There’s no single price tag for a green card. Ask ten different people how much theirs cost, and you’ll likely get ten different numbers, because so much depends on which category you’re applying under, whether you’re already in the U.S. or applying from abroad,

how many family members are included, and whether you hire an attorney. What most people actually want to know is a realistic range, plus a clear breakdown of where the money actually goes, and that’s exactly what this guide covers.

The Short Answer

For most green card applicants in 2026, government filing fees alone typically fall somewhere between $1,500 and $3,500, depending on the category and whether you’re filing from inside the U.S. (adjustment of status) or from abroad (consular processing).

Once you add optional but commonly needed extras — a work permit application, a travel document, the required medical exam, and any attorney fees — a realistic all-in total for many applicants lands somewhere between $3,000 and $10,000, and employment-based cases using premium processing or requiring an attorney can run considerably higher, sometimes well past $15,000.

Why There’s No Single Price

Green cards are issued through several different legal pathways — family sponsorship, employment, humanitarian categories like asylum or refugee status, the diversity visa lottery, and a handful of smaller special categories. Each of these follows a different set of forms, and each form carries its own government filing fee. On top of that, every applicant has to choose between two very different processes:

Adjustment of status (AOS) is available if you’re already lawfully present in the U.S., typically on a temporary visa. It lets you become a permanent resident without leaving the country, but it generally comes with higher combined USCIS fees since you’re often filing several forms together.

Consular processing is for applicants living outside the U.S. It involves a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate and generally comes with a somewhat lower total in USCIS fees, though it adds State Department fees of its own.

Because these two paths carry genuinely different costs, “how much is a green card” really has two different answers depending on where you’re starting from.

Core USCIS Filing Fees in 2026

Here’s a breakdown of the primary forms involved and their current government fees. Keep in mind not every applicant files every form — which ones apply depends on your specific category and circumstances.

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative — around $675. This is filed by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident sponsor for a family-based case and establishes the qualifying relationship.

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker — around $715. This is the employment-based equivalent of the I-130, typically filed by an employer sponsoring a foreign worker.

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status — around $1,440 if filed by paper, or slightly less if filed online, for applicants 14 and older. This is the core green card application itself for anyone adjusting status inside the U.S., and as of recent fee changes, it now includes the biometrics fee that used to be billed separately.

USCIS Immigrant Fee — around $220 to $235. This applies to applicants who complete consular processing abroad and covers the cost of producing and mailing the physical green card once they arrive in the U.S.

Form I-131, Application for Travel Document — around $630. This is optional but commonly filed alongside an adjustment of status application, allowing travel outside the U.S. while the green card case is still pending.

Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization — commonly cited in the $260 to $520 range depending on filing method. Also optional, this allows applicants adjusting status to legally work in the U.S. while their case is being processed.

Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination — this isn’t paid to USCIS at all. It’s paid directly to the civil surgeon or panel physician who conducts your required medical exam, and typically runs $200 to $650 depending on location and provider.

Visa Integrity Fee — a newer $250 fee introduced in October 2025, charged at the time an immigrant visa is issued for consular processing cases. It’s easy to overlook since it isn’t part of the upfront application fee.

Typical Total Costs by Category

Family-based green cards. Through consular processing, total government fees generally run around $1,300 to $1,500 or more. Through adjustment of status, combined fees for the core forms — I-130 and I-485 — run around $2,100, and can climb toward $2,500 to $3,500 once a work permit and travel document application are added.

Marriage-based green cards. These follow the same family-based fee structure, since a marriage green card is a specific type of family sponsorship. Filing just the I-130 and I-485 together runs about $2,115. Adding a work permit and travel document application brings the full package closer to $3,000.

Employment-based green cards. These tend to run higher, generally $1,500 or more through consular processing and $3,000 or more through adjustment of status, since they typically involve both an I-140 petition and the I-485 application, along with any related forms. Employers usually cover these costs when the sponsorship is employer-initiated, though self-sponsored categories put the full cost on the applicant.

Costs Beyond Government Filing Fees

The government filing fees only tell part of the story. A few other costs come up often enough that they should be part of your budget from the start:

Medical exam. Required for every applicant, this typically costs $200 to $650 per person, paid directly to the examining physician rather than to USCIS.

Document translation. If any of your supporting documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, court records — aren’t in English, certified translations are required and typically cost anywhere from a modest per-page fee up to several hundred dollars total, depending on the volume of documents.

