How much money do you need to immigrate to the USA? For a single applicant, plan on roughly $4,000 to $11,000 in government fees, medical exams, and document preparation, and expect the real total to run higher once you add an attorney and the cost of physically moving your life. The exact number depends on your pathway (family, employer, or diversity visa), whether you apply from inside or outside the country, and how much legal help you use. Every stage stacks fees from different agencies, and one missed payment can get the whole application rejected.
Government Filing Fees
The paperwork starts with a petition from your sponsor. Family-based cases use Form I-130 at $625 online or $675 on paper. Employment-based cases use Form I-140 at $665 online or $715 on paper.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule These go to USCIS and are non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
If you’re already in the United States on another visa, you’ll also file Form I-485 to adjust status to permanent resident, which costs $1,440 for applicants age 14 and older. Once your immigrant visa or adjustment is approved, USCIS charges a separate $235 immigrant fee to produce and mail the physical green card.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule
Employment-based petitions carry one more layer. Regular employers pay an Asylum Program Fee of $600 on top of the I-140 fee, small businesses with 25 or fewer employees pay $300, and nonprofits pay nothing.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Guidance on Paying Fees and Completing Information for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers Submit the wrong amount and USCIS rejects the whole package without processing it.
Consular Fees If You Apply From Abroad
If you’re applying from outside the United States, the Department of State charges its own fee on top of the USCIS petition. Family-based immigrant visa applicants pay $325 per person, employment-based applicants pay $345, and diversity visa lottery winners pay $330.3U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services These are non-refundable and charged per person, so a family of four going through consular processing pays this cost four times.
If the Affidavit of Support is reviewed domestically rather than at the consulate, there’s an additional $120 review fee.3U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services Between the USCIS petition, consular processing, and the immigrant fee, a single family-based applicant coming through a U.S. embassy typically pays $1,200 to $1,500 in government fees alone before any medical exam or legal help.
Medical Exam and Vaccinations
Every green card applicant must complete a medical exam. If you’re adjusting status inside the U.S., a USCIS-designated civil surgeon performs it. If you’re going through a consulate abroad, a panel physician at an approved clinic handles it.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 4 – Review of Medical Examination Documentation You pay the doctor directly, and USCIS does not regulate what they charge.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Finding a Medical Doctor
A standard exam typically runs $200 to $350 for the physical, plus $100 to $300 for required lab work covering tuberculosis, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Most people land in the $250 to $650 range. USCIS suggests calling several civil surgeons to compare, and most do not accept insurance for immigration exams.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Finding a Medical Doctor
Vaccinations are the wildcard. If you already have documentation for the required shots (measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and others), the cost stays low. If not, each injection can run $50 to $150, and a full catch-up series can push the bill above $500. These charges are non-refundable even if your application is later denied.
Translations and Document Authentication
USCIS requires a certified English translation for every foreign-language document you submit. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances, and academic records all qualify. Certified translation services typically charge $20 to $50 per page for standard personal documents, and a typical case involves at least three to five documents, so translation runs about $100 to $300.
Some records also need authentication. If your home country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, certain documents need an apostille stamp. The U.S. Department of State charges $20 per document for federal-level apostilles, and state-level authentication adds more. For countries outside the convention, documents may need full embassy legalization, which varies widely. Budget at least $50 to $150 per document when authentication is required.
Attorney Fees
You are not required to hire an immigration attorney, but many people do. Authorized representatives include licensed attorneys and individuals accredited through the Department of Justice’s Recognition and Accreditation Program.6Executive Office for Immigration Review. Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) Program
Attorney fees for family-based green card cases generally start around $2,000 for straightforward applications and reach $8,000 or more with experienced practitioners. Employment-based cases run higher because of extra documentation and employer coordination, often $5,000 to $10,000. Hourly rates for specialized consultations typically fall between $150 and $400. Cases involving prior immigration violations, criminal history, or a waiver cost substantially more. DOJ-recognized nonprofits sometimes offer lower-cost or free help for eligible applicants, but availability depends on location and funding. Attorney fees are separate from every government filing fee.
Your Sponsor’s Income Has to Clear a Minimum
This isn’t a fee you pay, but it stops applications cold when it isn’t met, so it belongs in your budget planning. Most family-based immigrants need a financial sponsor who signs Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support, committing through a legally binding contract with the government to support the immigrant financially if needed.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support
The sponsor’s household income must equal or exceed 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size, counting the immigrant as a household member. For 2026, that’s $27,050 per year for a household of two and $41,250 for a household of four.8HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States Active-duty military sponsors petitioning for a spouse or child only need to meet 100% of the guidelines.
If income falls short, the sponsor can supplement with assets like savings, stocks, or property. Asset value generally must be at least three times the gap between income and the required threshold (five times for the sponsored spouse of a citizen). A joint sponsor who independently meets the 125% requirement can also co-sign; the joint sponsor doesn’t need to be related to the immigrant but takes on the same legal obligations. The obligation lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or is credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work, which usually takes about ten years.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support
What You’ll Spend After You Arrive
Government fees are the paperwork side. Getting yourself and your belongings here, and surviving the first months, is its own budget.
International airfare for a single traveler runs $800 to $2,500 depending on where you’re coming from and when. Shipping personal belongings by sea freight typically adds $2,000 to $7,000 based on volume and distance. Housing is the biggest immediate hit: landlords usually require first month’s rent plus a security deposit, and in many metro areas that means $3,000 or more just to move in, before utility connection deposits. You’ll also need funds for groceries, local transportation, and household basics for the first 30 to 60 days.
Getting a Social Security number is free. You can request one as part of your immigrant visa application or green card adjustment, or apply at a Social Security office after arrival.9Social Security Administration. Foreign Workers and Social Security Numbers A driver’s license costs vary by state, with registration fees alone ranging from about $20 to over $700, and auto insurance premiums run higher for drivers without a U.S. driving history.
Health insurance surprises many new arrivals. Green card holders can buy coverage through the ACA Marketplace immediately upon arrival, and depending on income may qualify for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. Marketplace plans for a single adult without subsidies typically run $300 to $700 per month. Medicaid is different: most new lawful permanent residents face a five-year waiting period before they qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with the clock starting when you receive your green card. During that window, immigrants who are ineligible for Medicaid solely because of immigration status can still qualify for Marketplace financial assistance even if income falls below 100% of the federal poverty level.10Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Health Coverage Options for Immigrants
Taxes catch people off guard too. Once you have a green card, you owe federal income tax on your worldwide income, and you’re generally treated as a tax resident from the date the card is issued.11Internal Revenue Service. Substantial Presence Test If you keep bank accounts, investments, or other financial accounts in your home country with a combined value exceeding $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) with the Treasury Department, whether or not those accounts produce taxable income.12Internal Revenue Service. Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) Penalties for missing an FBAR can run into tens of thousands of dollars per account per year, so if you’ll keep overseas financial ties, add a tax professional who handles international reporting to your budget.
Fees That Come Later
If you got your green card through marriage and were married less than two years at approval, your card is conditional and valid for two years. Before it expires, you must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions, which costs $750.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule Missing the deadline can cost you your resident status.
Most permanent residents become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after three to five years, which involves a separate naturalization application fee with USCIS listed on the G-1055 Fee Schedule.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Immigration isn’t a single transaction with one price tag. It’s a multi-year financial commitment where costs surface at each stage, and the smartest move is to map out every one before you file your first form.