USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) implemented its largest fee increase in agency history on April 1, 2024 — an average increase of approximately 26% across most form types. These fee levels remain in effect as of 2026. The increases were driven by the agency's need to fund operations without relying on Congressional appropriations, as USCIS is almost entirely fee-funded. For applicants, this means planning budgets carefully before filing any immigration application, since fees are generally non-refundable even if the application is denied.
Beyond USCIS filing fees, a case may involve medical examinations, document translation, travel, legal help, or separate Department of State or immigration-court charges. Which costs apply depends on the process and the applicant's facts.
Verify before paying: immigration fees, forms, editions, eligibility rules, and filing addresses can change. Use the official USCIS fee calculator and the instructions for each form immediately before filing.
USCIS Fee & Immigration Cost Estimator
Planning estimates based on published USCIS fees. Verify every amount before filing. All calculations stay in your browser. · Updated October 2026
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Estimated Total Cost
⚠️ This is a planning estimate, not a filing quote. Fees, form editions, eligibility, and filing instructions can change, and other agencies may charge separate fees. Verify the result with the official USCIS fee calculator and form instructions. Immigration errors can have serious consequences; consider a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.
USCIS filing fees were updated effective October 16, 2026 under the H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) annual inflation adjustment. Key fees include Form I-90 (green card replacement) at $465, Form I-140 (immigrant worker petition) at $715, Form I-129 H-1B petition at $780, and Form I-765 initial Employment Authorization Document at $570. Any immigration benefit request postmarked on or after October 16, 2026 must include the new fee amounts or it will be rejected. Always verify current fees at uscis.gov before filing.
2026 USCIS & Immigration Fee Quick Reference
Form / Application
USCIS Fee
Notes
N-400 — Naturalization
$760
Biometric fee included
I-485 — Adjustment of Status (18+)
$1,440
Biometric fee included
I-485 — Adjustment of Status (under 14)
$950
Filed with parent
I-130 — Family Petition
$675
Per beneficiary
I-765 — Work Authorization (EAD)
$520
Initial or renewal
I-131 — Travel Document
$630
Advance parole
I-821D — DACA
$0
Combined with I-765
I-765 w/ I-821D — DACA Renewal
$580
Combined filing
I-589 — Asylum
$0
No fee for initial asylum
I-751 — Remove Conditions
$750
Biometric fee included
I-90 — Green Card Renewal
$415
Biometric fee included
I-601 — Inadmissibility Waiver
$930
Biometric fee may apply
I-129 — H-1B Petition
$780+
⚠️ $100k employer surcharge struck down by fed. judge June 12, 2026 (DOJ appealing)
Premium Processing (I-907)
$2,805
15 business day guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
Common USCIS filing fees as of October 2026 include: Form I-90 (replace green card) $465; Form I-129 H-1B nonimmigrant worker petition $780 (small employers and nonprofits $460); Form I-140 immigrant worker petition $715; Form I-485 application for permanent residence $1,440 for applicants 14 and older; Form I-765 initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for asylum applicants and parole recipients $570; Form I-821 Temporary Protected Status application $520. These are base filing fees — biometrics, medical exams, and legal representation costs are separate. Always confirm current fees at uscis.gov before filing.
Yes — new fees took effect October 16, 2026, under the H.R. 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act's annual inflation adjustment requirement. USCIS calculated the 2026 adjustment using a 3.36% CPI-U increase from July 2025 to July 2026. Most fees are rounded down to the next lowest $10 increment as required by statute. The Annual Pending Asylum Application Fee increased from $102 to $105, Form I-131 Immigration Parole Fee rose from $1,020 to $1,050, the initial EAD for asylum/parole/TPS applicants increased from $560 to $570, and the I-821 TPS application fee rose from $510 to $520.
USCIS accepts payment by personal check, money order, cashier's check, or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) when filing by mail. Online applications through myUSCIS.gov accept electronic payment. Make checks payable to 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security.' Do not send cash. Fee amounts must exactly match the required fee for your specific form and filing category — incorrect amounts result in rejection. Check the USCIS website or your form instructions for the exact amount due for your specific situation.
USCIS offers fee waivers for applicants who cannot afford the filing fee and whose household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Fee waivers are available for certain forms including I-485, I-765, I-131, and several others. To request a waiver, submit Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) along with documentation of income. Not all forms are eligible for fee waivers — H.R. 1 introduced new fees in 2025 that generally are not waivable under standard procedures. USCIS reviews each request on a case-by-case basis.
