EB-5 Price Increase Alert! $800,000 Window Countdown Begins
For families considering U.S. EB-5 investment immigration, 2026 will be a crucial time window to watch. The reason is straightforward: The current $800,000 investment threshold is expected to increase in 2027.
According to the "2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act" (RIA), the minimum EB-5 investment amount will automatically adjust every five years based on inflation levels. The first routine adjustment of this round will take effect on January 1, 2027. This means that the current minimum investment amount of $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas and infrastructure projects, and $1.05 million for non-Targeted Employment Area projects, is unlikely to remain unchanged in the future.
1. EB-5 Investment Threshold Expected to Increase in 2027
The specific increase will be determined based on the cumulative annual growth rate of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the years, with the final amount rounded down to the nearest $50,000 increment according to regulatory rules. Industry experts predict that the EB-5 funding threshold will see a significant increase:
• Targeted Employment Areas and infrastructure projects: Minimum investment amount will increase from the current $800,000 to $900,000-$937,500
• Non-Targeted Employment Area projects: Minimum investment amount will increase from $1.05 million to approximately $1.25 million
The increase in the investment threshold impacts applicants in more ways than just "preparing more money." With higher investment amounts, the pressure of fund preparation will rise, and explaining the source of funds may become more complex. Additionally, as the price increase deadline approaches, application demand surges, availability of quality project slots, attorney processing times, fund arrangements, and submission schedules may all become tighter.
In addition to the price increase in 2027, September 30, 2026, is another important date for EB-5 applicants to watch.
The "2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act" explicitly includes a "Grandfather Clause." This clause stipulates: All EB-5 applications submitted before September 30, 2026, will not be affected by future changes in laws and policies and will continue to be processed under current rules.
The core significance of this date is not "applications cannot be submitted after expiration," but whether the complete immigration process under the current EB-5 Act can be locked in. For investors who complete the full investment and submit the I-526E before the deadline, even if the Act expires or changes in the future, they can still proceed under current laws until obtaining a conditional green card and completing the I-829 permanent green card application.
Therefore, 2026 actually combines two key factors: one is the expected increase in the investment threshold in 2027, and the other is the potential advantage of submitting applications before September 30, 2026, to lock in Grandfather Clause protection. For prospective applicants, this makes the next few months' action plan particularly critical.
Acting early means having a better chance to lock in the current investment threshold, allowing more time for document preparation, and securing a position while quality projects are still available. Facing the upcoming policy changes, prospective applicants are advised to assess their conditions as soon as possible, start preparing their funds, and choose compliant, stable, and transparent quality EB-5 projects to take a more proactive position during the window period.