U.S. visa and immigration costs may include Department of State visa fees, USCIS filing fees, Customs and Border Protection charges, SEVIS payments, statutory surcharges, medical examinations, document preparation and professional services. The amount, payment method and person responsible for each cost depend on the immigration pathway.
A B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicant normally pays a single nonimmigrant visa application fee before scheduling an interview. A marriage-based green card case may require payments to USCIS, the National Visa Center, a medical provider and a courier. An employer-sponsored work visa can include petition fees that the U.S. employer must pay, while the foreign worker may separately pay a consular visa fee. An EB-5 case combines government filing fees with investment capital that remains financially at risk.
The standard application fee is $185 for B-1/B-2, F, J, M, C, D and most other non-petition-based visas. Petition-based H, L, O, P, Q and R visas generally carry a $205 consular application fee. E visas cost $315, K visas cost $265, and ESTA costs $40.27.
Most F-1 and M-1 students also pay a separate $350 SEVIS I-901 fee. USCIS petitions, adjustment of status, employment authorization, travel documents and green card applications require separate fees.
This guide uses the current USCIS Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, the current Department of State visa fee schedule, CBP guidance for ESTA, and the ICE Form I-901 SEVIS fee schedule. Fees can change through legislation, regulations, annual inflation adjustments, litigation, court orders and updated agency instructions.
The current Department of State visa fee schedule, CBP guidance for ESTA and the ICE Form I-901 SEVIS fee schedule. Fees can change through legislation, regulations, inflation adjustments, litigation and updated agency instructions.
Last reviewed: July 2026
USCIS source: Form G-1055 Fee Schedule
Department of State source: Fees for Visa Services
Always verify the current fee immediately before filing or paying. USCIS may reject an application submitted with the wrong amount, combined payments when separate payments are required, or a payment method that does not follow the current instructions.
What Counts as a U.S. Immigration Fee?
Not every immigration-related cost is a government filing fee. Separating the different types of payments prevents inaccurate cost estimates and reduces the risk of paying an unofficial provider.
- USCIS filing fee: A payment submitted with a petition, application or request, such as Form I-130, Form I-485 or Form N-400.
- Department of State visa fee: A payment connected to a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa application at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Visa issuance or reciprocity fee: An additional amount charged to certain nationalities and visa classifications after approval.
- Statutory fee: A fee created directly by federal law that may apply in addition to a standard USCIS regulatory fee.
- Premium processing fee: An optional payment requesting faster USCIS adjudicative action for an eligible form and classification.
- Third-party cost: A payment to a civil surgeon, panel physician, translator, photographer, courier, attorney, tax adviser or other private provider.
- Financial requirement: Money that must be demonstrated or invested but is not paid to the government as a filing fee, such as EB-5 investment capital.
Who Collects U.S. Visa and Immigration Fees?
Different agencies administer different parts of the immigration system. A single case can require payments to more than one agency.
- U.S. Department of State: Nonimmigrant visa fees, immigrant visa application fees, Affidavit of Support review fees, Diversity Visa fees and reciprocity fees.
- USCIS: Family and employment petitions, adjustment of status, employment authorization, travel documents, naturalization, removal of green card conditions and the USCIS immigrant fee.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: ESTA applications for eligible Visa Waiver Program travelers.
- ICE and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program: Form I-901 SEVIS fees for F, M and J applicants.
- Private providers: Medical examinations, vaccinations, translations, photographs, courier services and professional advice.
U.S. Immigration Fees at a Glance
| Immigration Goal | Main Payments | Agency or Provider |
|---|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 visitor visa | $185 MRV fee and possible reciprocity fee | Department of State |
| ESTA travel | $40.27 ESTA fee | CBP |
| F-1 student visa | $185 MRV fee plus $350 SEVIS fee | Department of State and ICE |
| Marriage green card inside the United States | I-130, I-485, optional I-765 and I-131, medical examination | USCIS and private providers |
| Marriage green card through a consulate | I-130, NVC fees, immigrant visa fee, medical examination and USCIS immigrant fee | USCIS, Department of State and private providers |
| Temporary employment visa | Employer petition fees, possible premium processing, MRV and reciprocity fees | USCIS and Department of State |
| Naturalization | Form N-400 | USCIS |
| EB-5 investor immigration | Investment capital, I-526 or I-526E, Integrity Fund fee when applicable, immigrant processing and I-829 | USCIS, Department of State and private providers |
Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fees
Most people applying for a temporary visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate must pay a nonrefundable visa application processing fee, commonly called the MRV fee. The amount depends on the visa classification.
| Visa Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-petition-based visas, including B, C-1, D, F, I, J, M and TN/TD | $185 |
| T and U nonimmigrant visas | $185 |
| Petition-based H, L, O, P, Q and R visas | $205 |
| E treaty trader, treaty investor and qualifying Australian specialty visas | $315 |
| K fiancé(e) and qualifying spouse visas | $265 |
| Mexican border crossing card, age 15 or older | $185 |
| Qualifying Mexican border crossing card applicant under age 15 | $15 |
The MRV fee is generally nonrefundable even when the visa is refused, the applicant misses the appointment or decides not to continue. It is normally connected to the country and appointment system where it was paid and may not be transferable to another embassy or consulate.
