Form I-485 Filing Fee in 2026: USCIS Costs Explained

How Much Is the Form I-485 Filing Fee in 2026?

The Form I-485 filing fee in 2026 is $1,440 for paper filing or $1,390 for online filing, when you are eligible to file Form I-485 online. A reduced fee applies to certain children under 14 who file concurrently with at least one parent.

Forms I-765 and I-131 may require separate filing fees, and some applicants may qualify for a fee exemption or fee waiver.

No separate biometrics fee: USCIS does not charge a separate biometrics services fee for Form I-485 under the current fee structure. USCIS may still require you to attend a biometrics appointment.

Last verified: September 8, 2026. Source: USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, edition 05/29/26.

Your exact fee may differ if you qualify for a reduced fee, fee exemption, or fee waiver.

The reduced child fee applies only when a child under 14 files Form I-485 at the same time as at least one parent. Some adjustment categories have no filing fee, while certain applicants may be eligible to request a fee waiver.

USCIS filing fees can change. Before submitting your application, check the current USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule to confirm the amount that applies to your filing method and adjustment category.

Preparing Form I-485?
ImmigrationDirect can help you prepare your Form I-485 and organize the information required for your application. USCIS filing fees are separate from ImmigrationDirect service fees.

What Does the I-485 Filing Fee Cover?

The Form I-485 filing fee covers USCIS processing and adjudication of your Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

If USCIS requires biometrics for your case, there is no additional biometrics services fee. Separate filing fees for related forms and third-party expenses, such as medical examinations, translations or professional services, are not included in the I-485 filing fee.

I-485 Paper vs. Online Filing Fee

Eligible applicants currently save $50 by filing Form I-485 online instead of by paper.

If your Form I-485 is not eligible for online filing, you must file by mail and pay the applicable paper filing fee. The filing method does not change the eligibility requirements for adjustment of status.

Who Can File Form I-485 Online?

USCIS allows certain Form I-485 applicants and their authorized representatives to file online. Representatives can concurrently file Form I-485 online with an underlying Form I-130 or Form I-140. Form I-140 self-petitioners may also file Form I-140 and Form I-485 concurrently online.

If you are filing without a representative and are not an I-140 self-petitioner, the underlying Form I-130 or Form I-140 generally must first be submitted and accepted before you can submit Form I-485 online, when eligible.

Online filing is not available for every I-485 case, so confirm your filing option with USCIS before relying on the lower online fee.

How Much Does It Cost to File I-485, I-765 and I-131 Together?

If you file Form I-765 for a work permit or Form I-131 for advance parole with Form I-485, each form may have its own USCIS filing fee. The combined amount depends on which forms you file and whether online filing is available for your case.

For applicants who filed a fee-paid Form I-485 on or after April 1, 2024, the reduced Form I-765 filing fee based on the pending I-485 is $260. For Form I-131 advance parole based on a pending I-485, the current fee is $630 by paper or $580 online, when online filing is available.

Example: If you file Form I-485, Form I-765 and Form I-131 by paper under these fee categories, the combined USCIS filing fees are $2,330. If all three applications are eligible for online filing, the combined fees are $2,230.

The totals above apply to the specific fee categories shown. A different fee or fee exemption may apply depending on when your Form I-485 was filed and your immigration category.

For example, USCIS currently lists a $0 I-765 fee for certain applicants whose fee-paid Form I-485 was filed on or after July 30, 2007 and before April 1, 2024 and remains pending.

USCIS also lists a $0 Form I-131 filing fee for certain applicants whose fee-paid Form I-485 was filed on or after July 30, 2007 and before April 1, 2024 and remains pending.

How Much Does It Cost to File Form I-130 and Form I-485 Together?

When Form I-130 and Form I-485 are filed concurrently, each form has its own USCIS filing fee. Filing them together does not combine the two forms into a single government fee.

Using the standard Form I-485 fee, the combined filing cost is $2,115 by paper. If both forms are eligible for online filing, the combined fees are $2,015. USCIS currently charges $675 for a paper Form I-130 or $625 online.

These examples use the standard Form I-485 fee. A different amount may apply if the I-485 applicant qualifies for a reduced fee, fee exemption, or fee waiver. Concurrent filing must also be permitted for the applicant’s immigration category.

For more detail on the petition fee, see our Form I-130 filing fee guide.

I-130 + I-485 + I-765 + I-131 Filing Fees

If an eligible applicant also files Form I-765 for employment authorization and Form I-131 for advance parole, those forms have separate filing fees under the current USCIS fee schedule.

For a qualifying Form I-765 based on a fee-paid Form I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024, the filing fee is $260. Form I-131 for advance parole based on a pending I-485 currently costs $630 by paper or $580 online, when online filing is available.

Form I-864 has no separate USCIS filing fee when submitted to USCIS, so it does not increase the government-fee totals shown above.

The totals above are USCIS filing fees for the forms shown, not the full cost of obtaining a family-based Green Card. Medical examination costs, translations, legal or preparation services, and other expenses are not included.

For a broader breakdown of expenses across the family-based immigration process, see our Green Card Cost guide.

How Much Is the I-485 Filing Fee for a Child Under 14?

A child under 14 who files Form I-485 at the same time as at least one parent filing Form I-485 qualifies for a reduced USCIS filing fee. The current fee is $950 for paper filing or $900 for online filing, when the child’s case is eligible for online submission.

The reduced fee is not based on age alone. A child under 14 generally must meet the concurrent-filing condition with a parent to receive the lower amount.

If the child does not file concurrently with at least one parent, a different Form I-485 fee may apply based on the child’s filing situation and adjustment category. Before filing, check the current USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule to confirm the correct fee.

Can the Form I-485 Filing Fee Be Waived?

Possibly, but a fee waiver and a fee exemption are different.

