Form I-526E is filed by EB-5 investors using a Regional Center to immigrate to the U.S. through investment. The 2022 Reform and Integrity Act renamed the form (previously I-526) and added new requirements.
Filing fee: $11,160 + $1,000 Integrity Fund · Processing time: 12-36 months · USCIS link: uscis.gov/i-526e
I-526E vs I-526
Form I-526E: Used for Regional Center investments (95%+ of EB-5 cases).
Form I-526: Still used for direct (non-Regional Center) investments.
The 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act made significant changes:
- Created reserved visa categories (rural, HUA, infrastructure)
- Added Integrity Fund fee of $1,000 per petition
- Increased compliance and oversight of Regional Centers
- Required new Regional Center designations under updated criteria
Reserved visa categories — game changer
| Category | Min Investment | % Annual Visas | Priority Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural | $800,000 | 20% | Yes |
| HUA (High-Unemployment) | $800,000 | 10% | No |
| Infrastructure | $800,000 | 2% | No |
| Unreserved | $1,050,000 | 68% | No |
For the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, all reserved categories are CURRENT for all countries — including India and China. This makes EB-5 the fastest current path for backlogged-country nationals.
Source of funds — the most scrutinized element
USCIS requires complete documentation of how the investor lawfully obtained the $800K-$1.05M investment capital.
Common source pathways
- Salary and savings: Tax returns showing income, bank statements showing accumulation
- Business sale: Business sale agreement, payment records, valuation
- Real estate sale: Sale deed, payment records, prior purchase documents
- Inheritance: Death certificate, will, probate documents, asset transfer records
- Gift: Donor's source of funds (full chain), gift letter, transfer records
- Loan: Loan agreement, collateral documentation (must be personal assets, not the EB-5 investment), repayment plan
Path of funds documentation
Beyond source, you must show the path: every transfer, conversion, and movement of funds from origin to the investment escrow. Wire confirmations, bank statements at each step, currency conversion records.
Project documentation
For Regional Center investments, the I-526E filing includes:
- Subscription agreement and offering documents
- Regional Center designation and approval
- Business plan demonstrating job creation
- Economic study showing 10 jobs per investor (typically using IMPLAN or similar economic models)
- Project budget and capital sources
- Operating agreement of the new commercial enterprise
- USCIS Form I-956F filing for the project (sponsor's responsibility)
Filing fees
| I-526E filing fee | $11,160 |
| EB-5 Integrity Fund fee | $1,000 |
| Investment | $800,000 (rural/HUA/infra) or $1,050,000 |
| Regional Center admin fee (varies) | $50,000-$80,000 |
| Attorney fees | $15,000-$30,000 |
After I-526E approval
- If priority date is current, file I-485 (in U.S.) or DS-260 (abroad)
- Receive 2-year conditional green card upon approval/admission
- Investment must be sustained for 2+ years
- Job creation must be sustained
- 21-24 months after admission, file I-829 to remove conditions
- Receive 10-year unconditional green card upon I-829 approval