The cost of a US green card depends heavily on which route you’re on — a family-sponsored spouse filing from inside the US pays a different set of USCIS fees than an employer-sponsored EB-2 worker or an EB-5 investor. Guides for individual categories often quote just one form’s fee in isolation, which understates the real total. This page adds up every government fee across the common routes so you can budget the full cost before you file, separate from attorney fees, which vary widely and aren’t set by USCIS.
The core forms behind almost every green card
Most family- and employment-based adjustment-of-status cases (filed from inside the US) involve some combination of these USCIS forms:
| Form | Purpose | 2026 fee |
|---|---|---|
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative (family sponsor files this) | $625 online / $675 paper |
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (employer sponsor files this) | $665 |
| I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence (adjustment of status) | $1,440 |
| I-765 | Employment Authorization (optional, work permit while I-485 is pending) | $260 filed with I-485; $520 filed alone |
| I-131 | Advance Parole (optional, travel permission while I-485 is pending) | $630 online |
Biometrics services (fingerprints and photo) are bundled into the $1,440 I-485 fee — there’s no separate biometrics charge in most cases as of the 2024 fee rule still in effect for 2026.
Route-by-route totals
Marriage-based, spouse of a US citizen, filing from inside the US: I-130 ($625) + I-485 ($1,440) = $2,065 in core USCIS fees. Most couples also file I-765 and I-131 concurrently with I-485 (no extra charge for either when bundled this way), so a work permit and travel document effectively come at no additional government cost while the case is pending. Add the required medical exam — typically $300–$850 depending on your region, clinic, and how much of your vaccination history is already documented — and total government-adjacent costs usually land between $2,400 and $2,900 before any attorney fee.
Employment-based (EB-2/EB-3), employer-sponsored, filing from inside the US: I-140 ($665, usually paid by the employer) + I-485 ($1,440, paid by the worker) = $2,105, plus the medical exam. If you’re self-petitioning under an EB-2 National Interest Waiver, you pay both the I-140 and I-485 yourself since there’s no employer sponsor.
EB-5 investor: Separate from the investment capital itself ($800,000–$1,050,000 depending on whether the project is in a Targeted Employment Area), the immigration filing fees are the largest in the system: Form I-526E (immigrant petition) costs $11,160, and Form I-485 for the investor and each qualifying family member adds $1,440 apiece. See the EB-5 guide for the full capital-investment breakdown.
Consular processing (filing from outside the US) instead of adjustment of status: Skips the I-485 and its $1,440 fee entirely, replaced by the National Visa Center’s Affidavit of Support fee ($120) and Immigrant Visa Application fee ($325 per applicant), plus a medical exam through a panel physician abroad. Consular processing is often cheaper in raw government fees but requires travel to a US embassy or consulate for the final interview. Compare the two paths in detail in our adjustment of status vs. consular processing guide.
Costs beyond USCIS filing fees
- Medical exam (civil surgeon, for adjustment of status): $300–$850 per person, varying by clinic and required vaccinations.
- Certified translations of foreign documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances): typically $20–$50 per page if you use a professional service.
- Attorney fees (optional but common for employment-based and complex cases): flat fees for a full green card process commonly range from roughly $2,000 to $8,000+ depending on category and complexity, separate from all government filing fees above. USCIS doesn’t regulate attorney pricing, so get multiple quotes.
- Premium processing (only available for certain petitions, notably I-140): an additional $2,805 for a guaranteed 15-business-day decision on the underlying petition — this does not speed up the I-485 itself.
How to reduce the cost legally
- File I-765 and I-131 concurrently with I-485 rather than separately — when bundled this way with a pending I-485, USCIS does not charge the standalone fee for either.
- Check fee waiver eligibility (Form I-912) if you meet the income or hardship criteria — this can eliminate the I-485 fee entirely for qualifying applicants, though eligibility rules are narrower than for the N-400 naturalization fee waiver.
- File online where a discount applies — USCIS’s $50 online-filing discount applies to several forms, though notably not to I-485 or I-131.
- Avoid paying twice for translations — get certified translations of core documents (birth and marriage certificates) once, since the same translated document can usually support multiple filings in the same case.
FAQ
Does the I-485 fee cover my whole family? No — each family member filing their own I-485 (a spouse, or children under 21) pays the fee separately, though a single I-130 or I-140 petition can support derivative I-485 applications for a spouse and children once the principal’s petition is approved.
Are USCIS fees refundable if my case is denied? Generally no. USCIS filing fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome, which is one reason it’s worth having a case reviewed for completeness before filing rather than after receiving a Request for Evidence.
Is the EB-5 investment amount separate from the filing fees? Yes — the $800,000+ investment is capital that must be placed at risk in a qualifying US business; it isn’t a government fee and isn’t spent on the immigration process itself.
Do fees change during the year? USCIS fees can change with rule updates; the figures above reflect the fee framework in effect for 2026 filings. Always confirm the current amount on USCIS’s official Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) before submitting payment, since paying the wrong amount is a common cause of rejected filings.
This is general preparation guidance, not legal or financial advice. Fees and eligibility for waivers or discounts depend on your specific case — confirm current amounts at uscis.gov/g-1055 before filing.
Budgeting for a green card is easier when you know exactly which forms apply to your situation. VisaMet’s AI assistant can help map your specific route and the fees that come with it. Join the waitlist to get early access.