USCIS fees 2026 for I-140, I-485, I-765, I-131, I-907 and employment-based green card filings
USCIS filing fees for employment-based immigration are not one single “green card fee.” A standard EB case may include Form I-140 for the immigrant petition, Form I-485 for adjustment of status inside the United States, Form I-765 for work authorization, Form I-131 for travel authorization, and Form I-907 when premium processing is available and strategically useful. Each form has its own fee rule, eligibility category, filing method and payment instruction.
The practical risk is simple: if the amount, fee category or payment method is wrong, USCIS may reject the filing before it is reviewed on the merits. In employment-based cases, a rejection can be more than an administrative inconvenience. It can affect a Visa Bulletin filing window, work authorization planning, travel plans, family members’ applications and the timeline for obtaining permanent residence.
Scope of this guide: this page covers USCIS government filing fees for common employment-based filings. It does not include attorney fees, civil surgeon medical exam costs, translations, document delivery, Department of Labor PERM expenses, consular visa fees, the USCIS Immigrant Fee after entry with an immigrant visa, or costs created by case-specific requests.
Before filing: verify the final amount in the official USCIS Fee Calculator and Form G-1055 on the day the package is submitted or mailed. USCIS fee rules can depend on the exact form category, online vs. paper filing availability, petitioner type and additional statutory fees.
Main USCIS fee lines for EB filings
A useful EB fee calculation starts by separating the case into fee lines. The immigrant petition is one line. The Asylum Program Fee, when required, is another line. Adjustment of status is calculated separately for each applicant. Work authorization and travel authorization are no longer treated as free add-ons to a new I-485 package. Premium processing is also separate and should not be confused with faster green card issuance.
| Form or fee line | Purpose in an EB case | 2026 planning amount | What must be checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-140 | Immigrant petition for EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-3 and other employment-based classifications. | $715 by mail; $665 online where available. | Whether online filing is actually available for the specific I-140 category. |
| Asylum Program Fee | Additional fee attached to many I-140 filings, based on petitioner type. | $600, $300 or $0. | Regular employer, small employer, nonprofit or individual self-petitioner status. |
| I-485 | Adjustment of status inside the United States to become a lawful permanent resident. | $1,440 for most applicants age 14 or older by mail; reduced child amount may apply. | Age, whether a child under 14 files concurrently with a parent, and whether online filing is permitted. |
| I-765 | Employment authorization document while I-485 is pending. | $260 for an I-765 based on pending I-485. | The I-765 eligibility category. Other EAD categories may have different fees. |
| I-131 | Advance Parole or another travel document while an immigration benefit is pending. | $630 for many paper-filed Advance Parole requests. | Exact I-131 category and whether online filing is available. Do not assume the same online amount for every I-131 use. |
| I-907 | Premium processing request, most commonly used with I-140. | $2,965 for I-140 premium processing for filings postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. | Whether premium processing is available for the benefit and whether it helps the actual case strategy. |
Do not add fees mechanically. Some USCIS categories may involve additional statutory fees under Public Law 119-21 / H.R. 1. Those fees, where applicable, are in addition to the regular filing fee and may require separate payment. For an EB case, add them only when the official USCIS fee tool or form instructions show that they apply to the exact category being filed.
Form I-140, petitioner type and the Asylum Program Fee
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, is the employment-based immigrant petition. It is used in different ways across EB categories: EB-1A extraordinary ability and EB-2 NIW can be self-petitioned by the applicant; many EB-2 and EB-3 cases are filed by an employer after PERM labor certification; EB-1C is filed by a qualifying employer for a multinational executive or manager. The filing fee is not calculated the same way for every petitioner.
The standard planning amount for Form I-140 is $715 by mail or $665 online if USCIS allows online filing for the specific category. This is only the base petition fee. It does not include the Asylum Program Fee, premium processing, adjustment of status, work authorization, travel authorization, medical exam costs or family members’ filings.
Mail filing: $715 Online filing where available: $665The Asylum Program Fee is one of the most common I-140 calculation mistakes. A regular employer generally pays $600. A small employer with 25 or fewer full-time employees in the United States generally pays $300. An individual self-petitioner in EB-1A or EB-2 NIW is commonly treated at the reduced $300 level. A qualifying nonprofit petitioner may owe $0.
The fee should be planned as its own line. Self-petitioning does not mean “no Asylum Program Fee.” It means the applicant must check whether the reduced self-petitioner amount applies and complete the I-140 fee-related fields consistently.
