Check your Form I-526 for errors before you file

Petitions for EB-5 immigrant classification based on an investment in a new commercial enterprise the petitioner runs themselves, rather than through a regional center. A single blank field or wrong-edition page gets the whole package returned, and since 07/10/2026 an invalid signature can be denied outright — and the $3,675 paper filing fee (For an investment made outside a designated regional center) is generally non-refundable. Here is exactly what to verify on your completed I-526 before it goes to USCIS.

How do I check my I-526 for errors?

1. Confirm you have the current edition

USCIS accepts only the current edition of I-526 — filing a superseded version is an automatic rejection. The current edition is dated 01/20/25; the date is printed at the bottom of every page. All pages must come from the same edition. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

2. Verify every signature block

Unsigned or wrongly-signed forms are rejected — or, under the signature rule effective July 10, 2026, denied outright with the filing fee kept and no chance to fix it. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or a digital e-signature (such as DocuSign) is not a valid signature on a paper filing; only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is accepted. An electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. I-526 has 4 signature blocks to check:

3. Make sure no required section is incomplete

Leaving required fields blank (instead of writing “N/A” or “None”) is one of USCIS's most common rejection reasons. On I-526, pay special attention to:

• Part 1, Items —: Information about you: name, address, date and country of birth, citizenship, A-Number and USCIS Online Account Number if any, and your immigration history
• Part 2, Items —: Your spouse and every child — including any who are NOT immigrating with you
• Part 3, Items 1.a: The legal name of the new commercial enterprise (NCE), any other name it uses, and its date and jurisdiction of formation
• Part 4, Items —: Your investment: the amount, the date it was made, its source, and the evidence that the capital was lawfully obtained and is at risk
• Part 5, Items —: Employment creation — how this investment creates or preserves at least ten full-time positions for qualifying employees
• Part 6, Items 1 – 4: How you will seek permanent residence: immigrant visa processing abroad or adjustment of status in the U.S., with the corresponding address and telephone number
• Part 10, Items —: Every explanation the form asks for — including the one required after a "Yes" at Part 1 Item 14 — with its page, Part and Item Number

4. Check every date — format and consistency

Dates must be written mm/dd/yyyy and must agree with your supporting documents and any other forms in the package. The date fields that most often cause problems on I-526:

• Part 4 — the date of investment — It fixes which set of EB-5 rules and which minimum investment amount applies, and it must be consistent with the transfer records in the evidence.
• Part 3 — the NCE’s date of formation — An enterprise formed after the investment date is a straightforward internal contradiction.
• Part 1 — immigration history date ranges — Entries, departures and status periods must be consistent with each other and with the record.

5. Re-check the known I-526 filing problems

From USCIS's own instructions and guidance, these are the specific problems to rule out on I-526. Some get a filing rejected at intake; others surface later as a Request for Evidence or a denial:

• Not signed, or signed with anything other than ink — USCIS states it will reject any unsigned form, and Part 7 prints "sign in ink" (a typed, script-font, stamped, or digital/e-signature is invalid where an ink signature is required; as of 07/10/2026 this is a denial with the fee kept, not merely a rejection)
• Wrong fee — the I-526 fee depends on the postmark date: $3,675 before November 30, 2026, and $7,615 on or after it (DHS EB-5 fee rule, 91 FR 61940). The extra EB-5 Integrity Fund fee belongs to Form I-526E, not to this form
• Filed as a standalone petition when the investment is through a regional center (Form I-526E is the right form)
• A "Yes" answer that the form requires you to explain in Part 10, with Part 10 left blank
• Foreign-language document submitted without a complete certified English translation

Related

Form I-526 error check — frequently asked questions

How do I check my Form I-526 for errors before filing?

Work through the checklist on this page: confirm you have the current 01/20/25 edition, verify every signature block is signed and dated by the right person, make sure no required field is blank (write "N/A" or "None" instead), check every date is in mm/dd/yyyy format and consistent across your documents, and re-read the known problems below. Or upload your completed I-526 to FormGuard and get an automated line-by-line error report in about a minute for $39.

What problems most often hold up a Form I-526 filing?

Not signed, or signed with anything other than ink — USCIS states it will reject any unsigned form, and Part 7 prints "sign in ink" (a typed, script-font, stamped, or digital/e-signature is invalid where an ink signature is required; as of 07/10/2026 this is a denial with the fee kept, not merely a rejection); Wrong fee — the I-526 fee depends on the postmark date: $3,675 before November 30, 2026, and $7,615 on or after it (DHS EB-5 fee rule, 91 FR 61940). The extra EB-5 Integrity Fund fee belongs to Form I-526E, not to this form; Filed as a standalone petition when the investment is through a regional center (Form I-526E is the right form); A "Yes" answer that the form requires you to explain in Part 10, with Part 10 left blank; Foreign-language document submitted without a complete certified English translation.

Which edition of Form I-526 is current?

The current edition of Form I-526 is dated 01/20/25. USCIS rejects forms filed on a superseded edition, so download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page matches.

What happens if my I-526 is rejected?

USCIS returns the entire package unprocessed and the $3,675 paper filing fee (For an investment made outside a designated regional center) for I-526 is generally non-refundable — you correct the error, pay again, and lose weeks or months. That is why a careful pre-filing check is the cheapest step in the whole process.