How much does a marriage green card cost in 2026?
The cost depends on where your spouse is when the process starts. These are the official government fees, not counting attorney fees. The amounts change from time to time, so confirm them at uscis.gov/fees before paying.
If your spouse is in the United States (adjustment of status)
I-130, the petition: USD 675 on paper (USD 625 online).
I-485, the application for permanent residence: USD 1,440. It already includes the fingerprint and photo appointment (biometrics).
I-765, the work permit (optional): USD 260 when filed together with the I-485.
I-864, the affidavit of support: no USCIS fee.
I-130A: no separate fee.
Total with a work permit: USD 2,375. Without the work permit: USD 2,115.
The medical exam (I-693) is separate. It is done by a doctor authorized by USCIS, the civil surgeon. Each doctor sets the price, which usually includes vaccines and lab tests.
If your spouse is outside the United States (consular processing)
I-130, the petition: USD 675 on paper (USD 625 online).
Immigrant visa fee (State Department): USD 325.
Affidavit of support review at the NVC: USD 120.
USCIS Immigrant Fee: USD 235. It is paid after receiving the visa and before traveling; without that payment the green card is not mailed.
Approximate total: USD 1,355, plus the medical exam with the embassy-approved doctor (panel physician), whose fee varies by country.
How to pay
USCIS no longer accepts paper checks or money orders. Payment is made with a card from a U.S. bank using Form G-1450, one form per fee. State Department fees are paid online in the NVC portal.
The expenses people forget
Certified English translations of every document not in English.
Copies of birth, marriage and divorce records.
Passport-style photos.
Certified mail or courier shipping.
The I-751, about two years later, if the green card is conditional.
Adjustment or consular: the full picture
Consular processing costs about USD 1,000 less in government fees, but your spouse waits outside the country while the case moves. Adjustment of status costs more, but your spouse waits in the United States and can apply for a work permit. The price does not decide which path applies: where your spouse is and how they entered the United States does.
Before paying the first fee, check that the form is the current edition and that the amount matches what USCIS publishes that day. A wrong payment gets the whole package returned.
Informational content only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship; each case depends on its own facts. Fees change: confirm them at uscis.gov/fees before paying.
Responsible for this content: Camila Giraldo Bolívar, attorney admitted in New York and Colombia. GB Partners, Calle 5 A # 39-93, oficina 702, Medellín, Colombia. Phone and WhatsApp +57 305 234 6543. www.gbpartnersllc.com
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