Foreign credential evaluations. If your education was completed outside the U.S. and is relevant to your case, particularly for certain employment categories, a credential evaluation is often required and usually runs $100 to $400.

Attorney fees. This is where costs vary the most. Many applicants file without an attorney, particularly for straightforward family-based cases, and pay nothing beyond government fees. Others, especially for more complex employment-based cases or situations involving prior immigration issues, hire an attorney, with fees commonly ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the complexity of the case and whether it’s billed as a flat fee or hourly.

Family member multiplication. If you’re filing as a family unit, each spouse and each child generally needs their own I-485 or equivalent application and their own medical exam, which multiplies several of these costs directly. A family of four adjusting status together, for example, pays the I-485 fee and the medical exam cost four separate times, which is often the single biggest reason a family’s total ends up much higher than an individual applicant’s.

Realistic All-In Estimates

Pulling all of this together, here’s roughly what different applicants tend to pay in total, government fees plus common additional costs:

• A single family-based applicant filing without an attorney: roughly $2,500 to $4,000
• A single employment-based applicant, including some professional help: roughly $3,000 to $6,000 in government fees, plus $3,000 to $10,000 in attorney fees, landing many cases between $6,000 and $16,000 overall
• A married couple applying together, both inside the U.S.: often $5,000 to $10,000 combined, depending on whether a work permit and travel document are filed for both, and whether an attorney is involved
• A family of four adjusting status together: frequently $10,000 or more once every family member’s I-485 fee and medical exam are factored in

Fee Waivers and Reduced Fees

USCIS does offer fee waivers for certain applicants who can demonstrate financial hardship, generally by showing household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or by showing receipt of certain means-tested public benefits. Not every form qualifies for a waiver, and eligibility rules can be strict, so it’s worth checking current USCIS guidance directly if cost is a genuine barrier to filing.

Practical Tips for Budgeting Your Green Card Costs

• Use the official USCIS fee calculator before filing anything, since fees are updated periodically and an outdated number can lead to a rejected application.
• Decide early whether you’ll need a work permit or travel document while your case is pending, since these optional forms add real cost but can be genuinely necessary depending on your situation.
• Budget for the medical exam and any translations separately, since these aren’t paid to USCIS and are easy to forget when estimating your total.
• Get attorney fee quotes in writing before committing, and ask whether the quote is a flat fee for the full case or billed hourly, since the difference can significantly affect your final cost.
• If you’re filing as a family, multiply the per-person costs carefully, since this is the single biggest reason families underestimate their total budget.
• Check whether you qualify for a fee waiver if cost is a serious concern, rather than assuming you don’t qualify without checking current income thresholds.
• Pay close attention to which fee applies to your specific form version, since paper and online filing sometimes carry slightly different costs.

The Bottom Line

There’s no single number that answers “how much does a green card cost,” but there is a reasonably predictable range once you know your category and process. Government filing fees alone generally run $1,500 to $3,500 for most applicants, and a realistic all-in total — factoring in medical exams, optional work and travel permits,

and any legal help — typically lands between $3,000 and $10,000 for individual and family-based cases, with employment-based cases sometimes running higher. Understanding exactly which fees apply to your specific situation before you file is the best way to avoid an unpleasant surprise partway through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get a green card?

Family-based green cards, particularly through consular processing rather than adjustment of status, tend to carry the lowest total government fees, generally starting around $1,300 to $1,500. Filing without an attorney, when your case is straightforward, also keeps costs down significantly.

Does a green card cost more if I’m already in the U.S.?

Often, yes. Adjustment of status, used by applicants already in the U.S., generally involves higher combined USCIS fees than consular processing, partly because applicants often file additional forms, such as a work permit and travel document application, alongside the core I-485.

Is the medical exam included in the green card filing fee?

No. The required medical exam (Form I-693) is paid separately, directly to the civil surgeon or panel physician who conducts it, and typically costs $200 to $650 depending on location and provider.

Do I have to pay for a green card for each family member?

Yes. Each spouse and child included in a family-based case generally needs their own I-485 application and their own medical exam, meaning costs multiply with each additional family member rather than being covered under one combined fee.

Can I get a fee waiver for a green card application?

Possibly. USCIS offers fee waivers for certain applicants who can demonstrate financial hardship, typically based on household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level or receipt of specific public benefits. Not all forms qualify, so eligibility should be checked directly with current USCIS guidance.

How much do immigration attorneys charge for green card cases?

