How much does a green card cost in the USA?

The USA Green Card, also known as the Permanent Resident Card, allows non-American citizens to work or study in the USA for as long as they wish. It gives its holder the same rights and duties as an American citizen, after 5 years of habituation in the USA. That’s why obtaining it is notoriously difficult.

Many foreigners wish to expatriate to the USA, whether to find work, do an internship, study at an American university or even obtain a scholarship for their children, the green card offers a variety of possibilities. However, its entitlements come at a cost, and not the least. Let’s take a closer look at price of the USA green card.

Visit green card price by category

In reality, there is no green card USA pricebut several. In fact, there are different categories of immigrant visa applications for expatriates. These include family reunification visas, business visas, investment visas and diversity visas. As a result green card USA prices vary according to the category and formalities involved.

You will only be asked to complete one form on a regular basis: the l-485 form.

Green card for family reunification

An American citizen of legal age can sponsor a close family member (spouse, parents, siblings, etc.) for a green card. This is also the case for green card holders, who can apply for family green cards, but must limit themselves to petitions for their spouse and unmarried children.

Procedure and green card price (total costs shown include form fees and biometric service fees) :

1. file form l-130, petition for foreign parent: $535. Once this first step has been approved, you can move on to step 2;
2. file form l-485, application for registration of permanent residence or change of status :

• for minors under 14 with an l-485 application from a parent: $750 ;
• for minors under 14 who do not have an l-485 application from a parent: $1,140 ;
• for people aged 14 to 78: $1,225 ;
• for people aged 79 and over: $1,140.

Green card for business purposes

An application for a green card for professional reasons in the United States of America can be sponsored by the employer only if the worker is considered to be an expert in his or her field of activity. You can also apply for a green card without a job offer if you are considered an extraordinarily capable worker, or if you have a national interest waiver.

Procedure and green card price (total costs shown include form fees and biometric service fees) :

1. file form l-140, immigration application for foreign worker: $700 ;
2. file form l-485, application for registration of permanent residence or change of status: $1,225.

Employers are responsible for most of the cost of the green card, as they must obtain permanent labor certifications (PERM) costing between $4,000 and $7,000.

Green card by investment

Probably the highest category in terms of price of a USA green card, the investment green card can cost between 500,000 and 1 million U.S. dollars, not including application and filing fees.

Procedure and green card price (total costs shown include form fees and biometric service fees) :

1. file form l-526, Alien Entrepreneur petition: $3,675 ;
2. file form l-485: $1,225.

Green card lottery

Under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, 50,000 immigrant visas are issued each year to registered immigrants from countries with low immigration rates to the USA. This program was set up by the U.S. government (DOS), and involves winning the green card lottery for permanent residency.

People who have been selected for residency, mostly outside the USA, must go through consular processing to be issued an immigration visa. They must also file several forms so that U.S. authorities can judge their eligibility:

• Form I-94, Arrival and Departure Record on the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website: $6 ;
• Form I-601, Request for waiver of ineligibility (if applicable): $930.

Please note that each category requires a medical examination and will be verified by submitting form I-693 “Medical Examination Report and Vaccination Record”. We are unable to give you a price because the USCIS does not regulate medical fees for examinations. They may vary depending on the doctor.

USCIS immigration fees

The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) filing fee is part of the price of the USA green card and are mandatory if you wish to immigrate to the U.S. as a permanent resident. USCIS immigration fees include the processing of your immigrant visa application and the production of your green card.

The USCIS fee is over $200.

USCIS fee-exempt persons are :

• children entering the U.S. under orphan adoption programs;
• Iraqi and Afghan immigrants;
• returning legal permanent residents (SB-1) ;
• non-immigrant visas.

We advise you to pay the USCIS immigration fee after receiving your immigrant visa from the State Department and before leaving for the United States.

If you are unable to pay USCIS fees before your departure for the USA, you may receive payment instructions from USCIS.

As we have seen in this article, the green card USA is an important investment. If you don’t have the means to pay the immigration fees, a family member, friend or third party can make the payment for you. They will need your Alien file number (A number) and your State Department file number (DOS).

How do I pay for petition forms?

For each application, you can pay the form fees by money order, personal check or cashier’s check. You can also pay by credit card at a USCIS Lockbox facility, using form G-1450 “Authorization for Credit Card Transactions”. Finally, if you wish to pay by check, it must be made payable to the US Department of Homeland Security.

If you live outside the USA, where there is no USCIS international office, you can contact the US embassy or consulate in your country.

Don’t be discouraged, the green card process may seem tedious, but once you’ve completed it… The American dream is yours!

What’s more, the green card is not the only official document allowing foreign nationals to travel or reside in the United States. You can apply for an ESTA exemption if you intend to stay in the USA for less than 90 days. You can also apply for a classic USA visa, an entry authorization that will enable you to obtain a work permit, improve your English, work in the USA and many other possibilities, provided you don’t live here permanently. The ESTA has an online form, while the visa requires an interview at the American embassy in France.