Regular employer: $600 Small employer: $300 EB-1A / EB-2 NIW self-petitioner: commonly $300 Qualifying nonprofit: $0High-risk mistake: paying only the $715 I-140 base fee and omitting the Asylum Program Fee. USCIS has specifically warned that I-140 petitions can be rejected when the Asylum Program Fee is missing or incorrect.
How to check the I-140 fee before filing
- Identify who is the petitioner: regular employer, small employer, nonprofit, EB-1A self-petitioner or EB-2 NIW self-petitioner.
- Confirm whether the case is filed online or by mail. Do not use an online discount for a paper package.
- Calculate the I-140 base fee and the Asylum Program Fee as separate fee lines.
- If I-907 premium processing is added, calculate it separately and verify current I-907 eligibility.
- Recheck the amount in the USCIS Fee Calculator immediately before submission.
Form I-485, I-765, I-131 and family adjustment packages
Form I-485 is the adjustment of status application used by eligible applicants inside the United States. It is separate from Form I-140. I-140 asks USCIS to classify the person under an employment-based immigrant category; I-485 asks USCIS to grant permanent resident status when a visa number is available and the applicant is otherwise eligible.
Each family member needs a separate I-485. The principal applicant, spouse and each eligible child are counted separately. This is why a family adjustment package often costs much more than the principal applicant’s calculation alone.
For most applicants age 14 or older, the I-485 planning amount is $1,440 by mail. A child under 14 may qualify for a reduced amount if filing concurrently with at least one parent. If USCIS permits online filing for the exact case type, the online fee may be lower, but that must be confirmed in the USCIS Fee Calculator before filing.
USCIS may still schedule fingerprinting, photo capture and identity verification after I-485 is filed. However, for a standard employment-based adjustment package, the old separate biometrics payment is generally not added as a separate line unless the current USCIS fee schedule identifies a specific exception for the filing category.
Form I-765 is used to request an EAD, the employment authorization document. For an I-765 based on a pending I-485, the planning amount is $260. This does not mean every I-765 category costs $260. Student, humanitarian, parole-related, renewal or other EAD categories may follow different fee rules.
In many EB adjustment cases, Form I-131 is used to request Advance Parole so the applicant can seek travel authorization while I-485 is pending. The planning amount for many paper-filed Advance Parole requests is $630. Because I-131 now covers several types of travel and parole-related requests, the exact fee should be checked by category. Avoid copying an amount from another applicant’s I-131 case without matching the same filing reason.
Family package logic: calculate I-485, I-765 and I-131 separately for each person who files. A spouse or child is not automatically included in the principal applicant’s USCIS filing fee.
Form I-907 premium processing: what it speeds up and what it does not
Form I-907 is used to request premium processing for specific USCIS benefits when the service is available. In EB immigration, it is most often used with Form I-140. For requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, the I-140 premium processing fee is $2,965.
Premium processing can speed up the adjudication of the petition it covers, but it does not make a priority date current, does not accelerate the Visa Bulletin, does not replace PERM, does not speed up an I-485 as a separate green card application, and does not remove biometrics, security checks or admissibility review.
| Benefit or form | I-907 fee | What it may speed up | What it does not solve |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-140 in EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW or EB-3 | $2,965 | The I-140 petition decision where premium processing is available. | Backlogged priority dates, I-485 adjudication, PERM, medical exams or family members’ separate filings. |
| Certain I-765 applications | $1,780 | Only eligible I-765 categories announced by USCIS. | A regular c(9) EAD based on pending I-485 should not be treated as automatically eligible for I-907. |
| I-485 and I-131 in standard EB adjustment | No standard I-907 option | Not applicable for a typical EB adjustment filing. | Premium processing of I-140 does not equal premium processing of the green card application. |
Strategy point: premium processing is often useful when the I-140 decision itself unlocks the next step. It is less useful when the real bottleneck is a retrogressed priority date or a separate I-485 timeline.
Payment method, separate fee lines and rejection risk
USCIS fees are not only about the amount. The payment method now matters more than many older templates suggest. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders or cashier’s checks for paper-filed forms unless the filer qualifies for an exemption. Paper filings generally require electronic payment authorization, such as credit/debit card authorization or ACH debit from a U.S. bank account, following current USCIS instructions.
- For online filings, payment is generally handled through the USCIS online filing system or Pay.gov workflow.
- For mail filings, USCIS guidance points filers to electronic payment methods such as Form G-1450 for card payment or Form G-1650 for ACH authorization.
- Do not send old-style checks or money orders unless USCIS instructions show that a specific exemption applies.
- Do not combine unrelated fees in a way that makes it unclear which fee line pays for which form.
