Rising US Immigration Costs for Indians: EB-5 Deadline and Citizenship Fee Hikes
It is getting more costly for Indians to settle in the United States. Two big changes are pushing the cost up.
First, the US government wants to charge a lot more to become a US citizen. It also wants to stop helping people who cannot pay the fee.
Second, a popular investor visa called EB-5 has a key date coming up: 30 September 2026. (A visa is an official paper that lets you enter or live in a country.) After that date, Indians may have to pay much more.
Together, these higher costs mean harder choices. Students, families, and rich investors who dream of a US passport or green card all feel the pinch.
Let us look at both changes in simple words, with the facts that matter for Indian families.
Thread 1: US citizenship is about to get 75% more expensive
On 22 June 2026, USCIS asked for a big fee hike. USCIS is the US government office that handles immigration papers. (A fee hike means raising the price.)
USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The new higher price would hit the form people use to become US citizens.
First, two quick words. A green card lets someone live and work in the US forever. But a green card holder is not yet a citizen.
Naturalisation is the legal way a green card holder becomes a full US citizen. A citizen gets a US passport and the right to vote. To start, you file a form called the N-400.
Under the new plan, filing the N-400 on paper would jump from $760 to $1,330. That is $570 more, or about 75% higher.
Filing online would go from $710 to $1,280. That is about 80% more. Even asking the office to look again at a rejected case would cost about $645 more.
Ending the fee waivers hurts the most
A fee waiver is a rule that lets people who earn little skip or cut the fee. It exists so that money alone does not block a poor immigrant from citizenship.
The new plan would remove these waivers fully for citizenship cases. It would also scrap a discount that helped low-income households. (These were homes earning at or below 400% of the federal poverty line, the income level the US uses to mark who is poor.) Active military members would still be free from the fee.
DHS said the old fees, set by the last government, “fail to cover the cost of necessary screening and vetting checks.” (Screening and vetting means the safety checks done on each person.)
The agency added that citizenship requests should not get cheaper fees while other services pay more. But critics disagree. Doug Rand, a former USCIS official, said the only believable reason to raise only citizenship fees is to “create even more undue barriers for legal immigrants.”
One key point: this is still a plan, not a final law. It was published in the Federal Register on 22 June 2026. (The Federal Register is the official US journal where new rules are posted.)
A 60-day public comment time is now open. That means the public can object before any final choice is made.
Thread 2: The EB-5 investor visa deadline is closing in
The second big change is about money and timing. The EB-5 visa gives a US green card to people who invest a large sum in an American business that creates jobs. (To invest means to put money in, hoping for a gain.)
It is a favourite path for rich Indian families. It lets them get a green card without waiting decades in the normal lines.
Right now, the smallest investment is $800,000 if you put your money into a “targeted employment area.” That is a rural region or a place with high joblessness. It is $1,050,000 for projects in other areas.
But experts warn the smallest amount could rise to about $940,000 in early 2027. That is $140,000 more for the same kind of project.
What the 30 September 2026 deadline really means
This date is about “grandfathering.” Grandfathering means: if you file by the deadline, you lock in today’s rules for your whole journey. Even if the rules change later, your old rules still apply.
Investors who file Form I-526E on or before 30 September 2026 keep today’s lower amount. (Form I-526E is the EB-5 investor application.) They stay protected. People who file even one day later could face the higher cost and weaker protection.
People often mix up two dates. The EB-5 Regional Center Program has money to run through September 2027.
But the grandfathering filing cutoff ends a full year earlier, on 30 September 2026. So waiting until 2027 is risky, even though the program still runs.
Why Indians face extra pressure
India has so many EB-5 applicants that one group has already run dry. As of 5 June 2026, the State Department gave out all the visas in the EB-5 “unreserved” group for Indian applicants for the year 2026.
That group is now closed for India until 1 October 2026. On that date, fresh yearly limits start for the year 2027.
There is good news, though. Three “set-aside” groups stay open for Indian investors with no waiting line. These are rural, high-joblessness area, and infrastructure projects. (Set-aside means visas kept apart just for these kinds of projects.)
Experts say Indian families should look at these reserved paths and act early. Gathering papers and moving money takes time. Your place in the line is fixed the day you file.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| N-400 paper fee (citizenship) | $760 → $1,330 (about +75%) |
| N-400 online fee | $710 → $1,280 (about +80%) |
| Fee increase amount | $570 |
| Fee waivers | To be ended for citizenship cases |
| Fee rule published | 22 June 2026 (60-day comment period) |
| EB-5 minimum (TEA) | $800,000 now |
| EB-5 minimum (non-TEA) | $1,050,000 now |
| Projected 2027 EB-5 minimum | ~$940,000 (about +$140,000) |
| EB-5 grandfathering deadline | 30 September 2026 (file Form I-526E) |
| India unreserved EB-5 category | Closed until 1 October 2026 |
FAQ
Is the US citizenship fee hike final?
No. It is just a proposed rule, published on 22 June 2026. A 60-day public comment window is open. The rule must pass more steps before it can take effect.
What is the difference between a green card and citizenship?
A green card lets you live and work in the US forever. Citizenship (won through naturalisation) makes you a full US citizen, with a passport and voting rights. The N-400 form starts the citizenship step.
Why is 30 September 2026 important for EB-5?
Filing Form I-526E by that date “grandfathers” you. It locks in today’s $800,000 minimum and current rules. Filing later may mean paying about $140,000 more and losing that protection.
Can Indians still apply for EB-5 right now?
Yes. The unreserved group is closed for India until 1 October 2026. But the rural, high-joblessness, and infrastructure set-aside groups stay open with no line.
Why it matters (especially for India / founders)
India sends one of the largest groups of immigrants and investors to the US. So these changes hit hard at home.
Higher citizenship fees and ended waivers make the last step of settling in America costlier. This is tough for students and young workers on tight budgets.
For rich founders and business families eyeing the EB-5 path, the message is to hurry. The cheapest, safest window may close on 30 September 2026.
For Indian founders, there is a bigger lesson too. As US immigration grows slower and dearer, more talent and money may choose to stay and build in India. Some may look at other countries that welcome investors.
That is a real chance for Indian startups. They can win skilled people who once saw the US as the only option.
The bottom line: if US citizenship or an EB-5 green card is on your plan, both the cost and the clock are moving against you. Indians weighing either path should get expert advice fast, compare the open EB-5 set-aside groups, and decide before key deadlines slip past.
Source: Financial Express.
