If you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder hoping to petition for overseas relatives to immigrate and join you in the United States, cost is no doubt an issue on your mind. You will want to tally up a variety of potential expenses and fees, including:
- U.S. government application and visa fees
- travel expenses
- personal document certification and translation fees
- photography fees
- postage and shipping
- medical exam and vaccination fees
- attorney fees, if you hire one.
We’ll discuss each of these below. (This article does not, however, discuss fees for a fiancé or K-1 visa, which is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa, with different fees and procedures than the immigrant visas described here.)
U.S. Government Application and Visa Fees for Family Green Card
There is no single, flat government fee to obtain U.S. lawful permanent residence (a green card). In fact, the various fees involved depend both on one’s age and location, and whether one adds in any special requests, such as for a waiver of inadmissibility. Some fees will need to be paid simultaneously, others separately as the case proceeds. Some fees are charged only to applicants coming from overseas, others only to applicants adjusting status in the United States.
Here is a summary of the fees applicable to immigrating family members in early 2026 (fees change fairly regularly; always doublecheck the applicable U.S. government website):
APPLICANTS COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.
| Item | Cost |
| Initial visa petition (Form I-130) filed by U.S. family member sponsor | $625 for online filing and $675 for paper filing |
| Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) filed by U.S. family member sponsor | $120 |
| State Department immigrant visa processing fee | $325 |
APPLICANTS WITHIN THE U.S., APPLYING TO ADJUST STATUS
| Item | Cost |
| Initial visa petition (Form I-130) filed by U.S. family member | $625 for online filing and $675 for paper filing |
| Immigrant’s adjustment of status application (Form I-485) | $1,440, or $950 for applicants under age 14. |
| Immigrant’s work permit application (Form I-765) if desired | Half the regular Form I-765 fee when it's filed with a Form I-485; in other words, $260. |
| Immigrant’s Advance Parole application (Form I-131, if the immigrant might travel outside the U.S. while awaiting USCIS action on the adjustment of status application) | $630 |
Also, USCIS will charge a green card production fee (called the Immigrant Fee), which is $235.
Travel Expenses to Immigration Appointments
Whether living abroad or in the United States, the immigrant will need to attend various appointments to have fingerprints (biometrics) taken, get a medical exam done, and attend an in-person interview at either an office of USCIS in the United States or a consulate in the home country.
How far the immigrant lives from a city with the relevant medical or government offices will play a role in how much this all costs. Overnight stays are often prudent in order to take care of the various requirements and get to one’s appointments on time.
Even parking can be pricey, if one is visiting a major city. In many U.S. cities, for example, parking meters do not let you remain for more than two hours. But given how backed up USCIS can get, even though your interview is set for a certain time, it might not start for an hour after the supposed start time. Don't plan on running outside and feeding your parking meter! Instead, you'll want to pay for a parking lot.
Personal Document Certification and Translation Fees
In order to apply for a family-based green card, both petitioner and applicant will need to assemble various documents. Examples include a birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, divorce certificate, IRS transcript, employer letters, and potentially more.
Some of these might cost nothing to obtain, but others will require payment to a government office. This often adds up to nearly $100.
In addition, if any of the documents are not in English or in a language the U.S. consulate is willing to accept, you might need to pay a professional to have them translated into English.
Photography Fees for Immigration Applications
The immigrant, and also the U.S. citizen in a marriage-based case, might need to visit a professional photographer in order to have photos taken that meet U.S. government guidelines. Depending on local prices, this usually costs around $15 per person.
Postage and Shipping of Immigration Documents
Sending immigration documents via regular mail is not advised. You will want to use some sort of tracking, or a courier service, to send the various forms and documents to U.S. government offices, at different times. The exact dollar amounts depend on where you're mailing things from and how many documents you need to submit in support of your application.
Immigration Medical Exam and Vaccination Fees
Immigrant-visa applicants both in the United States and overseas must attend a medical exam with a government-approved physician. That physician will then prepare a written report. In the U.S., the exam and report commonly cost somewhere between $135 and $300. Prices vary, both here and overseas.
In addition, if you lack any of the required vaccinations, you will need to pay to have those done. Failing to get your vaccinations is a ground of inadmissibility to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) keeps a list of which are required.
Attorney Fees
You are not required to hire an attorney to help with the visa or green card application process. Nevertheless, you might want to hire one to evaluate your case, prepare a cover letter with any needed legal arguments, help with the other extensive paperwork involved, and monitor your case as it wends its way through government bureaucracy. Although by now, adding costs to a process that will clearly require thousands of dollars might seem financially impossible, the lawyer's experience with the often-difficult U.S. government system can ultimately save you both time and money. Also see Is It Worth the Cost of Hiring a Lawyer for U.S. Citizenship or Other Immigration Matters?.