Pricing
I-130 Filing Fee 2026: Total Cost of a Marriage Green Card
USCIS fees in 2026 — the complete list
USCIS updated its fee schedule in April 2024, and the 2024 schedule remains in effect through 2026 — every figure here is verified against the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055). Each fee below is paid directly to USCIS, separate from any platform or attorney fees.
| Filing | Fee (2026) | When required |
|---|---|---|
| I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative | $675 paper / $625 online | Always |
| I-485 — Adjustment of Status (adult) | $1,440 | If beneficiary is inside U.S. |
| I-485 — Adjustment of Status (under 14, with family) | $950 | If filed with parent's I-485 |
| I-765 — EAD (work authorisation) | $0 | If filed with I-485 |
| I-131 — Advance Parole (travel) | $0 | If filed with I-485 |
| I-864 — Affidavit of Support | $0 | Filed with I-485 (no separate fee at I-485 stage) |
| I-693 — Medical exam (paid to civil surgeon, not USCIS) | $200–$500 | Required for I-485 |
| Biometrics | Included in I-485 fee | Always |
Total USCIS fees for a marriage green card filed from inside the U.S. (concurrent I-130 + I-485, with the I-130 filed on paper): $2,115 in USCIS fees + $200–$500 for the civil-surgeon medical exam. Range: $2,315–$2,615. Filing the I-130 online instead trims $50 off the USCIS total.
Consular processing (beneficiary abroad) — different fee path
If the beneficiary is outside the U.S., the I-485 is not filed; consular processing happens through the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) and a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
| Filing | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| I-130 (paid to USCIS) | $675 paper / $625 online |
| NVC visa-application processing fee (paid to DoS) | $325 |
| NVC affidavit-of-support review fee (paid to DoS) | $120 |
| Medical exam (paid to embassy-designated panel physician) | $200–$500 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee (paid after visa is issued, before green card is mailed) | $235 |
Consular total: $1,555–$1,855. Cheaper on paper than the inside-U.S. adjustment path, but separates the spouses for several months and doesn't include EAD/AP work and travel authorisations along the way.
Paper vs online filing — online saves $50
USCIS charges $675 to file Form I-130 on paper, but $625 to file online through myUSCIS — a $50 discount for online filing, in effect since the April 2024 fee rule. Online filing is also generally faster (no lockbox routing delay) and gives you status notifications in real time. Paper filing is still required for some case profiles (e.g., where the beneficiary has no online USCIS account access) and for certain supporting forms.
Premium Processing — not available for I-130
As of 2026, USCIS does not offer Premium Processing for Form I-130. Premium Processing ($2,805 for 15-business-day adjudication) is available only for some employment-based filings, including I-140 NIW since 2023. Don't be misled by services that claim to "expedite" I-130 — the only legitimate USCIS expedite path is the formal expedite request, which is granted only in narrow humanitarian or government-interest circumstances.
Platform and attorney fees — the optional layer
USCIS fees are mandatory. What you spend on top of them is a choice.
| Option | Platform fee | Real all-in (incl USCIS + medical) |
|---|---|---|
| Pure DIY | $0 | $2,315–$2,615 |
| Visaido Family Self-File Kit | $99 per petition | $2,414–$2,714 |
| SimpleCitizen Basic | $249 | $2,564–$2,864 |
| Boundless Standard (with attorney review) | $1,795 | $4,110–$4,410 |
| Solo immigration attorney | $2,000–$5,000+ | $4,315–$7,615+ |
Fee waivers — limited but real
USCIS offers fee waivers (Form I-912) for some categories of applicants who can demonstrate inability to pay. Marriage-based I-130 and I-485 are eligible for fee waivers based on three grounds: (1) the applicant receives means-tested public benefits, (2) household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, or (3) the applicant has financial hardship.
Fee waivers are not automatic — you must file Form I-912 with supporting documentation and USCIS may deny the waiver. If denied, your I-130 / I-485 is also rejected and you must refile with payment.
What about Visaido's fee?
Visaido charges $99 per petition for the Family Self-File Kit — auto cover letter drafting, bona fide evidence builder, I-130 and I-485 form generation, exhibit indexing, and case tracking. The free eligibility check has no fee; you only pay $99 when you're ready to start a real filing. USCIS fees ($2,115+) are separate and paid directly to USCIS.
Official sources
This guide is based on official U.S. government sources. Forms, fees, and processing details change — always confirm current requirements directly:
- USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)Official, authoritative USCIS fee schedule. Always cite this for current filing fees — fee amounts change and any number in body copy can go stale.
- USCIS — Form I-130, Petition for Alien RelativeOfficial I-130 form, instructions, edition date, and filing fee — the petition that establishes a qualifying family relationship.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the I-130 fee in 2026?
- $675 to file on paper, or $625 online — USCIS discounts online filing by $50. The I-130 alone doesn't get a green card, though. The full marriage green card pipeline (I-130 + I-485 + civil-surgeon medical exam) totals $2,315–$2,615 in USCIS and medical fees.
- Can I-130 be filed for free?
- Only with a USCIS fee waiver (Form I-912), granted based on (a) means-tested public benefit receipt, (b) household income at or below 150% federal poverty line, or (c) demonstrated financial hardship. Fee waivers are not automatic and may be denied — submit with strong supporting evidence.
- Is there premium processing for I-130?
- No. As of 2026, USCIS does not offer Premium Processing for Form I-130. The only legitimate expedite path is the formal USCIS expedite request, granted only in narrow circumstances (severe financial loss, humanitarian, USCIS error, government interest). Anyone offering paid "expedite" for I-130 outside this process is a scam.
- Do I pay the I-485 fee separately from I-130?
- Yes. Even when filed concurrently in the same envelope, I-130 ($675 paper / $625 online) and I-485 ($1,440 for adults) are separate fees. EAD (I-765) and AP (I-131) are free when filed with I-485. Filing the packet on paper, that is one check for $2,115; the I-130 portion drops to $625 if filed online through myUSCIS.
- What's cheaper — Visaido or an immigration attorney?
- Visaido. The Visaido Family Self-File Kit is $99 per petition, on top of the same $2,115+ USCIS fees and $200–$500 medical exam that everyone pays. Solo immigration attorneys typically charge $2,000–$5,000+ in representation fees on top of the same USCIS and medical costs. Same end-state filing; different price.
Skip the $5,000 attorney fee.
Visaido generates your I-130 cover letter, organises bona fide evidence into the four USCIS buckets, and indexes exhibits — all for $99. Free eligibility check first; pay only when you're ready to file.
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