Quick Answer — 2026 — Green Card Costs $1,440 — I-485 fee (adult) $950 — I-485 (child under 14) $3,190+Total fees + medical (no atty) $4,700–$8,700 — Realistic with attorney Getting a green card in 2026 costs significantly more than most applicants expect. The USCIS I-485 filing fee is $1,440 for adults — but that is just one item in a longer list. When you add a work permit, travel document, medical exam, and attorney fees, the total for a single adult typically ranges from $4,700 to $8,700. Families with children spend considerably more. This guide breaks down every cost by pathway so you can budget accurately before you file. Calculate Your Exact Green Card Cost Choose your situation — adults, children, concurrent filings — and get an itemized total instantly. Open Green Card Fee Calculator → Not legal advice. Always verify fees at USCIS.gov/g-1055 before submitting payment. Pathway 1: Adjustment of Status (Already in the US) Form I-485 — for people already inside the United States eligible to apply without leaving Adjustment of Status (AOS) is the most common green card process for people living in the United States. You file Form I-485 along with a work permit (I-765) and travel document (I-131) at the same time. After USCIS approval, you receive your green card without leaving the country. Cost ItemRequired?Amount I-485 — Filing Fee (adult, age 14+)Required — $1,440 — I-485 — Filing Fee (child under 14, with parent)Required — $950 — I-765 — Employment Authorization (EAD) — InitialHighly recommended — $820 — I-131 — Advance Parole (travel document)If traveling abroad — $630 — Medical Exam (Form I-693, USCIS civil surgeon)Required — $200–$500 — Catch-up vaccinations (if not current)Varies — $0–$300 — Document translation (if not in English)If needed — $50–$300 — Immigration attorney feesOptional but recommended — $1,500–$5,000 — Total (single adult, no attorney) — $3,190–$3,990 — Total (single adult, with attorney) — $4,700–$8,990 — Concurrent filing note: When I-765 and I-131 are filed simultaneously with I-485 (concurrent filing), some categories owe $0 additional for those forms — the I-485 fee covers them. The fees above apply for standalone filing. Use the Green Card Fee Calculator to check your specific category. Pathway 2: Consular Processing (Applying From Abroad) Immigrant Visa — applied at a US consulate or embassy abroad when you are ineligible for AOS Consular Processing is required if you are outside the United States or ineligible for Adjustment of Status. You apply for an immigrant visa at a US consulate, attend an interview abroad, and enter the US as a lawful permanent resident. Consular Processing is typically less expensive than AOS because you do not need I-765 or I-131. Cost ItemRequired?Amount I-130 — Petition (family-based)Required — $675 — Immigrant Visa Application Fee (DS-260)Required — $325 USCIS Immigrant Fee (paid after entry to US)Required — $235 — Medical Exam (panel physician abroad)Required — $200–$500 — Document translationIf needed — $50–$300 — Travel to consulate for interviewVaries — $100–$500+ Immigration attorney feesOptional but recommended — $1,500–$4,000 — Total (no attorney, family-based) — $1,585–$2,535 — Total (with attorney, family-based) — $3,085–$6,535 — Consular Processing advantages:Lower government fees than AOS
Sometimes faster for certain preference categories
Required for those ineligible for AOS
Consular Processing disadvantages:
Must remain abroad the entire process
No US work authorization while waiting
Travel and living costs add up
Green Card Cost by Immigration Category
Your immigration category determines which forms you file and which fees apply. Here are realistic all-in cost ranges for the most common green card pathways through Adjustment of Status.
Family-Based — Immediate Relative of US Citizen
Spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of US citizen — no wait for visa number
Family-Based — Preference Category (Siblings, Adult Children)
F3, F4 categories — can wait years for visa number
Employment-Based (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)
Employer-sponsored or self-petitioned
K-1 — Fiance Visa then Adjustment of Status
Fiance enters on K-1, marries, then files I-485
Refugee / Asylee Adjustment
Refugees and asylees adjusting to permanent resident
Immigration Medical Exam Cost (Form I-693)
The immigration medical exam is one of the most variable costs in your green card application. It must be performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon — not your regular doctor. Costs vary by location, provider, and vaccination history. The sealed exam results go directly to USCIS.
$200–$350
Exam only — vaccines fully up to date
$350–$600
Exam + a few missing vaccines
$600–$900+
Exam + multiple vaccines or TB follow-up
What the medical exam includes:
Physical exam (height, weight, vitals)
Vaccination review and catch-up shots
TB skin test or blood test
Syphilis blood test (age 15+)
Drug and alcohol assessment
Mental health evaluation
Review of communicable disease history
Required vaccines: MMR, varicella, Tdap, flu, COVID-19, others
Immigration Attorney Fees — When Do You Need One?
You are not legally required to hire an attorney for your green card application, but immigration forms are complex and USCIS fees are non-refundable even if your application is denied. A $2,000 attorney fee can easily save more than it costs by preventing a $3,000 fee loss from a rejected application.
You may NOT need an attorney if:
Immediate relative of US citizen, no complications
No criminal history whatsoever
Entered the US legally and maintained status
No prior visa denials or immigration violations
Income clearly meets I-864 requirements
You definitely need an attorney if:
Any arrest or criminal conviction (including misdemeanors)
Prior visa overstay or unlawful presence
Prior deportation, removal, or voluntary departure order
Prior USCIS application denial
Complex family situations (divorce, prior marriages)
Employment-based or self-petitioned categories
Green Card Costs for Families
When a family applies together, costs multiply — but children under 14 get a reduced I-485 fee. Here are realistic totals for common family configurations filing Adjustment of Status concurrently.
Single Adult
I-485 ($1,440) + I-765 ($820) + I-131 ($630) + medical ($200–500) = $3,090–$3,390; add attorney $1,500–$5,000
Married Couple (2 adults)
Government fees x2 = $5,780; medical x2 ($400–$1,000); attorney $1,500–$8,000+
Originally published (with a free interactive calculator) at https://mortgagecalculatortools.com/how-much-does-green-card-cost.html. Figures current as of July 2026; sources listed on the original page. Not legal or financial advice.
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