USCIS Green Card Cost Calculator — All
Application Types
The total cost of a green card depends on the filing path, immigration category, medical exam, biometrics, attorney involvement, and whether the case is handled through adjustment of status or consular processing. A family-based case may involve Form I-130, Form I-485, medical exam costs, translations, and optional work or travel documents. Employment-based cases can add PERM labor certification, Form I-140, premium processing, and employer-side legal fees. This green card cost calculator organizes those pieces so you can budget beyond the headline USCIS filing fee.
Important: This tool provides educational estimates only — not legal advice. Made For Law is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any federal, state, county, or local government agency or court system. Calculator results are based on statutory formulas and publicly available fee schedules — not AI. Supporting content is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Results may not reflect recent legislative changes or your specific circumstances. Do not rely solely on these estimates — always verify with official sources and consult a licensed attorney before making legal or financial decisions. Full disclaimer
Green Card Cost Breakdown
A useful green card cost calculator separates government fees from the private and practical expenses that USCIS does not collect. The largest line items are usually the USCIS forms, attorney fees, and medical exam, but smaller costs such as translations, passport photos, certified records, and overnight mailing can still matter when you are preparing a filing packet.
USCIS filing fees
Common family cases include Form I-130 and Form I-485. Employment cases may add Form I-140 and optional Form I-907 premium processing. Current USCIS schedules now distinguish paper and online filing amounts for several forms.
Attorney fees
Straightforward family-based matters are often quoted as flat fees. Employment, waiver, removal-history, criminal-history, or prior-overstay cases cost more because the legal analysis and evidence packet are more complex.
Medical exam
Form I-693 is completed by a USCIS civil surgeon. The exam, lab work, and missing vaccines are paid directly to the medical provider and are not included in the USCIS filing fee.
Biometrics
Fingerprinting and photo collection are usually scheduled after USCIS accepts the application. For many core forms, biometrics are bundled into the listed filing fee rather than charged as a separate $85 add-on.
Travel and work documents
Applicants inside the United States may consider employment authorization or Advance Parole while the green card is pending. These forms can change the budget and should be checked against the current filing category.
Packet costs
Certified records, translations, passport photos, photocopies, and trackable mailing are small compared with attorney fees, but they are real out-of-pocket costs that families often miss when estimating the total green card price.
Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing
| Path | Typical cost drivers | Budget note |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustment of status | I-485, medical exam, biometrics, possible work or travel document, attorney review. | Often higher USCIS filing cost upfront, but the applicant remains in the U.S. while pending. |
| Consular processing | I-130 or I-140, NVC fees, civil documents, consular medical exam, travel to interview. | Government fees differ from I-485 filing, and travel/document costs can be significant. |
Forms and Fees to Include Before You File
The right green card cost estimate depends on which forms belong in your packet. A family-based green card through adjustment of status commonly starts with Form I-130 for the family relationship and Form I-485 for permanent residence. Many applicants also plan for Form I-765 if they need work authorization while the I-485 is pending, and Form I-131 if they need advance parole for travel.
Use the USCIS fee calculator and the current USCIS fee schedule to confirm the correct fee before filing. USCIS filing fees can change by form, filing method, applicant age, and whether the form is filed online or by paper at a USCIS lockbox. If you pay USCIS by credit card, debit card, prepaid card, ACH, cashier's check, personal check, or money order, match the payment method to the form instructions so the application is not rejected for an incorrect payment amount.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website should be the final source for immigration services fees. A filing fee calculator can help you determine the green card fee, immigration fees, and services fees, but USCIS offers different rules for online filing, filing by mail, and direct filing with a USCIS office or USCIS service center. Check whether USCIS no longer accepts a previous filing form, whether a new fee applies, and whether fee increases changed the correct filing amount before you pay filing fees.
For a marriage-based green card, the fees associated with the process can include the petition for alien relative, Form I-485, Form I-765, advance parole, the medical exam, and the permanent resident card. An adjustment packet through a USCIS lockbox should include the correct fee, the correct filing address, and the right payment method because USCIS will reject a packet when the filing fee is missing, outdated, or charged to a card that cannot be processed.
How to Pay USCIS Fees for a Green Card
Green card applicants should treat payment as part of the filing checklist, not an afterthought. USCIS may accept online payment, Pay.gov payment, Form G-1450 Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, Form G-1650 Authorization for ACH Transactions, debit card, credit card, prepaid card, cashier's check, personal check, or money order depending on the form and filing location. A USCIS lockbox facility can reject a packet when the card is declined, the ACH authorization is invalid, the check is returned as unpayable, or the filing fee does not match the current form instructions.
USCIS will reject a filing when the card is declined, the payment method is not accepted, the applicant cannot pay with the selected method, or the fee amount is wrong. If you pay using a credit card, confirm that USCIS can charge your card and that funds transfer from a U.S. bank account is available for ACH. Biometric service fees are final in many situations, even if your application is denied or delayed, so the application process budget should include fees alone and the non-USCIS costs associated with immigration law help.
When paying by card, Form G-1450 is the authorization for credit card transactions. When paying by ACH, confirm whether authorization for ACH transactions is available for that filing route. USCIS service center and USCIS lockbox instructions can differ, so pay your fees online only when the form allows online filing. If the credit card is declined, if a money order is for the wrong amount, or if a check is returned, USCIS may reject the filing instead of asking for a new fee.
