Will USCIS reject my I-526?

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. USCIS returns rejected packages unprocessed — and the $3,675 paper filing fee (For an investment made outside a designated regional center) is generally non-refundable. Answer 11 quick yes/no questions about your completed I-526 and see where your rejection risk is.

All 11 checks in the Form I-526 rejection quiz

Every question maps to a documented USCIS filing problem for Form I-526 — pulled from the form's own instructions and USCIS guidance: the current 01/20/25 edition requirement, each signature block, blank-field rules, date format and consistency, the exact filing fee, and the specific problems those instructions name for I-526. Here is the full list; open any one to see what USCIS does about it.

1. Did you confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page of your I-526 is 01/20/25 — the current edition on uscis.gov?

   Form edition risk

   The current edition of Form I-526 is 01/20/25. The date is printed at the bottom of every page and every page you file must come from that same edition; USCIS rejects filings made on a superseded edition.

2. Has the petitioner (the investor) signed and dated Part 7 by hand — not typed, not stamped?

   Signature risk

   Part 7 — Petitioner (the investor): The form itself prints "sign in ink" next to this signature line. Sign and date in ink. A stamped or typewritten name is not acceptable. Under the 07/10/2026 signature rule an invalid signature can be DENIED (filing fee kept, no opportunity to cure), not merely rejected: a typed name, a cursive or script font, and digital/e-signature software output (e.g., DocuSign) are all invalid on a paper filing. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — counts. An electronic signature is valid only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

3. Is Part 1 (Items —) — Information about you — fully completed?

   Blank / incomplete fields risk

   Form I-526, 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.

4. Do the dates on your form match your supporting documents exactly — especially part 4 — the date of investment and part 3 — the nce’s date of formation?

   Date & consistency risk

   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. Have you confirmed your exact I-526 filing fee ($3,675 for the general category) against the current USCIS G-1055 schedule for YOUR filing category?

   Filing fee risk

   I-526 costs $3,675 — For an investment made outside a designated regional center. A regional center investor files Form I-526E instead, which carries an additional $1,000 EB-5 Integrity Fund fee. The fee rises to $7,615 for a petition postmarked on or after November 30, 2026, under the DHS EB-5 fee rule (91 FR 61940); $3,675 applies only to a petition postmarked before that date. Taken from USCIS Form G-1055, fee-schedule edition 10/07/26. The wrong amount gets the package returned, and filing fees are generally non-refundable.

6. Have you ruled out this known I-526 filing problem: “Filed as a standalone petition when the investment is through a regional center (Form I-526E is the right form)”?

   Eligibility & category risk

   Named in the Form I-526 instructions or USCIS's published guidance — some problems like this get a package rejected, others a Request for Evidence.

7. Have you ruled out this known I-526 filing problem: “Foreign-language document submitted without a complete certified English translation”?

   Missing evidence risk

   Named in the Form I-526 instructions or USCIS's published guidance — some problems like this get a package rejected, others a Request for Evidence.

8. If you used an interpreter, did they complete, sign, and date Part 8? (Answer Yes if this doesn't apply to you.)

   Signature risk

   Part 8 — Interpreter (if one was used): The interpreter completes their contact information and certification, then signs and dates. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper filing. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not; an electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

9. If someone else prepared your form, did they complete, sign, and date Part 9? (Answer Yes if this doesn't apply to you.)

   Signature risk

   Part 9 — Preparer (if other than the petitioner): Anyone who prepared the petition completes Part 9 and signs and dates it. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper filing. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not; an electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

10. Have you answered every question on the form, writing "N/A" or "None" instead of leaving any required field blank?

    Blank / incomplete fields risk

    Leaving a required field blank instead of writing "N/A" or "None" is one of the most common reasons USCIS returns a package unprocessed.

11. Is every date on your I-526 written in mm/dd/yyyy format?

    Date & consistency risk

    USCIS expects dates on Form I-526 in mm/dd/yyyy format. A day-first date (common outside the U.S.) reads as a different date to an intake officer.

Your answers stay in your browser. The result names the risk areas flagged by your answers — to see the specific problems on your actual form, upload it to FormGuard: the issue count is free, and $39 unlocks the full line-by-line report on your completed I-526. (A scanned PDF longer than 3 pages skips the free preview and goes straight to the paid report.)

Form I-526 rejection — frequently asked questions

Will USCIS reject my I-526 for a missing signature?

Yes — and it can be worse than a rejection. An unsigned I-526, or one signed with a typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output such as DocuSign, is not validly signed; only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — counts on a paper filing, and an electronic signature counts only when captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. Under the DHS signature rule effective 07/10/2026, an invalid signature on a paper filing can be denied outright: USCIS keeps the filing fee and there is no opportunity to cure. I-526 has 4 signature blocks to verify before you file.

Will USCIS reject my I-526 if I use an old edition?

Yes. USCIS accepts only the current edition of I-526 — dated 01/20/25, printed at the bottom of every page — and rejects superseded editions. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

Does USCIS refund the filing fee if my I-526 is rejected?

Generally no. USCIS returns the package unprocessed and keeps no place in line, and the $3,675 paper filing fee (For an investment made outside a designated regional center) is generally non-refundable — you fix the error, pay again, and lose weeks or months. That is why checking before you file matters.

How accurate is this I-526 rejection quiz?

The quiz flags which RISK AREAS need attention based on your own answers about the most common USCIS filing problems for I-526 — it cannot see your actual form. For a line-by-line review of your completed I-526 against these requirements, upload it to FormGuard: it reads the form itself and shows you the issue count free, and $39 unlocks the full report. A scanned PDF longer than 3 pages skips the free preview and goes straight to the paid report.

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