If I cannot afford the I-526 filing fee, is there a partial refund?

As a general rule, the fee charged to file the I-526 petition functions as a processing cost for the request. As a rule, petition fees paid to the U.S. government are non-refundable, even if the petition is denied, voluntarily withdrawn, or interrupted due to personal hardship.

In other words, there is generally no partial refund mechanism if you are unable to cover the amount or the process does not move forward. For this reason, planning costs in advance is an important part of entering EB-5 with confidence.

Fee rules, payment methods, and any exceptions are set by USCIS and may change over time. No specific amount should be assumed without checking the official source.

Before filing, it is worth confirming the current costs and rules at the official source (USCIS) and, if in doubt, speaking with a trusted professional while avoiding any promises of guaranteed outcomes.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.