How much does it cost to apply for a green card with children?
The government filing fees for getting a family-based green card is $3005 for an applicant living in the United States or $1340 for an applicant living outside the United States. This does not include the typical cost of the required medical examination, which varies by provider.
Applying for a green card with children adds additional costs which depend on where you’re applying from and whether your sponsor is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. We break down the green card costs for beneficiary spouses and accompanying children below.
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Mandatory Fees
The following chart breaks down both the fees you must pay directly to the government — in most cases, that’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless otherwise noted — and to the physician who performs the required medical exam. The charts specify visa types (based on where you and your children are applying from and the immigration status of your sponsor). Learn more about different types of green cards.
Applying From Outside of the U.S.
| Outside of the U.S. with U.S. Citizen Sponsor (CR-1/IR-1 & CR-2/IR-2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost to Spouse | Cost to Child |
| Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) | $675 | $675 |
| Green Card Application Form (I-485) | Not required | Not required |
| Financial Support Form (I-864) | $120 | $0 |
| Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional) | Not required | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) (optional) | Not required | Not required |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $0 | $0 |
| State Department Processing | $325 | $325 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $235 | $235 |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | Varies | Varies |
| Outside of the U.S. with U.S. Green Card Holder Sponsor (F21 & F22) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost to Spouse | Cost to Child |
| Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) | $675 | $0 |
| Green Card Application Form (I-485) | Not required | Not required |
| Financial Support Form (I-864) | $120 | $0 |
| Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional) | Not required | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) (optional) | Not required | Not required |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $0 | $0 |
| State Department Processing | $325 | $325 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $235 | $235 |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | Varies | Varies |
Applying From Within the U.S.
| In the U.S. with U.S. Citizen Sponsor (CR-6/IR-6 & CR-7/IR-7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost to Spouse | Cost to Child |
| Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) | $675 | $675 |
| Green Card Application Form (I-485) | $1440 | $950 for children under 14 $1440 for children 14 and older |
| Financial Support Form (I-864) | $0 | $0 |
| Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional) | $260 | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) (optional) | $630 | $630 |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $85 | $0 for children under 14 $85 for children 14 and older |
| State Department Processing | Not required | Not required |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Not required | Not required |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | $3005 | Varies |
| In the U.S. with U.S. Green Card Holder Sponsor (F26 & F27) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost to Spouse | Cost to Child |
| Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) | $675 | $0 |
| Green Card Application Form (I-485) | $1440 | $950 for children under 14 $1440 for children 14 and older |
| Financial Support Form (I-864) | $0 | $0 |
| Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional) | $260 | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) (optional) | $630 | $630 |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $85 | $0 for children under 14 $85 for children 14 and older |
| State Department Processing | Not required | Not required |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Not required | Not required |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | $3005 | Varies |
| Adjusting From a K-1 Fiancé Visa to a Green Card with Children (CF1 & CF2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost to Spouse | Cost to Child |
| Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) | Not required | Not required |
| Green Card Application Form (I-485) | $1440 | $950 for children under 14 $1440 for children 14 and older |
| Financial Support Form (I-864) | $0 | $0 |
| Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional) | $260 | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) (optional) | $630 | $630 |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $85 | $0 for children under 14 $85 for children 14 and older |
| State Department Processing | Not required | Not required |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Not required | Not required |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | $2330 | Varies |
*The most typical cost for a medical exam is around $200, but this amount can vary significantly by provider. Boundless customers have reported prices ranging from $100 to $500. Our detailed guide to preparing for the medical exam has more information.
Also note that these government fees are only paid at the same time if you and your children are applying from within the United States. For other scenarios, these fees will be paid several months apart, during different stages of the green card application process.
You can use this calculator from USCIS to help you determine how much you and your children will need to pay.
Do you have confidential questions about your eligibility for a green card? Boundless can guide your family through the entire green card process and answer any questions you may have. Get started now!
Other Potential Costs
Beyond direct government fees and the medical exam fee, there are other green card costs to keep in mind:
Vaccination fees: Should your medical exam require it, you may need to update you and your children’s vaccinations before receiving your completed medical examination reports. Like medical exam fees, vaccination costs will vary by provider.
Translation services fees: If your green card application package includes any documents in a language other than English, you must also include a translation of each document, certified as accurate by the translator. The cost of these services will vary — for example, a certified translation of a one-page birth certificate might range between $20 and $40.
Document fees: As part of the green card application process, you will be asked to submit digital or physical copies of supporting documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports. You, your spouse, and your accompanying children will also need to bring the original copies when attending your final green card interview (either in the United States or at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad). Government agencies generally charge fees for issuing certain official documents.
Professional photography fees: To verify your identity and conduct background checks, the U.S. government will ask you and your children to submit two recent 2-inch-by-2-inch photographs, which will vary in price by service provider. Although you are allowed to take your own photos, it’s generally a good idea to use a professional photography service, and many drug stores provide passport-style photos for a relatively low fee.
Travel expenses: When you and your children attend your biometrics appointments, green card interview, and medical exams, the U.S. government will not reimburse you for the expenses you incur when traveling to these locations. The same is true if you must travel to various government agencies to obtain official documents.
Shipping costs: At different stages of the green card application process, you will pay nominal charges for postage and mailing of your application and supporting documents.
Boundless can help put together all required forms and documents and submitting them to the government, for a $649 one-time payment or $240 monthly payment. Get started now!