USCIS Fee Increase for Marriage-Based Green Card Applications, Effective April 1, 2024
Yesterday, the USCIS published a final rule (here) to adjust the filing fees for various immigration benefits for the first time since 2016. This includes the cost of filing a marriage-based green card application package.
A marriage-based green card application package (with current filing fees of $1,760) will soon cost $3,005; representing a 71% increase!
Why Is the Cost Of Filing A Marriage-Based Green Card Increasing?
The cost of filing a marriage-based green card application package is increasing for two reasons:
- DHS increased the filing fees for Forms I-130 and I-485; and
- DHS unbundled the fees for Forms I-485, I-765, and I-131. Therefore, filing fees will soon be collected for Forms I-765 and I-131.
Filing Fees Will Soon Be Collected for Forms I-765 and I-131
DHS will begin charging applicants for adjustment of status to file for employment authorization and advance parole on Forms I-765 and I-131, respectively. DHS has determined that unbundling the I-765 and I-131 from the I-485 will make processing times more efficiency by eliminating the adjudication of requests filed for individuals who are not in need of employment authorization and/or who have no intention of traveling outside of the United States.
The proposed rule would have required that applicants applying for a marriage-based green card (on Form I-485) pay the full fees for Forms I-765 and I-131 when filed with Form I-485.
The final rule implements a reduced fee of $260 for those applicants that must pay a fee for Form I–765 while their adjustment of status application is pending. Applicants for Form I–131 will pay the full fee of $630.
Effective April 1, 2024, the new fees for a marriage-based green card application package are:
| Immigration Form | Current Fee(s) | New Fee(s) |
| I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing) | $535 | $675 |
| I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $1,225 | $1,440 |
| I-765, Application for Employment Authorization | $0 | $260 |
| I-131, Application for Travel Document | $0 | $630 |
| TOTALS: | $1,760 | $3,005 |
Form For Marriage Green Card
If you have questions about the forms for marriage green cards, contact marriage immigration lawyer, Dayna Lally, at [email protected]. Consultation fees may apply.
Disclaimer: This blog article is provided by Lally Immigration Services, LLC for informational and marketing purposes. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. No reader should act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of any information presented in this article, or elsewhere on this website, without seeking the advice of appropriate legal counsel, or other professional counsel, licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Lally Immigration Services, LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability with respect to any actions taken, or not taken, based on any content of this article or website. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Last Reviewed/Updated: 01/31/2024