Visa Categories That May Be Fee Exempt
Not every nonimmigrant applicant pays an MRV fee. Department of State exemptions can include:
- A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO and qualifying diplomatic visa applicants.
- Participants in certain U.S. government-sponsored J exchange programs.
- Some U.S. government employees traveling on official business.
- Qualifying charitable-service travelers.
- Replacement of a visa that was improperly issued or damaged through no fault of the applicant.
- Other applicants exempted by law, international agreement or Department of State policy.
Visa Issuance and Reciprocity Fees
Visa Integrity Fee: Is It Being Charged in 2026?
Public Law 119-21 created a separate Visa Integrity Fee for people issued nonimmigrant visas. The law established an initial amount of at least $250 and provides for later inflation adjustments.
As of July 28, 2026, the current Department of State visa fee schedule does not publish a separate Visa Integrity Fee amount, payment portal or collection procedure. Applicants should therefore not add the proposed or statutory amount to their visa cost until the Department of State or another responsible agency publishes official implementation instructions.
The Visa Integrity Fee is different from the nonrefundable MRV application fee. The law ties it to visa issuance rather than the initial submission of Form DS-160 or the scheduling of a consular interview.
Some applicants must pay an additional visa issuance fee after approval. The amount depends on the applicant’s nationality, visa classification, number of authorized entries and the reciprocity arrangement between the United States and the relevant country.
A reciprocity fee is separate from the MRV application fee. Applicants should consult the official Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country schedule before the interview.
ESTA Fee for Visa Waiver Program Travel
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization fee is $40.27 for each new application submitted and paid under the fee schedule effective in February 2026.
ESTA is not a visa. It is a travel authorization used by eligible nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries for qualifying business or tourism travel. Approval does not guarantee admission to the United States.
Payment should be made only through the official CBP ESTA website or the official ESTA mobile application. Commercial websites may charge service fees in addition to the government amount and do not improve the probability of approval.
→ Complete ESTA Eligibility and Application Guide
SEVIS I-901 Fees for Students and Exchange Visitors
Most F, M and J applicants must pay the Form I-901 SEVIS fee before the visa interview. This payment is separate from the Department of State MRV fee.
| SEVIS Category | I-901 Fee |
|---|---|
| F-1 and M-1 students | $350 |
| Most J-1 exchange visitors | $220 |
| Au pair, camp counselor and summer work/travel participants | $35 |
The applicant should retain the SEVIS payment receipt. A dependent in F-2, M-2 or J-2 status generally does not pay a separate I-901 fee, although the dependent may still need to pay a visa application fee.
Some participants in qualifying federally sponsored exchange programs may be exempt from the MRV fee even though SEVIS rules and program procedures still apply.
Immigrant Visa and National Visa Center Fees
People applying for permanent residence through a U.S. embassy or consulate normally encounter both USCIS petition fees and Department of State immigrant visa fees.
| Department of State Immigrant Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Immediate-relative and family-preference immigrant visa application | $325 per applicant |
| Employment-based immigrant visa application | $345 per applicant |
| Other immigrant visa applications, except Diversity Visa selectees | $205 per applicant |
| Diversity Visa application | $330 per applicant |
| Diversity Visa registration fee | $1 for the principal registrant |
| Affidavit of Support review by the National Visa Center | $120 when required |
| Form DS-117 Returning Resident status application | $180 |
The immigrant visa application fee is charged for each person applying. A spouse and each eligible child normally require separate immigrant visa payments even when they are immigrating through the same principal petition.
After immigrant visa issuance, most new permanent residents must also pay the USCIS immigrant fee before or after traveling to the United States. USCIS uses that payment to process and produce the physical permanent resident card. Applicants should verify the current amount in Form G-1055 or through the USCIS immigrant fee payment portal.
