EB-5 Investment Amounts Are Increasing in 2027: What Investors Need to Know Before January 1

For prospective EB-5 investors, January 1, 2027 is an important date.

Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the minimum investment amounts for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program are scheduled to adjust for inflation beginning January 1, 2027.

That means today’s $800,000 minimum investment for qualifying Targeted Employment Area (TEA) and infrastructure projects will increase for petitions filed on or after the adjustment takes effect.

For investors already considering EB-5, the difference between filing in late 2026 and filing after the new investment amount takes effect could potentially mean more than $100,000 in additional required investment capital.

The Short Answer

Yes. The minimum EB-5 investment amounts are scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027.

Current minimum investment amounts are:

• $800,000 for qualifying investments in a Targeted Employment Area, including Rural and High-Unemployment TEAs, and qualifying infrastructure projects.
• $1,050,000 for other qualifying EB-5 investments.

Federal law requires these amounts to adjust for inflation beginning January 1, 2027 and every five years thereafter.

However, as of October 2026, DHS has not yet published the official 2027 investment amounts.

Investors should therefore distinguish between what is certain and what is currently projected:

Certain: The investment thresholds will adjust on January 1, 2027.

Not yet final: The exact new dollar amounts.

Why Are EB-5 Investment Amounts Increasing?

Congress changed the EB-5 investment thresholds when it enacted the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act in March 2022.

The law established:

• A standard minimum investment of $1,050,000.
• A reduced investment amount of $800,000 for qualifying TEA and infrastructure investments.

Congress also built inflation adjustments directly into the law.

Beginning January 1, 2027, the standard investment amount will automatically adjust based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, commonly known as CPI-U, since January 2022.

The standard amount is to be rounded down to the nearest $50,000.

The reduced investment amount for TEA and qualifying infrastructure projects will then equal 75% of the standard minimum investment amount.

Future adjustments are scheduled to occur every five years.

In other words, the upcoming increase is not simply a discretionary USCIS fee change. It is an inflation adjustment required by the EB-5 statute.

How Much Could the EB-5 Investment Increase in 2027?

The final amount has not yet been announced.

However, currently available inflation data provides a useful indication of where the adjustment could land.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unadjusted CPI-U index of 281.148 in January 2022. By August 2026, that index had increased to 334.980.

Applying that level of inflation to the current $1,050,000 standard investment amount produces an amount slightly above $1.25 million. Because the statute requires the standard amount to be rounded down to the nearest $50,000, current inflation data points toward a potential standard investment amount of approximately: $1,250,000

If the reduced investment amount equals 75% of that figure, the corresponding TEA and infrastructure investment amount would be approximately: $937,500

Potential 2027 EB-5 Investment Amounts

Investment Category	Current Minimum	Potential 2027 Amount*	Potential Increase
Rural / High-Unemployment TEA	$800,000	$937,500	$137,500
Qualifying Infrastructure	$800,000	$937,500	$137,500
Standard EB-5 Investment	$1,050,000	$1,250,000	$200,000

*These figures are estimates based on currently available inflation data. DHS has not yet announced the official January 1, 2027 investment amounts.

Inflation data can continue to change before the adjustment is finalized, so investors should not treat these estimates as official amounts.

Could the $800,000 EB-5 Investment Really Increase by More Than $100,000?

Yes.

If the reduced minimum investment rises from $800,000 to approximately $937,500, the difference would be:

$137,500 per investor.

For a family already planning to pursue EB-5, that is a meaningful difference.

It is also important to understand what this number represents.

The additional $137,500 would not be a government filing fee or an administrative charge. It would be additional capital that the investor must place into the qualifying EB-5 investment.

For investors who already intend to pursue EB-5 and have identified an appropriate investment opportunity, the timing of their petition may therefore have a substantial financial impact.

Does Filing Before January 1, 2027 Lock In the Current $800,000 Investment Amount?

Under the statutory framework and DHS’s proposed regulations, the adjusted investment amounts apply to EB-5 petitions filed on or after the effective date of the adjustment.

That makes the petition filing date especially important.

An investor who files a qualifying petition before the January 1, 2027 adjustment generally would be evaluated under the investment amount applicable on the date of filing.

An investor filing on or after the adjustment takes effect would be subject to the new minimum amount.

Investors should coordinate closely with their immigration attorney to determine the filing requirements applicable to their individual circumstances.

Is It Enough to Invest $800,000 Before December 31?

Investors should be careful with this distinction.

Merely:

• Selecting an EB-5 project;
• Signing subscription documents; or
• Transferring investment funds

before January 1 may not, by itself, establish eligibility for the current investment threshold if the investor’s EB-5 petition is not filed until after the new amount becomes effective.

The statute ties the inflation-adjusted amount to petitions filed on or after the adjustment date.

That means an investor considering the current $800,000 minimum should work backward from the filing deadline—not simply from the date money is wired.

Immigration counsel will also need sufficient time to prepare the investor’s Form I-526E petition and, importantly, complete the required source-and-path-of-funds documentation.

Why Source-of-Funds Preparation Matters Before the Deadline

One of the most time-consuming aspects of an EB-5 filing can be documenting where the investment capital came from.

Investors generally must establish both the lawful source and the path of the funds used for the EB-5 investment.

Depending on the investor, that documentation may involve:

• Employment income
• Business income
• Investment proceeds
• Sale of property
• Gifts
• Loans
• Inheritance
• Retirement assets
• Currency conversion and international transfers

For an investor hoping to file before January 1, waiting until late December to begin this process may create unnecessary pressure.

