USCIS and immigration fees as of October 2026

How immigration fees work in 2026

Most USCIS filing fees come from the agency's fee schedule, Form G-1055, which was overhauled in April 2024. Since then, two things have added complexity. First, the 2025 reconciliation law (Public Law 119-21, often called H.R. 1 or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) created new mandatory fees for asylum, parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), some work permits and other benefits. These fees cannot be waived and are adjusted for inflation every year. Second, several fees are being changed by separate rules or are tied up in court.

This page lists the fees most people ask about, as of October 28, 2026. Filing online through a USCIS account is usually $50 cheaper than paper where online filing is offered. Always confirm the amount on the form's page at uscis.gov on the day you file; USCIS rejects filings with the wrong fee. For a personal estimate, try our fee calculator, and see forms and guidance for related guides.

Green card and citizenship fees (I-130, I-485, N-400)

Forms I-864 (Affidavit of Support) and I-693 (medical exam) have no USCIS filing fee, although civil surgeons charge for the exam. See family green cards and citizenship and naturalization.

Work permit and travel document fees

Whether the H.R. 1 work permit fee is charged on top of the regular I-765 fee depends on the category. Under the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/26/26), initial work permits for TPS, parolees and asylum applicants under the special ABC procedures cost the regular fee ($520 paper, $470 online) plus $570. Most other asylum applicants pay no regular fee on an initial (c)(8) work permit but still owe the $570. Renewals for TPS and most parolees add $280 to the regular fee, and asylum applicant renewals add $275. The parole fee does not apply to green card applicants returning on advance parole, according to USCIS guidance.

Employer petition fees (I-129 and I-140)

H-1B and L-1 petitions can carry extra statutory fees: a $500 fraud prevention and detection fee for initial petitions and changes of employer, an ACWIA training fee of $1,500 ($750 for employers with 25 or fewer workers) for H-1B, and an additional $4,000 (H-1B) or $4,500 (L-1) for employers with 50 or more U.S. employees, more than half in H-1B or L status. H-2B petitions add a $150 fraud fee. Employers can total these with the sponsorship cost calculator; see also PERM labor certification for green card sponsorship costs.

Premium processing (Form I-907) is optional and paid separately. Since March 1, 2026, it costs $2,965 for most I-129 and I-140 classifications, $1,780 for H-2B and R petitions and for OPT and STEM OPT work permits, and $2,075 for certain student and exchange visitor I-539 requests, according to a DHS final rule and the fee schedule as of October 2026.

Investor (EB-5) fees

The middle column shows the amounts in the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/26/26). A first-time I-526E also requires a separate EB-5 Integrity Fund fee, which is $1,000 and rises to $1,100 under the new rule. The new amounts come from a final rule published September 30, 2026 (Federal Register document 2026-20016), which also created Form I-527. See EB-5.

Asylum, TPS and other humanitarian fees

The H.R. 1 humanitarian fees cannot be waived. In July 2026 a federal court in Massachusetts temporarily barred USCIS from rejecting asylum applications, ending work permits or starting removal cases solely because the annual asylum fee was unpaid; USCIS may still bill the fee. See asylum and TPS.

Biometrics

Since April 1, 2024, the biometrics cost is built into most USCIS filing fees, so most applicants pay nothing separately. A separate $30 biometric fee still applies to TPS. A $30-per-person DHS biometric services fee also applies to certain applications for relief filed in immigration court (EOIR-40, EOIR-42A and EOIR-42B).

Immigration court (EOIR) fees from October 1, 2026

These amounts combine the base court fee with inflation-adjusted H.R. 1 fees under an EOIR final rule published August 21, 2026 (91 FR 54211). A separate EOIR notice (91 FR 61447) adjusted H.R. 1 fees for certain DHS forms, such as I-485 and I-589, filed with the court. Biometrics fees are extra where required.

State Department visa fees

Nonimmigrant fees are paid through the official appointment system for your country before booking. Some nationalities also pay a reciprocity fee at visa issuance. F, M and J applicants also pay a separate SEVIS fee to DHS.

Visa integrity fee: H.R. 1 also created a visa integrity fee for nonimmigrant visas, set in the law at a minimum of $250 and refundable in some cases. When and how it is charged depends on State Department implementation, so check the State Department fee page and your embassy's instructions before you apply. H.R. 1 also set a $24 Form I-94 fee, unchanged for fiscal year 2027. Find your country's official fee page through official visa sites.

Fee waivers and reduced fees

Some USCIS forms allow a fee waiver using Form I-912 if you can show household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, receive a means-tested benefit, or face financial hardship. Fee waivers are not available for H.R. 1 fees, for most employment petitions, or for EB-5 petitions. The N-400 reduced fee is available for households at or below 400% of the poverty guidelines. Ask a legal aid provider whether you qualify.

Paying fees safely

• Pay USCIS online through your USCIS account, or by check, money order or card using Form G-1450 with a paper filing, as the form page instructs.
• Pay immigration court fees through the EOIR payment portal as directed by EOIR.
• USCIS never asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer to an individual, Zelle, Venmo or cryptocurrency. See avoiding immigration scams.