How Much Does a Green Card Cost? 2026

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.