USCIS filing fees in 2026 vary by form, filing method, and applicant type. A single employment-based green card case can involve fees across Form I-140, Form I-485, Form I-907, Form I-765, and Form I-131, none of which share the same fee structure. Using the USCIS fee calculator before assembling any filing package prevents the most common and costly filing error: submitting the wrong payment amount and having the entire package rejected without processing. Beyond Border is an immigration firm specializing in employment-based visa and green card pathways and verifies USCIS fees for every petition before submission.
USCIS fees effective as of 2026 reflect the April 1, 2024 fee schedule update, with the premium processing fee further updated on March 1, 2026. The table below covers the forms most relevant to employment-based applicants.
(Source: USCIS Fee Schedule effective April 1, 2024; Form I-907 updated March 1, 2026)
Biometric services are now included in the I-485 fee of $1,440 and no longer billed separately. The I-765 and I-131 carry no additional USCIS fee when filed concurrently with I-485. Standalone renewals of these documents after the initial concurrent filing are charged at the rates above.
For a full and always-current fee lookup by form number, use the USCIS fee calculator on Beyond Border's website, which reflects the current USCIS schedule.
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The USCIS fee calculator tool on the official USCIS website allows applicants to select the form they plan to file and receive the exact current fee. It also accounts for variables such as applicant age, filing method (online or paper), and whether small employer rates apply.
The key variables affecting the output are:
Filing method: Online filing carries a lower fee for I-485 ($1,375 vs $1,440) and I-765 ($470 vs $520). This discount does not apply universally across all forms. Check the calculator output for the specific form rather than assuming online filing always costs less.
Employer size: For employer-sponsored petitions, small employers with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees pay lower Asylum Program fees. This reduces the total filing cost for I-140 employer-sponsored petitions and some I-129 categories.
Applicant age: Previously, children under 14 paid a reduced I-485 fee. That reduced rate was eliminated effective April 1, 2024. All applicants regardless of age now pay $1,440 for paper filing or $1,375 for online filing.
The calculator should be run immediately before assembling the filing package. USCIS updates fees periodically, and amounts from blog posts, guides, or cached web pages more than a few months old may be incorrect. Submitting the wrong fee results in rejection and a full refile, not just a correction request.
For professionals filing I-140 and I-485 as part of an employment-based green card process, the fee structure breaks down as follows.
The base filing fee is $715 for all employment-based categories including EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, EB-2 PERM, and EB-3. The Asylum Program fee applies in addition: $300 for self-petitioners (EB-1A and EB-2 NIW), $600 for standard employer-sponsored petitions, and $300 for small employers. Total government fee for a self-petitioned I-140 without premium processing is $1,015.
Premium processing costs $2,965 effective March 1, 2026. It guarantees USCIS action within 15 business days for EB-1A and EB-1B petitions, and within 45 business days for EB-2 NIW and EB-1C. For a full analysis of when premium processing is worth the cost, see the I-140 premium processing pros and cons guide.
The filing fee is $1,440 per applicant for paper filing or $1,375 for online filing through a USCIS account. Biometric services are included. Each derivative dependent (spouse or child) pays the same fee. For a full breakdown of I-485 fee changes since the April 2024 update, see the I-485 filing fee changes guide.
[Check the USCIS processing times page for current processing estimates alongside fee planning, as USCIS updates these weekly.]
For professionals filing employment-based nonimmigrant petitions, Form I-129 carries different fees depending on the visa category and employer size.
The base I-129 filing fee is $1,055 for standard employers and $530 for small employers (25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) for O-1 and certain other nonimmigrant categories. For L-1 petitions, the base filing fee is $1,385 for standard employers and $695 for small employers.
The Asylum Program fee applies to most I-129 petitions: $600 for standard employers and $300 for small employers.
The Fraud Prevention and Detection fee of $500 applies to H-1B and L-1 petitions. An additional $100,000 fee applies to employers with 50 or more U.S. employees where more than 50% are on H-1B or L-1 status, effective September 2025.
Premium processing for O-1 and L-1 petitions costs $2,965 and guarantees action within 15 business days. For a full O-1 visa fee breakdown including government filing fees and what lawyers typically charge separately, see the O-1 visa cost guide.
USCIS fee waivers are available for a defined set of applicants. Eligibility is narrowly set by regulation and does not extend to employment-based applicants based on financial hardship or low income alone.
Qualifying categories for fee waivers include VAWA self-petitioners, T visa holders (human trafficking victims), U visa holders (crime victims), and Special Immigrant Juveniles. These applicants may request fee waivers on Form I-912.
Reduced fees are available for Form N-400 naturalization applicants with household income between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level; the reduced fee is $380. Applicants below 150% of the poverty level may qualify for a full N-400 fee waiver.
Standard employment-based applicants including EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, O-1, and L-1 petitioners do not qualify for fee waivers on the basis of financial hardship. USCIS does not offer payment plans; the full fee must be submitted at the time of filing.
Paper filing: Payments must be made by personal check, money order, or cashier's check, payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Write your name, A-number if assigned, daytime phone number, and the form number on the memo line. Do not make checks payable to "USCIS" or "Immigration"; these are common errors that cause rejection.
Online filing: Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and ACH bank transfers from a U.S. account are accepted.
Not accepted under any method: Cash, foreign currency checks, third-party checks, post-dated checks, and credit card payments submitted with paper filings.
If payment is rejected by USCIS, the entire application package is returned unprocessed without a receipt notice. The applicant must refile with corrected payment. This delays the filing date and can affect priority date preservation or create status gaps for time-sensitive cases.
Always verify the exact fee on the USCIS filing fees page immediately before submitting. Never rely on fee amounts from non-USCIS sources more than a few months old.
Beyond Border is an immigration firm focused on employment-based high-skilled visa and green card pathways including O-1, L-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW. Fee verification is a standard step in every filing: the firm confirms the current government fee for each form against the USCIS schedule before the package is assembled, and checks the correct payment method, payee name, and memo line for every check or money order submitted.
Clients include professionals from JP Morgan, Google, Salesforce, Chime, Visa, and Mastercard. A money-back guarantee applies if the petition is unsuccessful. Petitions are submitted within one month of receiving all supporting documents.
To get a full fee estimate for your specific case before filing, book a free consultation with Beyond Border.
Go to the USCIS filing fees page at uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees or use the Beyond Border fee calculator tool. Select the form you plan to file, your filing method (online or paper), and your applicant type. The calculator returns the exact current fee including any applicable biometric or Asylum Program fee components.
The base I-140 filing fee is $715 for all employment-based categories. Self-petitioners (EB-1A and EB-2 NIW) pay an additional Asylum Program fee of $300. Employer-sponsored petitions pay $600 (or $300 for small employers). Premium processing via Form I-907 adds $2,965 effective March 1, 2026.
USCIS rejects the entire package and returns it unprocessed. No receipt notice is issued and no processing occurs. You must refile the complete package with the correct fee. Overpayments are typically refunded by check within six to eight weeks; underpayments require a full refile.
No. The online discount applies to specific forms including I-485 ($65 discount) and I-765 ($50 discount). Many other forms carry the same fee regardless of filing method. Always verify the fee for the specific form rather than assuming online filing is cheaper.
No. Employment-based applicants including EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, O-1, and L-1 petitioners do not qualify for fee waivers. Fee waivers are limited to VAWA petitioners, T visa holders, U visa holders, and Special Immigrant Juveniles. Financial hardship is not a qualifying ground for employment-based fee waiver requests.