Family-Based USCIS Filing Fees
A family-based case may involve one petition followed by either adjustment of status inside the United States or immigrant visa processing abroad.
| USCIS Form | Purpose | Current General Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $625 online / $675 paper |
| Form I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $1,440 general filing fee |
| Form I-485 for a child under 14 filing with a parent | Reduced adjustment fee when the requirements are met | $950 paper |
| Form I-765 connected to a pending post-April 2024 I-485 | Employment authorization | Separate reduced fee; verify the current category in G-1055 |
| Form I-131 | Advance parole or another travel document | Varies by filing category |
| Form I-751 | Removal of conditions on marriage-based permanent residence | $750 |
Forms I-765 and I-131 are no longer automatically included in the Form I-485 payment. An adjustment applicant requesting employment authorization or advance parole may need to submit separate forms and fees.
Fee exemptions and waivers can apply to specific humanitarian, military, abuse-related and other categories. The general fee in a table should not be treated as the amount owed by every applicant using the same form.
Marriage Green Card Cost: Adjustment vs. Consular Processing
The cost of a marriage-based green card depends heavily on whether the foreign spouse applies from inside or outside the United States.
Adjustment of Status Inside the United States
- Form I-130: $625 online or $675 on paper.
- Form I-485: $1,440 for most applicants.
- Form I-765: optional separate payment when employment authorization is requested.
- Form I-131: optional separate payment when advance parole is requested.
- Medical examination by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon.
- Translations, photographs, vaccines and document preparation.
Consular Processing From Outside the United States
- Form I-130: $625 online or $675 on paper.
- Affidavit of Support review: $120 when required.
- Family-based immigrant visa application: $325 per applicant.
- Medical examination by an authorized panel physician.
- USCIS immigrant fee after visa issuance.
- Police certificates, civil documents, translations, courier service and travel to the interview.
Neither process has one universal total. The number of derivative applicants, optional forms, medical requirements, vaccines, document availability and local travel expenses can materially change the final cost.
→ Complete Form I-130 Family Petition Guide
→ Complete Form I-485 Adjustment of Status Guide
Employment-Based Immigration Fees
Employment-based immigration costs must be divided between the U.S. petitioner and the foreign worker. Several petition fees are legally or practically the responsibility of the employer and should not be presented as an applicant’s personal visa cost.
Form I-140 Employment-Based Green Card Petition
- Form I-140 general filing fee: $715.
- Asylum Program Fee for a regular employer: $600.
- Asylum Program Fee for a small employer or qualifying self-petitioner: $300.
- Asylum Program Fee for a qualifying nonprofit: $0.
- Premium processing: Optional when available and paid separately.
The Asylum Program Fee is separate from the Form I-140 filing fee. USCIS may require separate payments when specified in the filing instructions.
PERM Labor Certification
The Department of Labor does not charge a government filing fee for a PERM labor certification application. Employers may still incur recruitment, advertising, attorney and administrative costs. Those private expenses should not be described as Department of Labor filing fees.
H-1B Petition Fees
An H-1B petition can include several separate USCIS fees:
- Form I-129 H-1B filing fee: $780 on paper or $730 online for a regular petitioner.
- Small employer or qualifying nonprofit filing fee: $460.
- Asylum Program Fee: $600 for a regular petitioner, $300 for a small employer and $0 for a qualifying nonprofit.
- Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee: $500 for specified initial or change-of-employer petitions.
- ACWIA training fee: Generally $750 or $1,500 when applicable.
- Public Law 114-113 fee: May apply to qualifying large employers with a high proportion of H-1B or L-1 workers.
- Premium processing: Optional and paid separately.
- H-1B electronic registration fee: Applies during the cap registration process.
Not every H-1B filing requires every listed payment. Extensions with the same employer, cap-exempt petitions, amended petitions, changes of employer and nonprofit petitioners can have different combinations.
The foreign worker may separately pay a $205 H visa application fee when applying at a consulate, plus a reciprocity fee when applicable. Petition approval does not eliminate consular fees or guarantee visa issuance.
Premium Processing Fees in 2026
USCIS increased premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. Premium processing is available only for eligible forms and classifications.
| Eligible Request | 2026 Premium Processing Fee |
|---|---|
| Most eligible Forms I-129 and I-140 | $2,965 |
| Certain I-129 classifications using the lower premium tier | $1,780 |
| Eligible Form I-539 classifications | $2,075 |
| Eligible Form I-765 classifications | $1,780 |
Premium processing requires USCIS to take an adjudicative action within the period assigned to the form and classification. That action can be an approval, denial, Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny or another qualifying action.
The service does not guarantee approval, an immigrant visa number, a consular appointment or faster Department of State processing. When USCIS issues a request for additional evidence, the premium processing clock may stop and restart after USCIS receives the response.
