Are USCIS Green Card Application Fees Going Up? - Updated September 30th, 2020

USCIS has finally announced the final rules for the application fees increase. Let's see what's the latest:

Did USCIS Green Card Application Fees Change?

*New fees were scheduled to go into effect on October 2nd 2020, but a federal judge blocked it temporary. See details here.
Currently, green card application fees still stay the same as below:

• Form I-485 Adjustment of Status ($1,140.00)
• Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative ($535.00)
• Biometric Services ($85.00)
• Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization ($410.00)
• Form I-131 Application for Travel Document ($575.00)

Currently, if you file Form I-765 & Form I-131 concurrently with your Form I-485 though, there are no fees on these two forms.

Will USCIS Increase the Green Card Application Fees?

USCIS proposed making changes on the filing fees and other forms processing on November 14th, 2019. The final rules have been confirmed on July 31st.

*Important: All applicants apply after October 2nd, 2020 and later will need to submit the new fees.

*New Updates 8/25/2020: The American Immigration Lawyers Association has partnered with other law associations to file a lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chad Wolf, USCIS and Kenneth Cuccinelli, seeking an emergency nationwide injunction of the rule to prevent the new fee schedule from going into effect on October 2nd, 2020. We will update again once we hear the results. 

*New Updates 9/30/2020: A federal judge temporarily blocked USCIS from increasing fees for green card and US citizenship applications. Learn more here.

In the final rules, the new fees are below:

• Form I-485 Adjustment of Status ($1,130.00) 
• Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative ($550.00 online filers; $560.00 paper filers)
• Biometric Services ($30.00 for Non-DACA; $85.00 for DACA)
• Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization ($550.00 for Non-DACA; $410.00 for DACA)
• Form I-131 Application for Travel Document ($590.00)
• Please note that concurrent filing Form I-765 and I-131 with a pending Form I-485 will no longer be free of charge according to the new fee schedule
• Form I-140 for employment-based immigrant visa petitions ($555)
• Naturalization applications fee ($1170)

In the new fee schedule report, it explained that because many applicants applied for Form I-765 & I-131 concurrently with a pending I-485 application with no extra fees, it would potentially add extra work to the agents for people who may not really needed a work authorization and travel documents. 

More major changes include:

• Premium processing time will increase from 15 calendar days to 15 business days
• Naturalization application fee will increase about $500
• Aslyum application will no longer be free 
• Minors under age of 14 who file for adjustment of status with parent(s) will no longer be eligible to file Form I485 with a reduced fee. The standard fee of $1130 will apply to all applicants, regardless of age.

See this chart below for a comparison:

USCIS proposed more fee changes on other forms as well. Because most of my readers are green card applicants, I only shows the forms related to a non-DACA green card application.

Learn about other form fees changes in the Final Rules. You can always use the fee calculator on USCIS's website to quickly check the correct fees for your application.

The fees have been changing over the years, I guess that's another reason to submit your application early so you don't have to worry about any possible additional fees. Also, I believe concurrent filing is the most convenient and cost-saving ways to apply for your green card!

Click here to read: How I Applied for My Green Card with No RFE!