Source-of-funds work often requires collecting years of records, coordinating with banks and accountants, obtaining translations, documenting property or business transactions, and tracing transfers through multiple accounts.

Investors who are already seriously considering EB-5 may therefore benefit from beginning this work well before the end of the year.

Should an Investor Rush Into EB-5 Just to Avoid the Increase?

No.

Saving more than $100,000 in required investment capital can be meaningful.

But it should not cause an investor to select an EB-5 project they have not properly evaluated.

An $800,000 investment in a poorly structured project is not preferable simply because it is less expensive than making a larger investment later.

Investors should still conduct appropriate due diligence on factors including:

• The developer’s experience and financial strength
• Market demand
• Developer equity
• Capital structure
• Collateral
• Job creation
• Construction risk
• Repayment strategy
• Loan protections and guaranties

The January 1 adjustment creates a legitimate reason for investors already considering EB-5 to move their evaluation process forward.

It does not eliminate the need for disciplined investment underwriting.

Does the January 1 Increase Include USCIS Filing Fees?

No.

The inflation adjustment to the $800,000 and $1,050,000 amounts relates to the minimum capital that must be invested to qualify for EB-5.

USCIS filing fees are separate.

In fact, DHS recently finalized a separate EB-5 fee rule that becomes effective November 30, 2026. Among other changes, the new rule establishes a Form I-526E initial filing fee of $7,850, which includes a $75 EB-5 technology fee.

Regional Center administrative fees, immigration attorney fees, source-of-funds expenses, translation costs, tax-advisory costs, and other professional expenses are also separate from the required EB-5 investment amount.

Investors should therefore distinguish between:

Investment capital — the $800,000 minimum today for qualifying TEA investments.

and

Fees and expenses — government filing fees and other costs incurred as part of the immigration and investment process.

What Should Prospective EB-5 Investors Do Before January 1?

Investors who were already seriously considering EB-5 do not necessarily need to rush.

They do, however, need to understand the calendar.

The remaining months of 2026 can be used to:

1. Determine whether EB-5 is appropriate for the family’s immigration objectives.
2. Retain experienced EB-5 immigration counsel.
3. Begin source-and-path-of-funds documentation.
4. Evaluate available EB-5 projects.
5. Conduct investment due diligence.
6. Complete subscription and funding requirements.
7. Allow counsel sufficient time to prepare and file Form I-526E.

The key distinction is between acting efficiently and acting hastily.

Investors should not sacrifice proper legal preparation or project due diligence simply to meet a calendar deadline.

What Does the Increase Mean for Rural EB-5 Investors?

The same inflation adjustment applies to the reduced investment amount available for Rural TEA projects.

Rural projects currently qualify for the $800,000 minimum investment amount.

The Reform and Integrity Act also reserves 20% of annual EB-5 visas for qualifying rural investments and provides priority processing for qualifying rural petitions.

Those immigration characteristics are separate from the January 1 investment increase.

A Rural project that qualifies for an $800,000 investment today will continue to receive the reduced investment treatment after January 1, but the dollar amount of that reduced investment will increase.

For investors evaluating Rural EB-5 projects in late 2026, the filing date may therefore have a particularly significant impact on the amount of capital required.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2027 EB-5 Investment Increase

Will the $800,000 EB-5 investment increase in 2027?

Yes. Federal law requires the EB-5 investment amounts to adjust for inflation beginning January 1, 2027. The exact new amount has not yet been officially published by DHS.

What will the EB-5 investment amount be in 2027?

The official amount has not yet been announced. Based on currently available inflation data, the standard investment appears likely to be approximately $1.25 million, which would produce a reduced TEA and infrastructure investment amount of approximately $937,500. These figures remain estimates until DHS publishes the official adjustment.

When does the EB-5 investment increase take effect?

The statutory adjustment is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.

Can I still make an $800,000 EB-5 investment in 2026?

Yes, qualifying TEA and infrastructure investments currently remain subject to the $800,000 minimum. Investors considering filing before the adjustment should coordinate their timing with qualified immigration counsel.

Does signing an EB-5 subscription agreement before January 1 lock in the $800,000 amount?

Not necessarily. The statutory adjustment applies based on the date the EB-5 petition is filed. Investors should not assume that signing documents or wiring funds alone preserves the current minimum amount.

How much more could Rural EB-5 cost in 2027?

Based on currently available inflation data, the reduced investment amount could potentially rise from $800,000 to approximately $937,500—an increase of approximately $137,500. The official amount has not yet been announced.

Will EB-5 investment amounts increase again?

Yes. The statute provides for automatic inflation adjustments every five years after the January 1, 2027 adjustment.

Final Thoughts

The upcoming January 1, 2027 EB-5 investment adjustment is significant.

For investors who are already considering EB-5, the difference between filing under today’s $800,000 minimum and filing after the inflation adjustment could potentially represent more than $100,000 of additional required investment capital.

But investors should keep the deadline in perspective.

The objective should not be to make an $800,000 investment simply because the amount is increasing. The objective should be to identify a strong EB-5 opportunity, complete the necessary immigration preparation and due diligence, and—if the investment is appropriate—file while the current investment threshold remains available.

At Paragon Capital Group, we believe immigration planning and investment underwriting should proceed together. Investors considering EB-5 before the January 1 adjustment should allow sufficient time for both.

Important: As of October 2026, DHS has not published the final inflation-adjusted EB-5 investment amounts that will apply beginning January 1, 2027. Any projected amounts discussed in this article are estimates based on currently available CPI-U data and should not be treated as final.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax, investment, or securities advice or an offer to sell securities. Prospective investors should consult qualified independent advisers and review applicable offering documents before making any decision.