Attorney fees vary widely based on case complexity, ranging anywhere from around $2,000 for a straightforward case to $10,000 or more for complex employment-based or legally complicated situations. Many attorneys offer flat-fee pricing for standard green card cases rather than hourly billing.

Are green card fees the same for family-based and employment-based applications?

No. Employment-based applications generally involve different forms, such as the I-140 petition instead of the I-130, and often carry a higher total cost, particularly through adjustment of status, compared to most family-based cases.

Trump Green Card Travel Restrictions

If you’re a green card holder trying to figure out whether it’s safe to travel internationally right now, you’re not alone, and the confusion is understandable. Immigration policy has shifted substantially since early 2025, with an expanded travel ban, new biometric screening requirements, and a Supreme Court ruling that gave border officers considerably more discretion over returning permanent residents.

The core legal fact hasn’t changed — green card holders are still technically exempt from the travel ban itself — but “exempt” and “unaffected” have turned out to be two very different things in practice. Here’s a clear, current breakdown of where things actually stand for green card holders heading into international travel in 2026.

Lawful permanent residents remain formally exempt from the travel ban proclamations issued under the current administration, which now cover nationals of 39 countries in some form as of January 1, 2026. This means a valid green card holder generally cannot be denied entry to the U.S. purely because of their country of origin.

However, green card holders now face substantially more scrutiny at the border than they did in past years, including mandatory biometric screening, closer review of criminal history and past visa violations, and in some documented cases, pressure to sign away their status voluntarily. The safest approach for 2026 depends heavily on your individual circumstances — particularly your country of origin, any past criminal record, and how long you plan to be outside the U.S.

The Expanded Travel Ban and What It Actually Means for Green Card Holders

On December 16, 2025, the administration issued a revised and significantly expanded travel ban proclamation, effective January 1, 2026, that fully or partially restricts entry for nationals of 39 countries, along with anyone traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.

This built on an earlier June 2025 proclamation that had targeted 19 countries, adding countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone, among others, while also expanding partial restrictions to 15 additional nations.

The proclamation is explicit that lawful permanent residents are exempt from these restrictions. If you already hold a valid green card, the travel ban itself does not bar you from re-entering the United States, regardless of which country you’re a national of. This exemption also generally extends to dual nationals traveling on a passport from a country not on the restricted list.

That said, the exemption applies to the ban itself, not to the broader immigration enforcement environment green card holders now find themselves navigating. Multiple sources have reported that green card holders from the originally restricted countries are facing intensive review of their existing status, and that immigrant visa processing has been paused entirely for people from a much larger list of 75 countries, which affects family members still trying to join green card holders already in the U.S.

Heightened Scrutiny: What’s Actually Changed at the Border

This is where the practical impact on green card holders has grown the most. Several enforcement changes now apply broadly to all green card holders, not just those from restricted countries:

Mandatory biometric screening. As of late December 2025, Customs and Border Protection can now collect facial recognition data from all noncitizens entering and exiting the U.S., including green card holders, at airports, land crossings, and seaports. This is a broader requirement than what existed previously, and it applies regardless of destination or country of origin.

Criminal history review. Immigration officers are now directed to review the criminal records of returning green card holders more closely than before, and reports indicate this includes flagging even minor past issues, such as an old marijuana-related charge, a dismissed case, or an arrest that never led to a conviction. A landmark Supreme Court ruling in June 2026 gave CBP the authority to treat any returning green card holder as “seeking admission” without needing a prior legal exception to do so, which significantly broadens the situations in which a green card holder’s status can be questioned upon return.

Social media and political activity vetting. Advocacy organizations have reported that the administration has directed scrutiny not just toward criminal history but toward green card holders’ social media activity and participation in protests or political expression the administration considers objectionable, characterizing certain activity as a potential national security concern.

Pressure to sign Form I-407. There have been documented reports of green card holders being pressured by border officers to voluntarily sign Form I-407, which formally abandons permanent resident status. This is not something a green card holder is required to sign, and legal advocates strongly recommend refusing to sign anything at the border without first speaking to an immigration attorney, and requesting a supervisor if pressure continues.

Who Faces the Highest Risk When Traveling

Based on current guidance from immigration attorneys and advocacy groups, a few categories of green card holders face meaningfully elevated risk when traveling internationally right now:

Anyone with a past criminal record, even a minor or resolved one. This includes convictions, but also pending charges, dismissed cases, or old arrests that never resulted in a conviction. Because criminal court outcomes and immigration consequences are evaluated under different legal standards, a plea deal or reduced charge that seemed fully resolved years ago doesn’t necessarily protect someone at the border anymore.