A fee waiver means USCIS normally charges a filing fee, but an eligible applicant asks USCIS to waive it. A fee exemption means USCIS has already set the filing fee at $0 for that specific filing category, so the applicant does not need to request a waiver.

Not every Form I-485 applicant can request a fee waiver. The adjustment category must first be eligible for one under USCIS rules.

Form I-485 Fee Waiver Eligibility

If your Form I-485 category allows a fee waiver, you may generally request one using Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or another USCIS-approved waiver request method.

USCIS considers financial circumstances such as whether:

• you, your spouse, or the head of your household receives a qualifying means-tested benefit;
• your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; or
• you are experiencing financial hardship.

Meeting one of these financial conditions does not automatically mean every Form I-485 applicant can receive a fee waiver. USCIS must also allow a waiver for the specific filing category.

For most forms, USCIS does not allow a fee-waiver request through online filing. If you are requesting a waiver, you generally need to submit the applicable form and the fee-waiver request by paper.

Which I-485 Applicants Pay No Filing Fee?

USCIS lists a $0 Form I-485 filing fee for several exempt categories. Examples include certain applicants adjusting as:

• refugees or people paroled as refugees;
• T or U nonimmigrants;
• Special Immigrant Juveniles;
• VAWA self-petitioners and qualifying derivatives;
• certain Afghan or Iraqi special immigrants; and
• certain abused spouses or children adjusting under the Cuban Adjustment Act or HRIFA.

If your category is fee-exempt, you do not need to file Form I-912 just to claim the $0 fee. Before filing, check the current USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule to confirm whether your specific Form I-485 category is exempt or eligible for a fee waiver.

Additional Form I-485 Fees That May Apply

Most applicants will not pay the additional fees below. They apply only in specific filing situations, such as adjustment under INA section 245(i) or a Form I-485 filed with or adjudicated by Immigration Court.

Form I-485 Supplement A Fee

Applicants seeking adjustment of status under INA section 245(i) generally must file Supplement A to Form I-485 and pay an additional $1,000 fee.

USCIS provides exceptions to the Supplement A fee for certain applicants, including some children and qualifying family-unity applicants. Check the current USCIS fee schedule and Supplement A instructions before filing to determine whether the additional payment applies to you.

Form I-485 Fee in Immigration Court

The standard USCIS Form I-485 filing fee should not be assumed to be the total amount due when Form I-485 is filed with or adjudicated by Immigration Court.

As of September 2026, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) lists the Form I-485 filing fee in Immigration Court as $2,980. This amount is different from the standard Form I-485 fee for applications filed with USCIS.

Immigration Court fees can be adjusted, including for inflation. Before filing, check the current EOIR Forms & Fees page and applicable USCIS fee guidance to confirm the amount and payment instructions.

Last verified: September 8, 2026. Source: EOIR Forms & Fees.

How to Pay the Form I-485 Filing Fee

How you pay depends on whether you file Form I-485 online or submit a paper application.

Paying the I-485 Fee Online

If you are eligible to file Form I-485 online, USCIS collects the filing fee electronically during the online submission process. Follow the payment instructions shown in your USCIS online account before submitting the application.

Paying for a Paper Form I-485

For mailed Form I-485 applications, USCIS generally requires electronic payment. You can use:

• Form G-1650 to authorize an ACH payment from a U.S. bank account; or
• Form G-1450 to authorize payment by credit, debit, or prepaid card.

Include the correct payment authorization form with your I-485 package.

Can You Pay the I-485 Fee by Check or Money Order?

Generally, no. USCIS generally stopped accepting checks and money orders for filing fees on October 28, 2025.

Limited exceptions may apply. If you qualify for a paper-payment exception, USCIS may require Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment.

Before filing, check the current USCIS payment instructions to make sure you use an accepted payment method.

What Happens If You Pay the Wrong I-485 Filing Fee?

USCIS can reject Form I-485 if the filing fee is incorrect. A rejected filing is not accepted for processing, so you generally need to correct the fee or payment issue and submit the application again.

USCIS Form G-1055 states that benefit requests submitted with the wrong fee may be rejected. Before filing, use the USCIS Fee Calculator or check the current USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule to confirm the amount that applies to your age, filing method, and adjustment category.

A rejection means USCIS did not accept the filing for processing. A denial happens after USCIS accepts and reviews the application but determines that the applicant does not qualify for the requested benefit.

Are Form I-485 Filing Fees Refundable?

Generally, no. USCIS filing fees are usually nonrefundable once the agency accepts the payment, regardless of the final decision on Form I-485 or how long USCIS takes to process the application.

USCIS generally will not refund the filing fee simply because:

• you change your mind after filing;
• USCIS denies the application; or
• processing takes longer than expected.

A refund may be available in limited situations involving a USCIS payment error, such as an incorrect or duplicate charge. If you believe USCIS collected a payment in error, contact USCIS to determine whether a refund request is appropriate.

Other Costs Not Included in the I-485 Filing Fee

The Form I-485 filing fee does not cover every expense that may come with adjustment of status. Depending on your case, you may need to budget for medical, document, or professional-service costs in addition to USCIS filing fees.

Medical examination and civil surgeon costs are set by the provider, not USCIS, so the amount can vary. Translation, legal, and preparation-service costs also depend on the services you use.

For a broader estimate of expenses beyond Form I-485 itself, see our Green Card Cost guide.

FAQs About I-485 Filing Fees

Preparing to File Form I-485?

The USCIS filing fee is only one part of preparing Form I-485. Before filing, make sure you are using the correct form edition, filing method, fee, and supporting evidence for your situation.

ImmigrationDirect can help you prepare Form I-485 and organize the information needed for your application. USCIS government filing fees are separate from ImmigrationDirect service fees.