Marriage Green Card Cost Calculator (2026)

How much does a marriage green card cost in 2026?

For a spouse adjusting status inside the United States, the standard USCIS filing fees total $3,005: Form I-130 ($675), Form I-485 ($1,440, with biometrics included), the I-765 work permit ($260), and the I-131 travel permit ($630). The I-864 Affidavit of Support has no USCIS fee. If you skip the work and travel permits, the green-card-only filing is $2,115. Add roughly $250 to $600 in out-of-pocket costs like the medical exam, photos, and certified translations.

How much does a marriage green card cost if my spouse lives abroad (Consular Processing)?

If your spouse is abroad and immigrates through a U.S. embassy, the government fees come to about $1,305 to $1,355: Form I-130 ($625 online or $675 by mail), the DS-260 immigrant visa fee ($325), the affidavit of support review fee ($120, charged once per case), and the USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235) that produces the physical green card. There is no I-485, work permit, or travel permit in Consular Processing. Add the cost of a medical exam abroad and document translations on top.

Are the green card work permit and travel permit still free?

No. For any I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024, the I-765 work permit costs $260 and the I-131 travel permit (Advance Parole) costs $630 when filed with your green card application. The $0 rate only applied to applications filed before April 1, 2024. Many older articles still say these are free, which is no longer correct.

What is the cheapest a marriage green card can cost?

The lowest USCIS filing total is $2,115: just the I-130 petition ($675) and the I-485 application ($1,440). You only reach that by skipping the I-765 work permit and the I-131 travel permit. Skip the work permit only if you do not need to work while you wait, and skip Advance Parole only if you will not travel abroad before approval, because leaving without it can abandon your case.

Why is my marriage green card $3,005 when I read it was cheaper?

Older guides use pre-April-2024 fees. Three things changed: the I-485 rose to $1,440, the $85 biometrics fee was folded into the I-485, and the work permit and travel permit stopped being free (now $260 and $630). The current USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) is the source of truth.

Do I have to pay a separate biometrics or fingerprint fee?

No. Since April 1, 2024, the biometric services fee is included in the $1,440 I-485 fee. You do not add a separate $85 charge for a marriage-based green card.

Can I get a fee waiver for a marriage green card?

Almost never. A spouse adjusting status through marriage to a U.S. citizen is subject to the public charge rule, which is why the I-864 Affidavit of Support is required. USCIS only waives the I-485 fee for applicants who are exempt from public charge, such as VAWA self-petitioners, asylees, refugees, and certain humanitarian categories. A standard marriage-based applicant is not eligible.

Is the $99 Green Card Genius fee on top of the USCIS fees?

Yes. The USCIS filing fees go directly to the government and are unavoidable. Green Card Genius charges $99 to prepare every form correctly. That $99 is separate from, and in addition to, the USCIS fees.