Any immigration benefit request postmarked on or after the effective date of a fee change without the correct fee amount will be rejected — not denied, but returned to you without action. You would then need to refile with the correct fee, potentially losing your place in line or missing a deadline. Always double-check uscis.gov for the current fee table before mailing any petition or application. If you're unsure which fee category applies to your specific situation — particularly for I-129 petitions, which have multiple fee tiers — consulting a licensed immigration attorney is advisable.
Adjustment of status (AOS) using Form I-485 is for people who are already in the US on a valid visa and want to become permanent residents without leaving. Consular processing is for people who are outside the US — they apply through a US embassy or consulate in their home country. Both paths lead to a green card, but use different forms, fees, and timelines. AOS allows the applicant to remain in the US (and work, with an approved EAD) while the case is pending. Consular processing is often used when the person is outside the US or when AOS is not available due to visa overstay or entry without inspection.
The path from a green card to citizenship (naturalization) requires being a lawful permanent resident for 3 years (if married to a US citizen) or 5 years, demonstrating good moral character, and passing the English and civics tests. The N-400 filing fee is $760 (2026). With an immigration attorney, total costs typically run $2,500–$4,000. The civics test covers 100 questions about US history and government — free study materials are available at uscis.gov. Many libraries and community organizations also offer free citizenship prep classes. Fee waivers are available for eligible low-income applicants via Form I-912.
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a notice from USCIS asking for additional documentation to support your case. RFEs are common — they're issued in approximately 20–30% of H-1B petitions and many family and employment-based green card cases. Responding to an RFE typically costs $500–$2,500 in additional attorney fees depending on complexity. Ignoring an RFE or responding inadequately results in denial. If you receive an RFE, contact an immigration attorney immediately if you're not already working with one — the deadline is typically 87 days and the quality of the response significantly affects the outcome.
To sponsor a family member for a green card, the US petitioner (sponsor) must file an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) showing income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guideline for the household size (including the immigrant). In 2026, that's approximately $20,800/year for a household of 2, $26,200 for a household of 3. If income is insufficient, a joint sponsor can co-sign the I-864. The I-864 is a legally enforceable contract — if the immigrant receives certain public benefits, the sponsor can be sued for reimbursement by federal or state agencies. The obligation generally ends when the immigrant becomes a US citizen or has worked for 40 Social Security-qualifying quarters.
The US Immigration Process: What to Expect
Understanding the general flow of the US immigration process helps set realistic expectations for timeline and cost:
Determine eligibility and category. Immigration benefits are strictly category-based: family (immediate relative vs. preference categories), employment-based (EB-1 through EB-5), diversity lottery, asylum/refugee, or special programs. Your category determines available forms, processing times, and whether there's a visa backlog.
File the petition. Most cases start with a petition (I-130 for family, I-140 for employment) to establish the immigrant's eligibility category. This is separate from the green card application itself and typically takes 3–18 months to adjudicate.
Wait for a visa number (if required). Immediate relatives of US citizens have no numerical cap and can proceed immediately. All other categories have annual numerical limits, creating backlogs that can last months to decades depending on the country of birth and category. Check the State Department's Visa Bulletin monthly for your priority date's status.
File the green card application or schedule consular interview. Once a visa number is available, file I-485 (if in US) or proceed with NVC processing for consular interview. This stage includes biometrics, medical exam (I-693), and typically takes 1–2 years.
Attend the interview (if required). Most family-based and adjustment of status cases include an in-person interview at a USCIS field office. Employment-based and some other categories may be interview-waived.
Receive the green card and maintain status. Conditional green cards (for recent marriages) are valid for 2 years; standard green cards are valid for 10 years. Renewal costs $415 (I-90). After the required residency period, apply for naturalization (citizenship) to permanently secure your status.
⚖️ When to Hire an Immigration Attorney
You should strongly consider an immigration attorney in any of these situations: you have any prior immigration violations, visa overstays, or deportation orders; you have a criminal record, even for minor offenses (many misdemeanors trigger immigration consequences); your petition was denied or received a Request for Evidence (RFE); your employment-based case involves priority dates, portability, or layoffs; you are applying for benefits while in removal proceedings; your case involves a waiver (I-601, I-601A, I-212); or your green card application involves issues of inadmissibility. Free and low-cost immigration legal assistance is available through nonprofit accredited representatives — search at immigrationadvocates.org or your local legal aid office. Never use unauthorized notarios or immigration consultants, who cannot legally provide immigration legal advice.
All USCIS filing fees sourced directly from the official USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov. Attorney fee benchmarks from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) surveys.