What does a marriage green card really cost?
Old blogs lowball it: fees rose ~71% in 2024 and the permits that used to be free aren't anymore. Get your real cost with 2026 fees, when each payment is due — plus one relief: the new $250 "visa integrity fee" doesn't apply to you.
Calculate your cost
When you pay what
Email me my budget + the staged payment timeline
Methodology & data sources
We use the current USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055 (April 2024 rule, unchanged for family cases as of 2026): I-130 $675 paper / $625 online; I-485 $1,440 (biometrics included); work permit I-765 with the I-485 $260 and travel permit I-131 $630 — both were free before 2024. On the consular path: DS-260 $325 and Affidavit of Support review $120 (travel.state.gov, primary source), plus the $235 USCIS immigrant fee after approval. The medical exam isn't a government fee: in the US it runs $250–$500 (vaccines extra); at the Ciudad Juárez consulate the panel charges $374.68 per adult (Apr 2026). Certified translations run about $24.95 per page. The $250 "visa integrity fee" (HR-1) applies only to nonimmigrant visas — marriage green cards are exempt. The Jan 2026 inflation adjustment touched only humanitarian fees; the June 2026 proposed rule raises naturalization (N-400), not these fees. Our Freshness Keeper monitors the G-1055 and travel.state.gov.
Sources: USCIS G-1055 · travel.state.gov — fees · CLINIC — 2024 increases · CDJ panel — medical exam
Frequently asked questions
What's the total?
Adjustment of status: $2,115 mandatory, $3,005 with work and travel permits. Consular: $1,355. Plus medical and translations.
Is it all paid at once?
No — it's staged over months. The calculator shows the exact order.
Does the $250 visa integrity fee apply?
No. It's for nonimmigrant visas only (tourist, student). Immigrant visas are exempt.
Do I need a lawyer?
Optional — USCIS accepts self-filed cases. Complications (prior entries, records) do merit legal advice.