Use the USCIS website before every filing because the application fee, biometrics fee, and payment route can change. Some applicants must pay the filing fee by mail, some can pay your USCIS fees online, and some pay directly with a USCIS lockbox packet. The fees for a marriage-based green card may also differ from employment categories, naturalization, or a case that is tied to immigration court. The immigration process is easier to budget when you confirm each form, payment method, and required authorization before signing.
Fee Waiver and Total Budget Planning
Some USCIS forms allow a fee waiver based on means-tested benefits, income, or financial hardship, but a waiver does not automatically apply to every green card filing or every surcharge. It also does not cover attorney fees, the medical exam, vaccines, translations, certified records, postage, or transportation to appointments. Treat the USCIS payment as one line item and the real out-of-pocket budget as a separate total.
A reduced fee or fee waiver may be available only if you qualify for an exemption or unless you qualify under the form instructions. If you are unable to pay, review the USCIS forms carefully before mailing. Marriage-based green card applicants should also budget for the permanent resident card, green card application records, medical exam, and filing fees for green card benefits connected to the marriage green card.
Green card fees may also change when immigration benefits are filed with other immigration applications. Applicants should check forms and fees, government fees, fee structure, and biometric service fees before filing. Even if your application is denied, some USCIS fees may not be refunded, and higher fees can apply after a new fee rule or fee increases take effect.
If your case involves prior unlawful presence, a removal order, criminal history, public-charge questions, inadmissibility waivers, or a complicated sponsor-income issue, add attorney review to the estimate before filing. A cheaper form-preparation quote may not include the legal analysis needed to spot issues that can delay or endanger a green card application.
Green Card Cost Calculator
Free. No signup. Your inputs stay in your browser.
Related green card cost calculator tools
More free legal tools
Related articles
Frequently asked questions
Edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Answers are general information — not legal advice.
What is the difference in cost between a family-based and employment-based green card?
Family-based green cards usually start with Form I-130 plus either Form I-485 adjustment of status in the United States or consular processing through the National Visa Center. Employment-based green cards often add PERM labor certification, Form I-140, possible premium processing, and employer-side legal work. Attorney fees add $1,500–$5,000 for straightforward family cases; complex employment-based cases such as EB-1A, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, or PERM-based EB-2/EB-3 matters can run $5,000–$15,000+ in legal fees before government fees.
What does the I-485 filing fee cover?
The I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) fee covers the adjustment application and standard biometrics collection for most applicants. It does not cover the immigration medical examination, translations, attorney fees, mailing, passport photos, or optional forms such as Advance Parole. Current USCIS fee schedules list different amounts for paper and online filing where online filing is available, so confirm the exact fee before mailing or submitting a packet.
Is the immigration medical exam included in USCIS fees?
No — the immigration medical examination is separate. It must be performed by a USCIS-authorized civil surgeon and costs $200–$500 depending on location and which vaccines you need. The results are submitted on Form I-693 (sealed). Vaccines required for immigration include: MMR, varicella, hepatitis A and B, influenza, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, and others depending on your age and records. If your vaccination records are incomplete, you'll need to get missing vaccines, which adds cost and time. The medical exam is typically valid for 2 years.
How long does the green card process take by category?
Processing times vary significantly by category and country of birth. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents): 12–24 months for adjustment of status; 12–18 months for consular processing. Family preference categories (siblings, married children): 5–25+ years depending on country of birth — Philippines and Mexico have multi-decade backlogs for F4 (siblings). Employment-based: EB-1 and EB-2 from most countries: 1–3 years; EB-2 and EB-3 from India: decades-long backlogs. Check the monthly Visa Bulletin for current priority dates.
Do you need an immigration attorney for a green card application?
Immigration law is not required — USCIS accepts self-represented petitioners (pro se applicants). That said, immigration forms are complex, errors cause delays or denials, and USCIS does not give you the benefit of the doubt on ambiguous responses. An immigration attorney is recommended if: your case involves any prior immigration violations, visa overstays, criminal history (even minor arrests), prior deportation orders, or misrepresentations. For straightforward spousal petitions where both parties have clean records, some couples manage the process without an attorney using USCIS's official forms and instructions.
Can green card applicants get a USCIS fee waiver?
Some immigration benefit requests are eligible for a fee waiver, but not every green card form or filing category qualifies. Applicants usually need to show means-tested benefits, low household income, or financial hardship on Form I-912 or in a written request where allowed. Fee waivers do not erase private costs such as medical exams, translations, mailing, or attorney fees, and some new statutory surcharges may not be waivable.
What documents should I gather before using a green card cost calculator?
Have your filing path, petitioner category, current immigration status, location, family size, need for work authorization or travel authorization, medical exam status, and whether any inadmissibility waiver may be needed. For family cases, gather proof of the relationship and sponsor income documents. For employment cases, gather job offer, employer sponsorship, prior visa history, and any PERM or I-140 details.
Which forms are usually included in a marriage green card cost estimate?
A marriage-based adjustment of status estimate often includes Form I-130, Form I-130A, Form I-485, Form I-864, the I-693 medical exam, and optional Form I-765 work authorization or Form I-131 advance parole. Consular processing uses a different sequence after the I-130 approval, including National Visa Center fees, civil documents, consular medical exam costs, and travel to the immigrant visa interview.
Open the green card cost calculator.
Free. No signup. Sourced to state statutes and public fee schedules.
Open the calculatorLegal professional? Embed this tool on your website →