What is the total financial requirement for the USA citizenship by investment path? The process begins with the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which starts with a qualifying investment and leads to permanent residency.
Over time, applicants may become eligible to apply for USA citizenship by investment. Several direct and indirect costs are involved in this process.
Minimum investment amount:
The main cost is the investment in a new commercial enterprise. There are two levels:
- Standard investment: $1,050,000 for projects not located in targeted areas.
- Targeted employment area (TEA) investment: $800,000 for projects in rural or high-unemployment locations.
- This investment must be placed into a business that creates at least ten full-time jobs for US workers.
Administrative fees:
Most EB-5 Regional Center projects include an administrative fee, which ranges between $50,000 to $70,000. This fee supports the management of the investment project and is typically non-refundable.
Direct investment applicants may not pay this type of fee but may spend on legal or business setup costs instead.
Government filing fees:
There are several application forms that include standard fees:
- Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition): $11,160
- Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status, if applying within the US): Around $1,225 per applicant
- Form DS-260 (Visa Processing, if applying from outside the US): $345 per person
- Form I-829 (To remove conditions): $9,525
- Form N-400 (Citizenship Application): $760
These costs apply per person, and family members included in the application will add to the total.
Legal and professional fees:
Most applicants work with immigration attorneys, financial advisors, and tax professionals. Legal fees may range from $15,000 to $25,000 depending on the service scope. This includes preparing documents, reviewing business plans, and submitting all compulsory forms on time.
Other costs:
- Translation and document certification
- Medical exams for immigration processing
- Travel expenses for consular interviews or visits to the US
- State-level filings and registration, if launching a direct investment business
The total cost of applying for US citizenship through the EB-5 program includes the main investment, administrative fees, legal support, and government charges. While the base investment starts at $800,000 or $1,050,000, the full financial commitment often exceeds this figure once additional services and processing steps are included. Careful budgeting is part of the process from start to finish.