USCIS Filing Fees Explained

Start with the current official fee entry

Open the official form instructions and Form G-1055 fee schedule. A form number alone may not identify what you must pay. The applicable category, age, request type, filing method, exemptions and additional statutory fees can matter.

The April 2024 schedule is a historical starting point, not a complete current fee quote. Later changes include fees under H.R. 1 and annual adjustments for certain categories. See the USCIS FY2026 fee notice.

Conditions to check for I-130 and I-485

• I-130: Confirm the permitted filing method and its fee; online and paper entries can differ.
• I-485: Confirm the adjustment basis, age and, for an applicant under 14, whether the application is being submitted concurrently with a parent’s I-485.
• Related I-765 or I-131: Confirm the applicable category and whether a pending I-485’s original filing date and fee payment affect the fee. Do not automatically add generic standalone amounts.
• Additional or exempt fees: Confirm statutory charges, court-filing rules and any exemption or waiver that actually applies. A waiver for one fee does not establish that every separate fee is waived.

These conditions appear in the USCIS fee regulations and fee requirements. Use the current USCIS instructions for the complete amount and method before paying.

Biometrics do not imply a standard extra charge

An appointment to collect fingerprints or a photograph does not itself determine a separate fee. Check whether your specific current fee entry includes a biometric services charge. Do not add a blanket biometric amount or a percentage surcharge.

Paper forms and electronic payments

USCIS announced that, from October 28, 2025, paper-filed forms generally require electronic payment using Form G-1450 for card authorization or Form G-1650 for ACH authorization. Limited exceptions are described in Form G-1651. Do not assume that mailing a paper form means you should mail a check.

Source: USCIS electronic-payment notice. Reopen the current form and payment instructions for your filing location before paying.

Check each form and applicant separately

Concurrent filing is not a universal fee package. Verify each applicable fee and how USCIS requires it to be paid. Different applicants can qualify for different categories, even when their forms are mailed together.

Use the fee verification checklist to organize these checks. Where the applicable conditions or current fee are unconfirmed, it leaves the amount to pay unestablished.