When applying for a U.S. immigration benefit—whether a green card, work permit, or naturalization—you’ll almost always need to pay a USCIS filing fee. These fees vary by form and immigration benefit, and understanding them is essential for budgeting your application. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common USCIS filing fees, highlight recent changes, and provide an overview of fee waivers and payment options.
Understanding USCIS Filing Fees
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) collects filing fees to cover the cost of processing immigration applications. Unlike many government agencies, USCIS is primarily funded by the fees it collects, not by taxpayer dollars. These fees help the agency:
- Process and review millions of applications each year
- Conduct background checks, biometrics, and security screenings
- Maintain digital filing systems and staff support services
- Improve processing times and infrastructure
In short, USCIS fees allow the agency to operate independently and handle the workload involved in administering immigration benefits such as green cards, naturalization, work permits, and travel documents. Some humanitarian applications (like asylum or refugee benefits) are exempt from fees to ensure protection for vulnerable individuals.
USCIS Filing Fee Structure in 2025
In 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a significant fee adjustment—raising filing fees for nearly all immigration applications. This update marked the first major increase in several years and affects a wide range of immigration benefits, including family-based applications, employment-based petitions, and humanitarian requests.
The new fee structure impacts commonly used forms such as:
- Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
- Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence/Adjust Status)
- Form I-129F (Petition for Fiancé(e))
- Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
- Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
These changes introduced different fees depending on whether applicants file online or by paper, with paper submissions now costing more in many cases. USCIS has also revised how certain bundled forms (such as I-485, I-765, and I-131) are priced together, potentially increasing the total cost for applicants seeking adjustment of status.
Below are common forms and their standard filing fees (based on the latest 2025 fee schedule).
| Form | Purpose/Immigration Benefit | Paper Filing Fee 2025 | Online Filing Fee 2025 |
| N-400 | U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization) | $760 | $710 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $675 | $625 |
| I-485 | Adjustment of Status (Green Card) | $1440 | NA |
| I-765 | Work Permit (EAD) | $520 | $470 |
| I-131 | Advance Parole / Travel Document | $630 | NA |
| I-129F | Fiancé(e) Visa Petition | $675 | NA |
| I-751 | Remove Conditions on Green Card | $750 | NA |
| I-90 | Replace or Renew Green Card | $465 | $415 |
What Services Are Covered by USCIS Filing Fees?
The fees you pay to USCIS go beyond simple form processing—they help fund a wide range of essential services that keep the immigration system functioning. These include:
- Reviewing and processing immigration applications (green cards, citizenship, work permits, etc.)
- Conducting background checks and biometrics appointments
- Operating service centers, field offices, and contact centers
- Developing secure online filing systems
- Updating case tracking and notification tools
- Ensuring fraud detection, national security, and compliance efforts
Because USCIS is a fee-funded agency, these services are largely supported by the application fees paid by immigrants and their sponsors—not U.S. taxpayers.
