listed earlier, including emails or letters sent to DHS or USCIS officials, will not be considered comments on the proposed rule and may not receive a response from DHS. <E T="03">Instructions:</E> I ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 274k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━