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Published August 8, 2026 · 7 min read · Forms & Filing

USCIS Fees in 2026, Explained in Plain Language

Immigration filing fees in 2026 are higher than they've ever been, and there are new fees from H.R. 1 that most people don't know about yet. Here's what things actually cost.

Always verify fees against the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055 at uscis.gov/g-1055) before you pay. Fees can change, and paying the wrong amount — even by $1 — causes your application to be rejected. This article reflects the fee schedule as of the May 29, 2026 edition of Form G-1055 and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) signed July 4, 2025, verified as of August 8, 2026.

The most common fees at a glance

FormWhat it's forPaper feeOnline fee
I-130Petition for Alien Relative$675$625
I-485Adjust status / green card (ages 14–78)$1,440Not available for most filers*
I-485Adjust status (child under 14 filing with parent)$950N/A
I-765Work permit (EAD) — standalone$520$470
I-765Work permit — filed with pending I-485$260$260
I-131Advance parole / travel document — standalone$630N/A
I-131Advance parole — filed with pending I-485Included at no extra charge, as part of the I-485 fee
I-751Remove conditions on green card (2-year card)$750$700
I-90Renew or replace green card$465$415
N-400Naturalization / citizenship$760$710
N-400Naturalization — reduced fee (income ≤ 400% FPG)$380N/A — paper only
I-912Fee waiver requestFreeFree

*Since April 2026, USCIS has allowed online I-485 filing for a limited set of employment-based applicants at a discounted rate. Family-based applicants — most TPS holders adjusting through a relative — still file I-485 on paper only.

Biometric services are included in the I-485 fee. For most other forms, biometrics are either included or USCIS reuses existing biometrics at no extra charge.

The $50 online discount — and when it doesn't apply

Most forms save you $50 when filed through myUSCIS.gov. The discount applies to: I-130, N-400, I-90, I-765, I-751, I-140, and several others.

It does not apply to:

  • Form I-485 for most filers (paper only — see the online exception above for certain employment-based cases)
  • Form I-131 filed standalone (advance parole — paper only)
  • Premium processing fees
  • The new H.R. 1 statutory fees (see below)

Filing online also typically gets your receipt notice faster — the system is more efficient than mail.

The concurrent-filing trick most people miss

If you have a pending Form I-485 (adjustment of status), you can file Form I-765 (work permit) and Form I-131 (advance parole) at the same time for dramatically lower cost:

  • I-765 drops from $520 to $260
  • I-131 is included at no additional charge — it's bundled into the I-485 fee

This is real money — hundreds of dollars in savings. Many people pay the full standalone rate by mistake. Ask your representative about filing concurrently.

New fees in 2026: what H.R. 1 added

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, created several new mandatory fees that took effect January 1, 2026. These are separate from regular USCIS filing fees, must be paid with a separate payment instrument, and cannot be waived with Form I-912.

FeeWhat it coversAmount
Annual asylum feePaid each year by pending asylum applicants$100/year (a $102 inflation increase has been announced but is currently stayed by court order)
Asylum filing feePaid when first filing Form I-589$100
Statutory EAD add-on (initial)Asylum, parole, and TPS-based EAD categories under H.R. 1$560
Statutory EAD add-on (renewal)Parole and TPS-based EAD renewals$280
I-102 replacement/initial I-94 feePaper Form I-94 arrival/departure record$24

Note: H.R. 1 add-ons apply to specific EAD eligibility categories. Not everyone pays them — which category you fall under determines whether they apply. Your representative can tell you.

Fee waivers: who qualifies and how

USCIS offers fee waivers for many forms if you can't afford to pay. To request one, file Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) — which itself has no fee.

You may qualify if:

  • Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, OR
  • You receive a means-tested public benefit (Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, TANF, or similar), OR
  • You can demonstrate financial hardship

Forms that generally accept fee waivers: N-400, I-765 (certain categories), I-90, and others.

Forms that generally do NOT accept fee waivers: I-130, I-485, I-140.

The H.R. 1 statutory fees cannot be waived with Form I-912, regardless of income.

If you're filing on paper because you need a fee waiver, include I-912 with your application packet.

The reduced N-400 fee — and who can use it

If your household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (a higher threshold than the full waiver), you may qualify for a reduced N-400 fee of $380 instead of $760. This option:

  • Requires paper filing (no online discount on top)
  • Requires documentation of household income
  • Is separate from and in addition to the full fee waiver option

What changed in 2026 vs. 2024

  • The base fee structure from April 1, 2024 is still in effect — no major increase to the regular schedule in 2026
  • H.R. 1 fees kicked in January 1, 2026 (asylum fee, annual asylum fee, statutory EAD add-ons); the EAD add-ons rose from $550/$275 to $560/$280 under a later inflation adjustment, also in effect as of this writing
  • The May 29, 2026 G-1055 update added a $24 fee for Form I-102 (Replacement I-94)
  • USCIS moved to a cashless payment system — check payments are no longer accepted at most filing locations
  • A separate $250 consular visa integrity fee was added for immigrant visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad (this is separate from USCIS fees)
  • The 540-day automatic EAD extension for renewal applicants has ended — work permit renewal timelines are now more urgent

Always verify before you pay

Fees change. An article — even this one — can go stale. Before you submit any application:

  1. Go to uscis.gov/g-1055 and download the current Form G-1055 fee schedule
  2. Or use the USCIS fee calculator at uscis.gov/fees
  3. Follow the payment instructions specific to your form — some forms require separate payments for each form in a package; combining them can cause a rejection

Filing an I-90 to renew or replace your green card?

Read the full I-90 filing guide →

Find free or low-cost accredited immigration help →

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Fees change without notice — the facts here were accurate as of publication (August 8, 2026). Always verify current fees at uscis.gov/g-1055 before filing.
Sources: Form G-1055 USCIS Fee Schedule, edition 05/29/26 · uscis.gov/fees — USCIS official fee and calculator pages · One Big Beautiful Bill Act / H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21), signed July 4, 2025 · Federal Register, "USCIS Immigration Fees and Related Procedures Required by H.R.1 Reconciliation Bill" · USCIS newsroom alert, "USCIS Updates Fees Based on H.R. 1" · Envoy Global, "Federal Register Notice: H.R. 1 Immigration Fee Adjustments for FY2027" · Modern Law Group — "2026 Immigration Fees: The Complete USCIS Filing Fee Guide," July 2026 · USCISFees.com — fee calculator and schedule (sourced from G-1055).