How Much Will It Cost to Get a Green Card in 2026?

Quick answer: what a green card costs in 2026

How much will it cost to get a green card in 2026? The answer depends on your pathway. Government filing fees are only one part of the total.

A family petition, adjustment of status, removal of conditions, and a waiver each carry their own costs, though under 8 C.F.R. § 106.2(a)(16)(ii) there is no fee for a Form I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion filed when a Form I-751 petition was denied, if the conditional permanent resident filed a waiver of the joint filing requirement based on battery or extreme cruelty. Some USCIS fees are set in federal regulation and some by statute; fees that are not set or limited by statute may be adjusted. A DHS interim final rule took effect May 29, 2026, to codify certain immigration fees.

Attorney fees are separate from government fees. The firm offers a paid consultation, and its fees for representation come on top of the USCIS, biometric, medical, and document costs described below.

USCIS filing fees by pathway

Each form has its own filing fee. The amounts appear in 8 C.F.R. § 106.2. That section also notes that additional fees in paragraph (c) of this section may apply, so the form fee may not be the only cost.

Each petition carries its own fee, set in 8 C.F.R. § 106.2; section 204.2 itself sets no petition fee and says no fee is required to request an exemption. Learn more on our family petitions page.

Removal of conditions. A conditional resident based on marriage files Form I-751. The fee for that petition is $750, under 8 C.F.R. § 106.2, but there is no fee for a conditional resident spouse or child who files a waiver of the joint filing requirement based on battery or extreme cruelty. The joint petition must be filed within the 90-day period before the second anniversary of permanent residence, under 8 C.F.R. § 216.4. See removal of conditions on green cards.

Waivers. If you are inadmissible and need a waiver, Form I-601 may be part of your case. See waivers.

Costs beyond the USCIS filing fee

Several costs sit outside the main form fee. Plan for them before you file.

The civil surgeon’s charge is separate from the USCIS fee, so add it to your budget.

Biometrics. DHS may charge a biometric services fee. USCIS may reject a filing that lacks the correct biometric fee, under 8 C.F.R. § 103.17.

Documents. Budget for certified copies of birth, marriage, and divorce records. Foreign-language papers usually need translations. Photos, mailing, and courier costs add up, too.

Consular processing. If your case finishes abroad, you may face visa fees and travel costs.

How the 2026 fee changes affect your filing

Fees can change, so the amount that applies is the one in effect when you file. The fee rule allows fees that are not set or limited by statute to be adjusted, but not more than once per year, by Federal Register rule.

Build a small buffer into your budget. A filing with the wrong biometric fee can be rejected, so confirm the payment before you send anything. Missing a fee can stop a filing before it is reviewed.

What attorney fees cover and how they are billed

Attorney fees pay for legal work. They are separate from government costs.

The firm offers a paid consultation. In that meeting, our team reviews your facts and talks through which pathway may fit. A consultation is a paid meeting, not a promise about any result.

Before you commit, ask the firm to explain its fee arrangement. Our team will tell you what the attorney fee covers and which costs sit outside it, such as filing fees, biometrics, and copies or translations. Timelines depend on the facts of each case.

Costs that rise with the case history

Your immigration history can change your budget more than any single form. A past denial or a ground of inadmissibility can require a waiver, and most waivers carry their own fee, though some, such as a battery or extreme cruelty waiver of the I-751 joint filing requirement, carry none.

BIA appeals. A filing fee applies to an appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals, with listed exceptions, under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.8. The Board may waive the fee if you show you cannot pay. You request this on Form EOIR-26A, with a declaration signed under penalty of perjury.

If the request does not show inability to pay, the appeal will not be deemed properly filed, provided the Board grants 15 days to re-file. If the appeal is not properly filed, the Board may grant 15 days to re-file, and if it does, the filing deadline is paused during that time. See BIA appeals.

Separate appeal fees. An appeal of a decision by a Department of Homeland Security officer carries its own fee, under 8 U.S.C. § 1812.

Documents to gather before you budget

Gathering documents early helps you estimate costs. Missing papers can lead to delays and extra expense.

Start with your passport, birth and marriage certificates, prior USCIS notices, and any court papers. Tax records and proof of the petitioner’s income also matter in many cases.

For a removal of conditions petition, the rule lists birth certificates of children born to the marriage as one type of evidence. Order certified copies early, and start translations early too.

Talk to the firm about your green card costs

If you are planning a family budget while a spouse or parent prepares a petition, the next fee is the question. The same is true if a removal notice has arrived and you do not know the cost of the next step.

Common questions