A filing package can contain several forms, but each fee must be traceable. The I-140 base fee, Asylum Program Fee and I-907 premium processing fee should be planned as distinct lines. For adjustment of status, each I-485, I-765 and I-131 should be counted by applicant. This is especially important in family filings, where the total can change quickly when a spouse and children are included.
Rejection risk: USCIS may reject a filing if the correct fee is not submitted. In an EB case, rejection can cost more than time because a priority date may stop being current before the corrected package is accepted.
Realistic EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-2 and EB-3 calculation examples
The examples below are planning models for USCIS government fees only. They do not replace the USCIS Fee Calculator. Their value is practical: they show where applicants and employers most often forget a fee line or confuse one stage with another.
A regular employer filing I-140 by mail commonly starts with $715 for the petition and $600 for the Asylum Program Fee, for an I-140 portion of $1,315. If the principal applicant later or concurrently files I-485 by mail, add $1,440. If work authorization is requested, add $260 for I-765. If Advance Parole is requested, many paper-filed I-131 requests are planned at $630, subject to category check.
In EB-2 NIW, the applicant often files I-140 without an employer sponsor. A paper-filed self-petition commonly starts with $715 for I-140 and $300 for the reduced Asylum Program Fee, for a core I-140 planning amount of $1,015. If premium processing is requested and available, I-907 adds $2,965. Adjustment of status fees are separate and depend on when the priority date is current and whether the applicant files inside the United States.
EB-1A may be self-petitioned. A paper-filed EB-1A I-140 with premium processing often has three separate planning lines: $715 for I-140, $300 for the reduced Asylum Program Fee if the self-petitioner qualifies, and $2,965 for I-907. This can speed up the I-140 decision, but not the Visa Bulletin or a separate I-485 process.
A family package multiplies costs because each person files separately. The spouse usually has a separate adult I-485 fee. A child under 14 may qualify for a reduced I-485 amount only if filing concurrently with a parent. I-765 and I-131 are also separate for each family member who needs work or travel authorization.
FAQ on USCIS fees 2026 for employment-based filings
Can I use one combined payment for the whole EB package?
In a complex EB filing, one combined payment is risky because USCIS must be able to apply the correct amount to the correct form and fee line. I-140, the Asylum Program Fee, I-907, I-485, I-765 and I-131 should be planned separately. Follow the current USCIS payment instructions for the lockbox, service center or online filing path.
Are I-765 and I-131 included in the I-485 fee?
For new adjustment filings, I-765 and I-131 are generally separate fee lines. An I-765 based on pending I-485 is commonly planned at $260. Many paper-filed Advance Parole requests are planned at $630, but I-131 must be checked by exact category.
Is a separate biometrics fee required for a standard EB I-485?
Usually no separate old-style biometrics fee is added for a standard employment-based I-485 package. USCIS may still schedule biometrics, but the fee treatment should be checked in the current USCIS fee schedule for the exact filing category.
Does premium processing make the green card faster?
Premium processing can speed up the USCIS decision on the benefit covered by I-907, most often I-140 in EB cases. It does not make the priority date current, does not accelerate the Visa Bulletin and does not create premium processing for a standard I-485.
What is the most common fee mistake in EB-1A and EB-2 NIW?
The common mistake is paying the I-140 base fee but forgetting the reduced Asylum Program Fee for the self-petition. Another mistake is adding I-907 to the same calculation without treating it as a separate premium processing request.
Why should I recheck the fee on the filing date?
USCIS fees, accepted payment methods and additional statutory fee rules can change. The safest practice is to use the USCIS Fee Calculator and Form G-1055 immediately before filing, not an old PDF, old checklist or another person’s receipt.
Official sources for verification
The links below should be used for the final fee check before filing. The article is designed for planning and structure; the controlling amount is the current USCIS instruction for the exact form and category on the submission date.
- USCIS Fee Calculator — official USCIS tool for current fee checks.
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule — official USCIS fee schedule.
- USCIS Filing Fees — payment rules and rejection guidance.
- Form G-1450 — Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.
- Form G-1650 — Authorization for ACH Transactions.
- Form I-140 — Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers.
- Form I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
- Form I-765 — Application for Employment Authorization.
- Form I-131 — Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records.
- Form I-907 — Request for Premium Processing Service.
- Federal Register: Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees — March 1, 2026 premium processing fee adjustment.
- Federal Register: USCIS Immigration Fees Required by H.R. 1 — additional statutory fee notice.
Bottom line: a reliable EB fee estimate separates I-140, the Asylum Program Fee, I-907, I-485, I-765 and I-131 by applicant and by filing category. The final check should always be made through the USCIS Fee Calculator and Form G-1055 immediately before filing.
