Family-based green card applications begin with filing immigration forms like the I-130 and I-485, which depend on where the beneficiary is applying from. Each form has government filing fees, along with other expenses such as immigration medical exam fees, translations, and travel costs.
If you are pursuing permanent residence under the family-based category, this article gives you a breakdown of all the possible green card application costs from the beginning to the end of the process. Whether you’re sponsoring a spouse, fiancé, parent, or your child to the U.S., VisaNation is here to make the entire process easy.
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Costs of Green Card Application Fees
In terms of family-based immigration cases, your green card application fees range between $1,305 and as high as $3,005. The lower price is typically for those applying outside the U.S., and the higher price for those applying within the U.S. These figures assume that the cases are straightforward and do not receive rejections or other procedural setbacks.
|
Form Filing Fee |
Applying from Outside the U.S. |
Applying from Inside the U.S. |
|
I-130: Petition for Alien Relative |
$675 (paper filing) or $625 online filing) |
$675 (paper filing) or $625 online filing) |
|
I-485: Green Card Application |
Not Applicable |
$1,440 |
|
I-864: Affidavit of Support |
$120 |
$0 |
|
State Department Processing |
$325 |
Not Applicable |
|
USCIS Immigrant Fee |
$235 |
Not Applicable |
|
I-131: Travel Permit (Optional) |
Not Applicable |
$630 |
|
I-765 Work Permit (Optional) |
Not Applicable |
$260 |
|
Medical appointment and vaccines |
Varies |
Varies |
*USCIS fees can change.
Additional Green Card Costs
- Medical examination fees are a necessary fee for the green card application. The fees vary drastically from country to country and even between cities in some countries. You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 to $500. You will need to find an Approved Doctor in your area to conduct the examination.
- Document fees: Supporting documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees may have different costs depending on the local government agencies.
- Translation fees: You will need to get certified translations of documents that are not in English.
- Photo fees: You will have to submit passport-sized photos during your application to verify your identity.
- Travel expenses: You will need to travel to your medical exam, interview, and your biometrics appointment.
- Mailing costs: Depending on the requirements of your immigration case, you might have to mail physical copies of forms and supporting evidence to USCIS or NVC.
Cost of Sponsoring Green Cards for Family Members
The cost to sponsor an immigrant relative varies between $0 and $3,005. The cost depends on the type of relative, any exemptions that may apply, and how much the sponsor will cover of the total fees. Some sponsors may cover 100% of the costs, while others split expenses with the beneficiary.
You should also take into consideration that if your application is denied or rejected due to errors or missing documentation, the costs will dramatically increase.
VisaNation ensures no surpise costs and full transparency every step of the way!
You can act as a sponsor for two types of family immigration. Remember, you can choose how much of the costs you want to cover; you are not required to cover all costs.
- The cost of sponsoring immediate relatives like a spouse, an unmarried child who’s under 21, or a parent of a U.S. citizen is between $0 and $3,005.
- The cost of sponsoring a family preference category, such as an unmarried child who’s over 21, spouses of lawful permanent residents, married children, brothers and sisters, is between $0 and $3,005.
Immediate Relatives
These green cards are only available to the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. A benefit of this category is that the priority dates for immediate relative visas are current, meaning that there is no waiting period once the petition has been approved. See the difference between IR-1 and CR-1 visas in our detailed guide.
Here are the five Immediate relative green cards:
- IR-1: Spouses of U.S. citizens.
- IR-2: U.S. citizens’ unmarried children who are under the age of 21.
- IR-3: Orphan who was previously adopted by a U.S. citizen in a foreign country.
- IR-4: Orphans who are being brought to the U.S. to be adopted.
- IR-5: Parent of a U.S. citizen who is over the age of 21.
The process of bringing an immediate family member to the U.S. can be quite lengthy, considering that you will have to fill out appropriate forms and provide necessary supporting evidence. With VisaNation, our lawyers will take care of all aspects of your family’s green card application.
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Non-Immediate Relatives
These green cards are available to the non-immediate relatives of U.S. citizens as well as the immediate relatives of lawful permanent residents (green card holders). In contrast to the IR green cards, these do have backlogged priority date waiting times.
- F-1: Unmarried children over the age of 21 of U.S. citizens
- F-2: Children under 21, spouses, and unmarried children over 21 of lawful permanent residents. There are two subcategories for this, the F-2A and the F-2B.
- F-3: Married children of U.S. citizens, as well as their spouses and any children they might have.
- F-4: Siblings (brothers and sisters) of U.S. citizens
You will need to select the green card that best fits your situation and that of the person who is receiving the visa.
Costs of Green Card Forms
If you are filing a family-based green card, the following are the required fees for each of the application forms:
- The fee for I-130 is $675 paper/$625 online – Petition for Alien Relative.
- The fee for I-485 is $1,440 – Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
- For those adjusting status and including children under 14 on their I-485 application, the green card application fee is reduced to $950
- The fee for I-129F is $675 – Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) – Mandatory for K-1 or K-3 status.
- The fee for I-765 is $260 – Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This work permit is optional.
- The fee for I-131(A) is $630 – Application for Reentry. This form allows you to travel in and out of the U.S, and is optional.
To see the consular processing fees, you will need to check your home country’s embassy website, as the cost varies according to the nation of origin. However, you will need to pay
It is important to note that not all of these forms are mandatory family-based green card filing fees. Depending on your case, some of these forms may not apply to you. USCIS added a Fee Calculator to their website that allows you to quickly calculate the costs of any of USCIS form.
If you would like a quote from our firm, please feel free to contact us.
Common Family Green Card FAQs
Can I get a waiver for my family-based green card fees?
Yes, you may get a waiver for some filing fees if you meet certain criteria. The USCIS allows fee waivers for certain immigration applications. To qualify for a waiver on the I-485, you must demonstrate that you cannot afford the filing fee as a result of any of the following reasons:
- The total annual income of your household is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- You are currently burdened with financial hardship, such as unemployment or large medical expenses.
Keep in mind that not all green card application forms have a fee waiver option. There are conditional fee waivers available for Form I-131, Form I-765 and Form I-485. You can request a fee waiver by submitting the I-912 form along with evidence showing that you meet the eligibility requirements.
Can I get a refund on my family-based green card filing fees?
Unfortunately, the USCIS will not issue refunds for filing fees for an unfavorable decision on your petitions. The circumstances that warrant a refund are as follows:
- The USCIS mistakenly asked you to file a form that was not necessary.
- A form was processed with a fee that was greater than that which is required.
There may be extraordinary circumstances that could also warrant a refund of your family-based green card filing fees.
How much will it cost to get a family-based green card?
Total green card fees vary based on the circumstances of a case, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,305 to $3,005 for the filing fees. Attorney fees are a separate cost.
Do I have to pay $250 to enter the U.S.?
Family-based green card applications are not non-immigrant visas, so green card applicants will not have to pay an additional $250 to enter the U.S, unless they are applying for a K-1 visa first.
Visitors to the United States will need to pay a “visa integrity fee” under Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fee applies to all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter, unless traveling from a country that is part of the visa waiver program.
What are the family-green card application fees for an attorney?
Even though it's optional, you will need to factor in the costs of hiring an attorney to handle your entire case and improve your chances of a green card approval. Attorney fees vary widely among immigration lawyers. Keep in mind that the cheapest option isn’t always the best one. You will need to compare what each attorney proposes to offer in their green card application service.
If you want further services after the approval of the I-130 form, we can discuss the fees for other steps, such as I-485, I-131, and I-765 forms.