2026 Immigration Fees: The Complete USCIS Filing Fee Guide

Filing an immigration case is one of the most important — and most expensive — things a family does. And in 2026, the cost picture is more complicated than ever: a major fee restructuring, online-filing discounts on some forms, brand-new statutory fees from the H.R.1 law, and inflation adjustments layered on top.

This guide lays it all out. Below you'll find the current fees for the forms people actually file — green cards, citizenship, work permits, family petitions, employment cases, and humanitarian applications — organized in clear tables. Then we cover how to save money, which fees can be waived, and the deadlines that carry the highest stakes.

Fees change and vary by situation. The figures below reflect the 2026 schedule; always confirm the exact amount on the official USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov before you file, or ask us to check for you.

Family-Based & Green Card Fees (2026)

These are the forms behind marriage green cards, family petitions, and permanent residence. Note that many green card cases combine several forms, so the real cost is the total of the package.

U.S. Citizenship & Naturalization Fees (2026)

For green card holders ready to become citizens, and related certificate applications.

Good news for citizenship applicants: biometric (fingerprint) services are now bundled into the N-400 fee — there is no separate $85 biometrics charge — and filing online saves $50. If your household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the reduced $380 fee can cut the cost nearly in half. We help many clients determine whether they qualify for that reduced fee before they file.

Work Permits & Travel Documents (2026)

Important: for asylum, parole, and TPS applicants, the H.R.1 law added new statutory fees on top of these amounts — see the humanitarian section below. Also, filing your work permit (I-765) and travel document (I-131) together with your green card (I-485) reduces the work-permit fee to $260, one of the biggest built-in savings in the system.

Employment-Based Fees (2026)

For employers sponsoring workers and for employment green cards. Employment cases have the most moving parts, and several fees can apply to a single case.

Employment petitions frequently carry additional statutory fees beyond the base filing fee — for example, an Asylum Program Fee for certain employers, anti-fraud fees, and (for H-1B and L-1) other congressionally mandated charges depending on employer size. Because the total can shift significantly based on the classification and the employer, this is one area where confirming the full fee stack before filing is essential. We map the complete cost for employers so there are no surprises.

Humanitarian & New H.R.1 Fees (2026)

This is where 2026 changed the most. The H.R.1 "One Big Beautiful Bill" law, signed July 4, 2025, created new mandatory fees for asylum, TPS, and parole — and a DHS rule effective May 29, 2026 added strict enforcement. These fees are statutory and cannot be waived.

H.R.1 also created or raised several travel and border fees, including a new visa integrity fee for many nonimmigrant visa applicants, an ESTA fee, an EVUS enrollment fee, and a $24 minimum I-94 fee at land borders — all indexed for inflation.

How to Save Money on Immigration Fees

The fees are high, but there are legitimate ways to reduce what you pay:

• File online when you can. Most forms that offer online filing save $50 each — including I-130, N-400, I-90, I-765, I-140, and I-751. (It does not apply to I-485, I-131, premium processing, or the H.R.1 statutory fees.)
• Bundle your green card package. Filing the work permit (I-765) and travel document (I-131) together with your I-485 green card application drops the work-permit fee to $260 instead of $520 — real savings built into the rules.
• Check whether you qualify for a fee waiver (Form I-912). If your income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you receive a means-tested public benefit, or you face financial hardship, many regular USCIS fees can be waived entirely. (This does not apply to the statutory H.R.1 fees.)
• Ask about reduced fees. The N-400 has a reduced $380 option for income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Other reduced-fee options exist for certain forms.
• File before fee increases. Fee hikes are not retroactive. If you are eligible now and a change is proposed, filing sooner can lock in the current amount.
• Don't pay twice. The most expensive mistake is a rejected filing — a wrong fee, an outdated form edition, or a signature error can force you to refile. Getting it right the first time is the biggest saving of all.

Which Fees Can Be Waived — and Which Can't

This is one of the most important distinctions in the 2026 system:

• Waivable (regular USCIS fees): Many standard filing fees — including for green cards, citizenship, work permits, and family petitions — can be waived with Form I-912 if you meet the income or hardship criteria. Humanitarian applicants especially should always check eligibility.
• Not waivable (statutory H.R.1 fees): The Annual Asylum Fee, the asylum/parole/TPS work-permit add-ons, and the other H.R.1 charges are written into law by Congress. USCIS has no authority to waive them, regardless of income. Planning to request a waiver for these is not a plan.

Cost Comparison: Common Immigration Paths at a Glance

To make the numbers concrete, here is what several common goals cost in total government fees in 2026. These combine the individual form fees above into the packages people actually file.

Remember: these are government filing fees only. They do not include attorney fees, medical exam costs, translation, or the State Department fees that apply to consular cases. But they give you a realistic baseline for budgeting your case.

Why Getting the Fee Right Matters More Than Ever in 2026

It might seem like a filing fee is just a number on a check. In 2026, it is far more than that — the fee is a gatekeeper, and getting it wrong has real consequences:

• The wrong fee gets your case rejected. USCIS rejects filings submitted with an incorrect fee. A rejection means delay — and in time-sensitive cases (an aging-out child, an expiring status, a filing deadline), that delay can be irreversible.
• Some fees are now kept even on rejection. Under H.R.1, USCIS keeps the asylum filing fee even when it rejects the form as improperly filed. Mistakes cost money you don't get back.
• Missed recurring fees end cases. The Annual Asylum Fee is the clearest example: forget it, and an otherwise strong case can be terminated and turned into a removal proceeding.
• Fee amounts move. Between online discounts, reduced-fee options, bundling savings, and inflation adjustments, the "right" number for your exact situation is not always obvious. An outdated figure from an old article or a friend's experience can lead you astray.

This is why a short cost review before filing pays for itself. We confirm the exact current fee for your specific forms, identify every discount and waiver you qualify for, and make sure your package is complete and correctly paid the first time — so a fee technicality never derails your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bottom line: 2026 immigration fees are higher and more complex than ever, and a single error — a wrong amount, a missed Annual Asylum Fee, an outdated form — can cost you both money and your case. Whether you're filing for a green card, citizenship, a work permit, or an employment petition, we'll map every fee your specific case triggers, catch every discount and waiver you qualify for, and keep you ahead of every deadline. Call us at (888) 902-9285 or text (619) 889-6476 for a clear cost plan before you file.