Two paths, two totals
If your spouse is in the US, you file adjustment of status. If they're abroad, you go through consular processing. The government fees differ:
| Path | Mandatory fees | With work + travel permits |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustment of status (spouse in US) | $2,115 | $3,005 |
| Consular processing (spouse abroad) | $1,355 | — |
Adjustment of status: I-130 ($675 paper / $625 online) + I-485 ($1,440, biometrics included) = $2,115 mandatory; add I-765 work permit ($260) and I-131 travel permit ($630) for $3,005. Consular: I-130 ($675) + DS-260 ($325) + Affidavit of Support review ($120) + USCIS immigrant fee ($235) = $1,355. Add medical exam and any certified translations on top.
Myth 1: "it costs about $1,800"
Outdated. Old blogs lowball by roughly 71% because the work and travel permits are no longer free ($260 and $630 now). Use the 2026 numbers above.
Myth 2: "the $250 visa integrity fee applies"
It doesn't. The $250 "visa integrity fee" is for nonimmigrant visas (tourist, student). Immigrant visas — a marriage green card — are exempt.
You pay in stages, not all at once
The fees land across months as your case moves: filing, then the National Visa Center or biometrics, then the medical, then the final immigrant fee. Budgeting the timeline is as useful as the total.
Get your staged cost timeline → Free tool: your exact fees by path, the stage-by-stage timeline, and what's exempt for you.