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When people first hear that the minimum investment for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is $800,000, the reaction is often the same. “I remember when it was only US$500,000.”

At first glance, it seems as though the cost of entering the program has increased dramatically. However, that comparison overlooks an important factor, that the value of money changes over time.

For more than three decades, the EB-5 minimum investment remained at $500,000, despite inflation steadily reducing the purchasing power of money and significantly increasing the cost of living. By the time Congress passed the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) in 2022, the economic landscape looked very different from when the program was first introduced.

The increase to $800,000 was not simply about increasing the cost of the program. It reflected the reality that the previous investment threshold had remained unchanged for too long.

Today, the more important question is not whether the investment used to be lower. It is whether $800,000 today will buy the same opportunity tomorrow.

When the minimum EB-5 investment was $500,000, many investors assumed there was very little urgency and thought it would remain at $500,000 forever. This led to some delaying their decision. Today, those same investors, who delayed at $500,000, would need to invest $800,000 to pursue the very same immigration benefit . The reality is that the immigration objective has not changed, but the investment threshold has.

 Now history is repeating itself.

Under the Reform and Integrity Act, the minimum investment amount must be adjusted for inflation every five years. The first adjustment is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Although the revised investment amount has not yet been announced, one thing is already certain: it will be higher than today’s $800,000. Today’s $800,000 may eventually be viewed the same way investors now look back at $500,000, as the opportunity they wish they had secured while it was still available.

Waiting Has More Than One Cost

Waiting is not just about the investment amount. There Is Another Deadline Investors Should Know

The investment increase is only one reason why timing matters. Regional Center investors also have until September 30, 2026, to file Form I-526E and benefit from the grandfathering protections introduced by the Reform and Integrity Act.

Investors who file before this date will continue to have their petitions processed under the current legal framework, even if the Regional Center Program is amended, suspended or allowed to lapse in the future. Taken together, the September filing deadline and the January 2027 inflation adjustment create a relatively short window for investors considering the EB-5 program.

Additionally, recent IIUSA data shows that investor demand continues to grow, with I-526E filings increasing by 24% year-on-year during the first quarter of FY2026. As more investors enter the program, competition for established Regional Center projects is likely to increase.

As Shai Zamanian explains, “When people ask me whether they should wait, I always ask them the same question: what are you waiting for? The investment amount is scheduled to increase, demand for the program continues to grow, and preparing a strong EB-5 petition takes time. Waiting rarely creates a better opportunity. More often, it simply means paying more for the same outcome.”

A few years ago, many investors looked at $500,000 and assumed there would always be time. Today, many wish they had acted sooner. In a few years’ time, investors may be saying exactly the same thing about $800,000.

If you’re considering the EB-5 program, the question is not simply whether $800,000 is a significant investment. The real question is whether waiting will ultimately cost you more.