Naturalization and Citizenship Fees
The principal naturalization fees are:
- Form N-400 online filing: $710.
- Form N-400 paper filing: $760.
- Reduced Form N-400 fee: $380 for applicants who meet the current income requirements.
- Full fee waiver: Available to qualifying naturalization applicants under USCIS fee-waiver rules.
An applicant requesting a reduced N-400 fee or full fee waiver generally must file on paper and provide the required financial evidence. The reduced fee and full waiver are separate forms of relief and have different eligibility standards.
Naturalization applicants serving or having served in qualifying U.S. military circumstances may be exempt from the N-400 fee.
Humanitarian Immigration Fees
Humanitarian fee calculations became substantially more complicated after Public Law 119-21 created additional statutory fees. Some fees are added to existing USCIS regulatory charges, and the rules can differ according to the application category, filing date and applicable court order.
Asylum Fees
A Form I-589 asylum case may involve several distinct charges:
- A USCIS regulatory filing fee listed for Form I-589.
- An initial statutory asylum fee.
- An annual asylum fee for each calendar year the application remains pending.
- A separate employment authorization fee when the applicant requests an EAD.
The FY 2026 inflation-adjusted annual asylum fee is $102. Court orders and settlement-class rules may exempt specific applicants from individual statutory fees, but those exceptions should not be described as a universal suspension for every asylum applicant.
DACA Fees
A DACA request requires Form I-821D together with Form I-765 and Form I-765WS. Under the current schedule, the combined amount is generally:
- $965 when filed online.
- $1,015 when filed on paper.
Additional fees may apply under the current statutory schedule. Applicants should verify both the filing method and the complete package amount before submission. DACA does not use an ordinary Form I-912 fee waiver, although USCIS recognizes a narrow fee-exemption process in exceptional circumstances.
Temporary Protected Status Fees
A Form I-821 initial TPS registration generally lists a $510 filing fee plus additional fees that may apply. The total depends on:
- Initial registration or re-registration.
- The applicant’s age.
- Whether biometrics are required.
- Whether Form I-765 is filed.
- The employment authorization category.
- Applicable statutory fees or court-ordered exceptions.
U and T Nonimmigrant Petitions
Forms I-918 and I-914 do not carry a general base filing fee for the principal petition. Related filings, waivers, derivative applications, employment authorization, translations and professional assistance can still create costs.
A humanitarian process should therefore be described as having “no base fee for the principal petition,” not as universally free.
EB-5 Investor Visa Fees
EB-5 combines immigration fees, private transaction expenses and investment capital.
| EB-5 Cost | Current Treatment |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifying investment | $800,000 or $1,050,000 |
| Form I-526 or I-526E | $3,675 |
| Initial Form I-526E Integrity Fund fee | $1,000 when required |
| Form I-485 | Separate fee for each adjustment applicant |
| Immigrant visa processing | Department of State fee for each applicant |
| Form I-829 | $3,750 |
| Regional center administrative or subscription fee | Private offering expense that varies by project |
| Legal, tax, securities and due diligence services | Private professional expenses |
The $800,000 or $1,050,000 amount is investment capital, not a government fee. It must remain at risk under the applicable EB-5 rules, and repayment is not guaranteed.
USCIS fees should also be distinguished from project administration, fund management, securities review, currency-transfer expenses and source-of-funds documentation.
→ Complete EB-5 Investor Visa Guide
Medical Examination and Vaccination Costs
Immigration medical examinations are generally private-provider expenses. They are not included in the USCIS or Department of State application fee.
Adjustment of Status Medical Examination
An adjustment applicant uses a USCIS-designated civil surgeon and submits Form I-693. Civil surgeons establish their own prices. The final cost can depend on the physical examination, laboratory tests, vaccinations, record review and follow-up visits.
Consular Immigrant Visa Medical Examination
An immigrant visa applicant abroad must use a panel physician authorized by the embassy or consulate. Local instructions establish the physician, payment method and required tests. The cost varies by country, age and vaccination history.
Form I-693 is used in adjustment-of-status cases. Consular applicants follow the medical documentation process established by the Department of State and the designated panel physician.
Other Private Immigration Costs
Government fee totals commonly exclude:
- Certified translations.
- Birth, marriage, divorce, adoption and death records.
- Police certificates and court records.
- Passport photographs.
- Vaccinations and laboratory tests.
- Courier and passport-delivery services.
- Travel to an embassy, consulate or USCIS appointment.
- Attorney or accredited representative fees.
- Cross-border tax advice.
- Securities and investment due diligence.
- Recruitment and advertising expenses in employment cases.
