How Much Does a Spousal Green Card Cost in 2026?

Before you start your spouse's green card, you want one honest number: what will this actually cost? The answer depends mostly on one thing — whether your spouse is already in the US or still abroad. Here's the full 2026 breakdown, with no surprises.

The two paths (and why they cost different amounts)

A marriage-based green card is really two cases stacked together: first USCIS confirms your marriage is real, then your spouse applies for permanent residence. How your spouse applies for that second part is what changes the price:

• Adjustment of Status — your spouse is already in the US and stays here while applying. Higher USCIS fees up front.
• Consular Processing — your spouse is abroad and finishes the process at a US embassy. Lower USCIS fees, but Department of State fees apply instead.

Cost if your spouse is inside the US

This is the Adjustment of Status path. The two required forms are the I-130 (the petition) and the I-485 (the green card application), usually filed together:

That puts the mandatory floor at about $2,065–$2,115 (the I-130 is $625 if you file it online instead of by paper). The I-485 fee of $1,440 already includes biometrics — you don't add a separate $85 anymore.

Two benefits are optional but common, and since April 2024 they cost extra:

• Work permit (Form I-765): $260 — lets your spouse work while the case is pending
• Travel permit (Form I-131): $630 ($590 online) — lets your spouse travel while pending

Add both and the full package comes to roughly $3,005. (Worth knowing: before April 2024 these two rode along free with the I-485. That's no longer the case.)

Cost if your spouse is abroad

This is the Consular Processing path. The USCIS petition fee is the same I-130, but the rest runs through the Department of State at lower rates. Typical government fees total about $1,305–$1,355, and generally include:

• Form I-130: $675 ($625 online) — paid to USCIS
• DS-260 immigrant visa fee: $325 — paid to the Department of State
• Affidavit of Support fee: $120
• USCIS Immigrant Fee: $235 — paid after visa approval, before the card is issued

Costs both paths share

A couple of expenses apply no matter which path you take, and they're easy to forget when budgeting:

• Medical exam: $200–$500 — required for everyone, performed by an approved doctor. This is not a government fee and prices vary widely by provider.
• Document translations — any document not in English needs a certified English translation, which can add up if you have several.

The fees are non-refundable — so getting it right matters

Here's the part that makes accuracy so important: USCIS keeps your filing fees whether your case is approved, denied, or rejected. A mistake that gets your package returned doesn't just cost time — you may pay the fees again to refile. With over $2,000 on the line, a single misunderstood box is an expensive error.

The most common rejection reasons are small and avoidable: the wrong form edition, a missing signature, a blank field that should have said "N/A," or an income that falls short of the I-864 requirement.

ClearPath is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Fees are based on the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (April 2024, in effect for 2026) and may change. Always verify current fees at uscis.gov/feecalculator before filing.