Green card holders from originally restricted countries. While the travel ban doesn’t apply to them directly, reports indicate that USCIS has been reviewing the immigration status of green card holders from the countries originally covered by the June 2025 proclamation, which raises the stakes of any international travel for this group specifically.

Anyone who has spent more than 180 continuous days outside the U.S. Extended absences have always carried some risk of being questioned about intent to maintain residency, but this scrutiny has intensified considerably under the current enforcement posture.

People with any pending immigration paperwork. Green card holders in the process of removing conditions on a marriage-based card, renewing documents, or with any other application pending at USCIS should be especially cautious, given that processing timelines have lengthened and travel during a pending case can complicate matters further.

Individuals who have engaged in public political expression the administration has flagged as objectionable. Advocacy groups have specifically warned that participation in protests or certain public statements could trigger additional scrutiny, separate from any criminal or immigration violation.

What About Green Card Applicants Still in Process?

Beyond travel restrictions for existing green card holders, the administration announced a major policy shift in May 2026 that changes how people currently in the U.S. can even become green card holders in the first place. Under this new guidance, most people applying for a green card while already in the U.S. on a temporary visa are now expected to return to their home country and complete the process through consular processing abroad, rather than adjusting their status without leaving the country, which had been standard practice for decades.

This creates a serious complication for applicants from countries currently subject to travel restrictions or paused visa processing, since returning home to complete an application could mean being unable to come back at all. If you’re in this situation, it’s worth discussing your specific case with an immigration attorney before making any decisions about travel or applying for adjustment of status.

Practical Steps for Green Card Holders Planning to Travel

Given the current environment, immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations are generally recommending a more cautious approach than in past years:

• Consult an immigration attorney before traveling if you have any criminal history, no matter how old, minor, or seemingly resolved. This is now considered essential rather than optional for this group.
• Carry thorough documentation of your U.S. ties, including proof of employment, a lease or mortgage, tax filings, and family connections, in case you’re questioned about your intent to maintain residency.
• Keep your green card, and any relevant USCIS receipt notices, easily accessible when traveling, along with a valid passport from your country of citizenship.
• Never sign Form I-407 at the border without speaking to an attorney first. You have the right to decline and to request a supervisor if you feel pressured.
• Be mindful of what’s visible on your social media accounts, given reports that political expression and activism are being factored into enforcement decisions.
• Avoid extended absences of six months or more when possible, and apply for a reentry permit in advance if a longer trip is unavoidable.
• Check current country-specific restrictions before booking travel, since the list of affected countries has changed multiple times and could change again.
• Keep your attorney’s contact information on hand while traveling, in case a situation arises at the port of entry that requires immediate legal guidance.

The Bottom Line

Green card holders remain legally exempt from the travel ban itself, and that fundamental protection hasn’t changed. What has changed substantially is the enforcement environment surrounding that exemption — expanded biometric screening, closer scrutiny of criminal history and past visa violations, reported monitoring of political activity, and a Supreme Court ruling that gives border officers considerably more room to question returning residents than in previous years.

For most green card holders with no criminal history, no pending immigration issues, and a straightforward travel itinerary, international trips generally continue without major incident. But given how quickly this landscape has shifted through 2025 and 2026, and how much individual risk can vary,

checking in with an immigration attorney before travel — especially for anyone with a criminal record, pending paperwork, or ties to a restricted country — is no longer just a precaution, it’s become standard advice from the legal community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are green card holders affected by the current travel ban?

No, not directly. Lawful permanent residents are explicitly exempt from the travel ban proclamations, including the expanded version effective January 1, 2026, which covers 39 countries. A valid green card holder cannot be denied entry solely based on their country of origin under this policy.

Can a green card holder be detained when returning to the U.S.?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Reports indicate that green card holders, particularly those with any past criminal history, have been stopped, questioned, and in some cases detained upon return, following a 2026 Supreme Court ruling that expanded CBP’s authority to treat returning residents as seeking admission.

Should I sign Form I-407 if a border officer asks me to?

No, not without speaking to an immigration attorney first. Form I-407 is a voluntary abandonment of permanent resident status, and signing it can permanently end your green card. You have the right to decline and to request a supervisor if you feel pressured.

Does having an old, dismissed criminal charge put me at risk when traveling?

It can. Immigration consequences are evaluated under different standards than criminal court outcomes, meaning even a dismissed case, an old arrest without conviction, or a reduced charge from years ago may no longer offer the protection it once did. Consulting an attorney before traveling is strongly recommended if this applies to you.