Private providers set their own prices unless a local government or consular post publishes a fixed amount. A third-party expense should never be described as an official USCIS fee.
Fee Waivers, Reduced Fees and Exemptions
USCIS recognizes several different forms of fee relief:
- Fee exemption: The applicant owes no fee because the form, category or statute is exempt.
- Full fee waiver: USCIS waives an otherwise required regulatory fee after approving the applicant’s request.
- Reduced fee: The applicant pays a lower amount after meeting specific requirements.
- Statutory exception: A law or court order creates an exception to a statutory fee.
Form I-912 may be used for eligible forms and categories when the applicant demonstrates qualification through a means-tested benefit, household income at or below the applicable threshold, or documented financial hardship.
A form number alone does not establish eligibility for a waiver. Two people filing Form I-485 or Form I-765 under different immigration categories may have different fees and waiver options.
Naturalization applicants may qualify for a reduced N-400 fee or a full fee waiver. Premium processing fees generally cannot be waived. Fees created directly by federal statute may have stricter waiver rules than ordinary USCIS regulatory fees.
U.S. Immigration Fee Types Explained
Estimated Costs by Immigration Goal
The following examples illustrate common government payments. They are not universal totals and exclude many private expenses.
B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa
- MRV application fee: $185.
- Possible reciprocity fee after approval.
- Photographs, courier and travel expenses when applicable.
ESTA Travel
- Official ESTA application: $40.27.
- No separate MRV fee because ESTA is not a visa application.
F-1 Student Visa
- MRV application fee: $185.
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350.
- Base government total for most applicants: $535.
- Possible reciprocity, courier and travel costs.
Marriage Green Card Through Adjustment of Status
- Form I-130: $625 online or $675 paper.
- Form I-485: $1,440 for most applicants.
- Base petition and adjustment total: $2,065 online or $2,115 paper.
- Form I-765 and Form I-131 cost extra when requested.
- Medical examination and other private costs are additional.
Marriage Green Card Through Consular Processing
- Form I-130: $625 online or $675 paper.
- Affidavit of Support review: $120 when required.
- Immigrant visa application: $325 per applicant.
- USCIS immigrant fee after visa issuance.
- Medical examination and document expenses.
Naturalization
- N-400 online: $710.
- N-400 paper: $760.
- Reduced fee: $380 when approved.
- Full waiver: $0 when USCIS approves a qualifying fee-waiver request.
H-1B Visa
There is no single H-1B total. The employer petition can combine Form I-129, the Asylum Program Fee, ACWIA, the fraud fee, registration, Public Law fees and premium processing. The worker may separately pay a $205 consular visa fee and an applicable reciprocity fee.
EB-5 Investor Immigration
The qualifying investment of $800,000 or $1,050,000 is separate from USCIS, Department of State, project administration, legal, tax and due diligence expenses. A credible EB-5 estimate must show each category separately rather than describing all capital as a government visa fee.
How to Pay Immigration Fees Safely
- Use the official USCIS, Department of State, CBP or ICE payment system.
- Confirm the current edition of the form and its instructions.
- Verify whether online and paper filing have different fees.
- Check whether each family member needs a separate payment.
- Submit separate payments when the official instructions require them.
- Do not combine the filing fee, premium processing fee or additional statutory fee unless instructed.
- Keep receipts, confirmation pages and payment records.
- Do not pay a government fee through a personal bank account, cryptocurrency wallet or appointment broker.
- Do not assume an old receipt or another applicant’s payment remains correct.
USCIS provides an online Fee Calculator designed to reduce rejected filings caused by incorrect payments. Department of State visa applicants should follow the payment instructions for the embassy or consulate handling their application.
Verify Every Fee Before Filing
Immigration fees can change without a complete redesign of the underlying form. A fee may also vary because of filing method, applicant age, petitioner size, nonprofit status, immigration category, court order or statutory surcharge.
Before submitting any application:
- Open the official page for the exact form.
- Review the current Form G-1055 entry.
- Confirm all additional fees tied to the filing category.
- Check whether online filing is permitted and less expensive.
- Review fee-waiver or reduced-fee eligibility.
- Follow the current payment and separate-payment instructions.
- Recheck the amount immediately before submission.
The correct fee does not guarantee approval, but an incorrect fee can prevent USCIS or the Department of State from accepting the case. Careful verification at the payment stage protects the filing date, avoids unnecessary rejection and provides a more realistic picture of the full cost of the immigration process.
For the steps that follow payment, review the complete U.S. visa and immigration application process. For identity, financial, civil and category-specific evidence, use the U.S. visa documentation requirements guide.