Plan Your I-485 Budget Before You File

You’ve decided to ask for a green card from inside the United States, and now you need to know what it will cost. Under 8 CFR 106.2, a schedule of all USCIS fees, including fees required by law, can be viewed on the USCIS website. The form fee is only one line in the budget, so this guide covers the other costs that come with the filing too.

What the Form I-485 Filing Fee Is and Where It Is Set

The I-485 filing fee amount is the USCIS charge that comes with Form I-485, the application to register permanent residence or adjust status. USCIS sets it through the fee rules in 8 CFR 106.2.

The fee follows the request you file, not just the form number. 8 CFR 106.1 says fees are tied to the benefit and the type of request. They must be submitted in the amount and under the conditions that part sets.

Some applicants face an extra charge. For applicants seeking to adjust status under section 245(i) of the Act, 8 CFR 106.2 calls for Supplement A and an additional sum of $1,000, paid while the applicant’s “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status” is pending, unless payment of that additional sum is not required under section 245(i) of the Act. Which fee applies depends on the facts of your case.

Fees can change. Under 8 CFR 106.2, fees not set by statute may be adjusted no more than once per year through a Federal Register rule. Check the current amount in that section before you file.

Fees for Forms Filed Alongside Form I-485

Form I-765 and Form I-131 are separate requests with their own fees. You may file some of them with the I-485. Form I-765 asks for work authorization, and Form I-131 asks for travel documents such as advance parole.

Work authorization can be requested with a related case only in certain situations. Under 8 CFR 274a.13, a request may be filed concurrently with a related benefit request that, if granted, would form the basis for eligibility for employment authorization, only to the extent the form instructions or USCIS’s website allow it.

Travel costs more. Under 8 CFR 106.2, the fee for Advance Parole, reentry permits, and other travel documents is $630, but there is no fee for a travel document for applicants who filed USCIS Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and before April 1, 2024, and paid the Form I-485 fee, while the I-485 remains pending. See 8 CFR 245.2.

Filing online can lower the fee. Under 8 CFR 106.1, the fee for forms filed online through USCIS’s electronic system is $50 lower than the fee in 8 CFR 106.2, unless that part says otherwise.

Pay from a bank in the United States, in U.S. dollars, using the method USCIS prescribes. Card payments can’t be disputed, charged back, or forced back to you, except at USCIS’s discretion. Double-check the payment before you submit it.

The Medical Exam (Form I-693) and Civil Surgeon Costs

You pay the doctor, not USCIS, and the civil surgeon records the results on Form I-693.

The rule is clear. Under 8 CFR 245.5, an applicant for adjustment of status must have a medical examination by a designated civil surgeon. 8 C.F.R. § 245.5 reads: “A medical examination shall not be required of an applicant for adjustment of status who entered the United States as a nonimmigrant spouse, fianceé, or fianceeé of a United States citizen or the child of such an alien as defined in section 101(a)(15)(K) of the Act and § 214.2(k) of this chapter if the applicant was medically examined prior to, and as a condition of, the issuance of the nonimmigrant visa; provided that the medical examination must have occurred not more than 1 year prior the date of application for adjustment of status.” The surgeon’s report becomes part of the record.

Civil surgeons set their own exam fees, so prices differ by provider and location. Call the office and ask for its fee before the appointment. Ask whether vaccines are included in that price.

One narrow exception exists. Under 8 CFR 245.5, certain K-status spouses, fiancés, and children don’t need a new exam if a doctor examined them before the visa was issued. That exam must have happened no more than one year before the adjustment application.

If a civil surgeon certifies you under certain health grounds, you may appeal to a Board of Medical Officers of the U.S. Public Health Service. The same section refers to the appeal process as provided in section 234 of the Act and part 235 of this chapter.

Biometrics and Other Out-of-Pocket Costs

When a biometric services fee applies, you must pay it with your filing. Under 8 CFR 103.17, USCIS may charge this fee to collect and store your biometric information. USCIS may reject a request sent without the correct fee.

USCIS doesn’t set many of your other costs. Plan for these:

• Certified copies of civil records, such as birth or marriage certificates
• Translations of foreign-language documents
• Passport-style photos
• Copies for your own file and the filing package
• Tracked shipping for the package

Each cost is set by the agency, translator, or shop that provides it, so prices vary. Start with the documents that take the longest to get. Records from other countries can take a long time to arrive.

Processing Times and How They Affect Your Budget

I-485 processing time varies, and a longer wait can raise your total cost. USCIS posts processing-time estimates on its website. Those estimates change by office and form, so check the estimate for your own case.

A longer case can mean you need work authorization or travel documents for more months. Each of those requests carries its own fee. Plan for that possibility in your budget, not just the I-485 amount.

USCIS decides expedite requests case by case. Plan your budget around the normal timeline rather than a faster one. Keep copies of everything you file and every receipt you receive.

Attorney Fees and What USCIS Fees Do Not Cover

USCIS fees are paid to the government. Attorney fees are a separate cost and are not part of any USCIS amount on this page.

AG Immigration Law P.A. offers paid consultations. Those consultation fees are separate from every USCIS fee. They do not change the I-485 filing fee amount.

Think of your total as a sum of parts. A green card application can combine USCIS fees, the civil surgeon’s exam fee, biometrics where required, document and translation costs, shipping, and any attorney fees. Counting only the USCIS line will undercount what you need to set aside.

Write down each cost as you learn it. A complete list keeps your budget honest from the start.

If the Case Is Denied or Moves to Removal Proceedings

Under 8 CFR 103.2, a benefit request that does not comply with applicable statutes, regulations, or form instructions may be rejected or denied in accordance with this section. Under 8 CFR 103.3, an appeal that is not filed within the time allowed must be rejected as improperly filed.

Late appeals cost money. Under 8 CFR 103.3, an appeal not filed within the time allowed must be rejected. Any filing fee already accepted will not be refunded.

If your case moves into removal proceedings, a different fee rule applies. Under 8 CFR 1003.8, a filing fee is generally required for an appeal, motion to reopen, or motion to reconsider before the Board of Immigration Appeals. The rule lists exceptions, including a motion that asks only for a stay of removal.

The Board may waive the fee if you show you cannot pay. You request the waiver on Form EOIR-26A, with a declaration signed under penalty of perjury.

Stays of removal have their own rules. The American Immigration Council practice advisory sets out the federal rules, filing procedures, and forums for seeking a stay of removal.

Plan Your Filing Costs With Our Team

Budget for the USCIS filing fee, the civil surgeon exam, any biometric fee, and your documents before the package goes in.

AG Immigration Law P.A. focuses on removal defense, adjustment of status, family petitions, naturalization, removal of conditions on green cards, waivers, and BIA appeals. Adriana Gomez is the responsible lawyer for this page.

If you’re setting aside money for your I-485 and want to know which forms and costs apply to you, reach out to our office by phone, WhatsApp, or the contact form.