Do green card holders now face biometric screening when traveling?

Yes. As of late December 2025, Customs and Border Protection can collect facial recognition data from all noncitizens, including green card holders, at every entry and exit point, including airports, land crossings, and seaports.

Can I still adjust my status to a green card while staying in the U.S.?

In most cases, no, as of a May 2026 policy change. People currently on temporary visas seeking a green card are now generally required to return to their home country and complete the process through consular processing abroad, rather than adjusting status without leaving the U.S.

What should I do before traveling if I’m a green card holder from a restricted country?

Speak with an immigration attorney before booking any international travel. While the travel ban doesn’t apply to you directly as a green card holder, reports indicate that USCIS is reviewing the status of green card holders from originally restricted countries, which raises the stakes of any trip abroad.

American Express Green Card Travel Benefits

The American Express Green Card has quietly been one of the most useful mid-tier travel cards on the market for years, sitting in an interesting spot between no-annual-fee cash back cards and the flashier, much pricier Platinum Card.

It’s built specifically around how people actually travel and eat out, rather than piling on perks that only make sense for a small slice of cardholders. Whether you’re deciding if this card fits your wallet or you already carry one and want to make sure you’re getting full value from it, here’s a complete rundown of what its travel benefits actually offer.

One important note up front: American Express has closed the Green Card to new applicants, and effective August 20, 2026, it’s being renamed the American Express Classic Green Card, with existing cardholders keeping their current benefits. If you already have the card, everything below still applies to your account.

The Amex Green Card’s travel benefits center on three points per dollar earned on travel, transit, and dining purchases; an annual CLEAR Plus statement credit worth up to roughly $209; no foreign transaction fees;

and a set of built-in travel protections including baggage insurance, trip delay insurance, and a Global Assist Hotline. For a relatively modest $150 annual fee, it delivers a genuinely broad set of everyday travel perks without requiring the kind of spending habits or lifestyle that a premium card like the Platinum demands.

Membership Rewards Points: The Core of the Card

The centerpiece of the Green Card’s value is its points-earning structure through American Express’s Membership Rewards program. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent in three broad categories:

• Travel, which covers a wide range of purchases including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals
• Transit, covering trains, taxis, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• Dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery within the U.S.

Everything else earns 1 point per dollar. What makes this earning structure stand out is how broad the travel and transit categories are compared to many competing cards, which often limit bonus categories to just flights and hotels booked through a specific portal. The Green Card’s definition of “travel” is intentionally wide, and the same goes for transit, making it a strong everyday card for people who live in cities, commute regularly, or travel frequently even without booking anything through Amex’s own travel platform.

Membership Rewards points earned on the card can be redeemed for travel, transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel loyalty partners (often the highest-value redemption option), used for cash back, or applied toward gift cards, giving cardholders real flexibility in how they use what they earn.

The CLEAR Plus Credit

One of the standout perks of the Green Card is its annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership, currently valued at up to $209 per calendar year. CLEAR uses biometric verification, such as an eye or fingerprint scan, to help members move through security lines faster at participating airports nationwide. Since a standalone CLEAR Plus membership costs roughly $199 a year on its own, this single credit essentially covers the entire cost of the service and still leaves a bit left over, which alone can offset a meaningful chunk of the card’s $150 annual fee for travelers who fly regularly through CLEAR-enabled airports.

This benefit can also be applied toward a membership for someone else, such as a family member, rather than being limited strictly to the primary cardholder.

Baggage Insurance and Trip Delay Coverage

The Green Card includes a few travel protections that often go overlooked but can genuinely come in handy when a trip doesn’t go as planned:

Baggage insurance. If your checked or carry-on baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while traveling on a common carrier — a plane, train, ship, or bus — this benefit can provide coverage, provided the entire fare for that portion of your trip was charged to the Green Card. Coverage limits and specific exclusions apply, so it’s worth reviewing the benefit guide for exact terms.

Trip delay insurance. If your round-trip travel, booked entirely on the Green Card, is delayed more than 12 hours due to a covered reason, this benefit can help reimburse certain related expenses, such as meals or lodging incurred because of the delay.

To file a claim under either of these protections, cardholders generally need to contact American Express within a set window after the incident — commonly cited as within 30 days, or as soon as reasonably possible — and then submit any required documentation within a further window, often around 60 days, after the incident is reported.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

For anyone traveling internationally, this is a simple but meaningful perk: the Green Card charges no foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards tack on a fee, often around 3%, for purchases made outside the U.S. or in a foreign currency, which can add up quickly over the course of an international trip. Not having to think about this adds real convenience for cardholders who travel abroad even occasionally.

Global Assist Hotline

Cardholders traveling more than 100 miles from home have access to the Global Assist Hotline, a service designed to help with travel emergencies. This can include coordinating emergency medical or legal referrals, assisting with lost luggage or a lost passport, or helping arrange emergency cash transfers if needed while abroad. While it doesn’t cover the direct cost of medical treatment itself, having a single number to call when something goes wrong far from home can be genuinely valuable, particularly in an unfamiliar country.

Additional Purchase and Warranty Protections

While not travel-specific in the strictest sense, a couple of other embedded benefits are worth knowing about since they often come into play around travel purchases:

Purchase protection. This can cover eligible items purchased on the card against accidental damage or theft for a limited window, commonly around 90 days from the purchase date, which can be useful for things like travel gear or electronics bought before a trip.

Extended warranty. For eligible purchases, this benefit can extend the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to an additional year, which can add peace of mind for higher-value travel equipment like cameras or laptops.

Both of these come as embedded benefits requiring no separate enrollment, though eligibility rules and exclusions apply to specific items and purchase types.

Welcome Bonus and Everyday Value

New cardholders (prior to the application closure) have historically been able to earn a welcome bonus, commonly around 40,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting a spending threshold, typically $3,000 in purchases within the first six months. At a typical valuation of roughly 2 cents per point when transferred to airline or hotel partners, a bonus like this can be worth a meaningful few hundred dollars in travel value on its own, on top of the ongoing 3x earning categories.

Is the Green Card Worth It for Travelers?

For a $150 annual fee, the math tends to work out well specifically for people who travel and dine out with some regularity but aren’t ready to commit to a $325 or $695 annual fee for a more premium card like the Amex Gold or Platinum. If you regularly use CLEAR Plus, the credit alone can put the card’s overall value solidly in positive territory before you’ve even factored in the points earned on everyday travel, transit, and dining spending.

Where the card falls short compared to more premium options is in the lounge access department — it doesn’t include the kind of airport lounge network access that comes with the Platinum Card — and it doesn’t offer a statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees, which some competing travel cards do include.

The Bottom Line

The American Express Green Card, soon to be renamed the Classic Green Card, delivers a genuinely well-rounded set of travel benefits for a comparatively modest annual fee. Between 3x points on travel, transit, and dining, the CLEAR Plus credit that can offset most or all of the annual fee on its own, no foreign transaction fees, and built-in protections like baggage and trip delay insurance,

it remains one of the more practical mid-tier travel cards for people who travel semi-regularly without needing the full suite of luxury perks that come with a premium card. Since it’s currently closed to new applicants, existing cardholders should make a point of actively using these benefits, particularly the CLEAR Plus credit, to get full value out of the card going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee for the American Express Green Card?

The annual fee is $150. Given the CLEAR Plus credit alone is worth up to roughly $209 per year for cardholders who use it, many travelers can offset the entire annual fee through that single benefit.

Does the Amex Green Card cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees?

No. Unlike some competing travel cards, the Green Card doesn’t include a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. Its comparable expedited-screening perk is the CLEAR Plus credit instead.

How much does the Green Card’s CLEAR Plus credit cover?

The credit currently covers up to $209 per calendar year in CLEAR Plus statement credits, which is enough to cover a standard CLEAR Plus membership in full for most cardholders.

Does the Green Card charge foreign transaction fees?

No. There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made with the American Express Green Card, making it a reasonable option to bring along on international trips.

Can I still apply for the American Express Green Card?

As of recent 2026 updates, American Express has closed the Green Card to new applicants. Effective August 20, 2026, the card is being renamed the American Express Classic Green Card, and existing cardholders retain their current benefits.

What does the Green Card’s trip delay insurance cover?

If round-trip travel booked entirely on the card is delayed more than 12 hours due to a covered reason, the benefit can help reimburse certain related expenses, such as meals or lodging. Specific terms, exclusions, and documentation requirements apply.

How do I file a claim for baggage insurance on the Amex Green Card?

Claims can typically be filed by phone or through American Express’s Claims Center, generally within 30 days of the loss or as soon as reasonably possible, with supporting documentation submitted within a further window after the incident is reported. Exact timelines and requirements can be confirmed by reviewing the card’s official Guide to Benefits.