EB-1A Government Filing Fees — What You'll Pay in 2026

What You Pay USCIS, DOS, and Other Agencies for an EB-1A Green Card

USCIS doesn't charge one flat fee for an EB-1A green card. The government cost breaks down across multiple agencies—USCIS for the petition, the Department of State for consular processing if you're outside the U.S., USCIS again for adjustment of status if you're inside the U.S., plus biometrics and medical exam charges that operate on separate fee schedules. Each agency publishes its own fee schedule, and each updates on its own timeline. A fee amount stated without an as-of date is a guess.

The I-140 petition is the first government filing fee you encounter. As of early 2026, USCIS lists the I-140 filing fee on its fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms. That fee covers adjudication of your petition—the determination that you meet the regulatory criteria for EB-1A classification under 8 CFR 204.5(h). It does not cover biometrics, immigrant visa processing, or the green card application itself. Those are separate filings with separate fees.

Here's the honest answer: fee schedules change. USCIS published a final fee rule in early 2024 that increased most filing fees, effective April 2024. Another adjustment cycle is expected in 2026 or 2027. The amounts below reflect the structure as of this writing, but confirming the current fee at uscis.gov/forms and travel.state.gov before you file is not optional—it's the only way to avoid a rejection for underpayment.

The I-140 Petition Fee

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, is filed by the petitioner—usually yourself in an EB-1A case, since this category does not require a U.S. employer sponsor. USCIS charges a filing fee for Form I-140. As of early 2026, that fee is listed on the USCIS fee schedule; check uscis.gov/i-140 for the exact current amount before filing.

The fee is paid by check, money order, or credit card, depending on how you file. Paper filings accept checks and money orders; online filings through a USCIS online account accept credit card payment. Underpayment results in rejection of the entire petition without adjudication.

The I-140 filing fee is the same across all three EB-1 subcategories—EB-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-1B (outstanding professor or researcher), and EB-1C (multinational manager or executive). The petition form is identical; what differs is the evidentiary standard and who files it.

Premium Processing — Optional, Separate Fee

Premium processing is an optional service that guarantees USCIS will adjudicate your I-140 within a specific timeframe or refund the premium processing fee. It does not guarantee approval—it guarantees a decision. As of early 2026, USCIS charges a separate premium processing fee for Form I-140 when premium processing is available for that form. Confirm current availability and the exact fee amount at uscis.gov/forms/premiumprocessing before paying for it.

Premium processing is requested on Form I-907, filed alongside or after the I-140. The premium fee is paid in addition to the base I-140 filing fee. USCIS occasionally suspends premium processing for certain forms or categories when processing backlogs strain capacity; check the USCIS website for current status.

The guaranteed response window under premium processing is set by regulation. As of this writing, that window is measured in calendar days from the date USCIS accepts the I-907. If USCIS does not issue a decision within that window, the premium fee is refunded, but the petition remains pending.

Biometrics Fee

USCIS collects biometrics—fingerprints, photograph, and signature—for most applicants filing for adjustment of status or certain other immigration benefits. The biometrics fee is separate from the I-140 filing fee. As of early 2026, USCIS charges a biometrics services fee when biometrics are required. The current fee is published on the USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms.

Not every EB-1A applicant pays a biometrics fee. If you are adjusting status inside the U.S. by filing Form I-485, biometrics are required, and the fee is paid with the I-485 filing. If you are processing your immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate abroad, biometrics are collected at the consulate, but the fee structure differs—check the consular processing fee schedule below.

Biometrics appointments are scheduled by USCIS after the I-485 is filed. You cannot pay the biometrics fee separately in advance; it is included in the I-485 filing fee or itemized as an add-on depending on the current fee rule.

Adjustment of Status Fee (I-485)

If you are in the U.S. in lawful status and your priority date is current, you can file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, concurrently with or after your I-140. The I-485 filing fee is separate from the I-140 fee. As of early 2026, USCIS lists the I-485 filing fee on its fee schedule at uscis.gov/i-485. That fee typically includes the biometrics fee, but confirm whether biometrics are itemized separately under the current fee rule.

The I-485 fee varies by applicant age. Applicants 14 and older pay one amount; applicants under 14 pay a reduced amount. If you are filing for dependents—spouse and unmarried children under 21—each dependent files a separate I-485 with the corresponding fee.

Adjustment of status is only available to applicants who are physically in the U.S. and maintain lawful status. If you are outside the U.S. or entered without inspection, adjustment is not an option—you proceed through consular processing instead.

Consular Processing Fees (Immigrant Visa Application)

If you are outside the U.S. or cannot adjust status inside the U.S., you obtain your green card through consular processing. After USCIS approves your I-140, the National Visa Center (NVC) processes your immigrant visa application. The Department of State charges an immigrant visa application processing fee. As of early 2026, the DOS immigrant visa fee is listed at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-10-pay-fees.html. Verify the current amount before you pay.

The immigrant visa fee covers visa processing, the consular interview, and visa issuance if approved. It does not cover the medical examination, required vaccinations, or document translation—those are separate third-party costs paid to the panel physician and translators.

The immigrant visa fee is paid per applicant. If your spouse and children are immigrating with you as dependents, each pays the full immigrant visa fee. Payment is made to the National Visa Center or directly to the consulate, depending on the consular post's procedures.

USCIS Immigrant Fee (After Visa Approval)

Applicants who obtain an immigrant visa abroad pay one additional USCIS fee before the green card is produced. The USCIS Immigrant Fee covers the cost of producing and mailing the green card. As of early 2026, that fee is listed at uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee. It is paid online after the immigrant visa is issued but before you travel to the U.S., or immediately after arriving in the U.S.

The USCIS Immigrant Fee is paid once per person. Dependents each pay the fee separately. The green card is mailed to the U.S. address you provide after paying the fee. This fee does not apply to adjustment of status applicants—they pay the I-485 fee instead, which includes green card production.

Medical Examination Fee (Third-Party, Not Government)

All immigrant visa and adjustment of status applicants must complete a medical examination performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon (for I-485 filers) or a DOS-approved panel physician (for consular processing). The medical exam fee is not a government filing fee—it is paid directly to the physician. Fee amounts vary by provider and location.

The exam includes a physical examination, review of vaccination records, required vaccinations if any are missing, and screening for communicable diseases. The physician provides a sealed report—Form I-693 for adjustment applicants, or a consular medical form for immigrant visa applicants. That sealed report is submitted with your I-485 or presented at your consular interview.

Vaccination costs are separate from the exam fee. If you lack proof of required vaccinations, the physician administers them and charges accordingly. The required vaccine list is published by the CDC and USCIS; it includes vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, and others depending on age and medical history.

What If I File Before Checking the Current Fee?

USCIS rejects petitions and applications filed with insufficient payment. The entire filing is returned without adjudication, and you lose processing time. When the rejection notice arrives—often weeks after you mailed the petition—you must refile with the correct fee. If fees increased between your first filing attempt and the rejection, you pay the new higher amount.

Rejection for underpayment does not establish a filing date. Your priority date is not preserved. In an EB-1A case, where no labor certification establishes a priority date before the I-140 is filed, the priority date is the date USCIS accepts your I-140. A rejected I-140 has no priority date.

Before you file any petition or application, check the current fee on the official USCIS or DOS website. Print or screenshot the fee schedule page for your records. If the fee changes while your case is pending, you do not owe the difference—filing fees are locked as of the date USCIS or DOS accepts your filing.

The Fee Structure Comparison Table

What If Premium Processing Isn't Available When I Need to File?

USCIS suspends premium processing for specific forms or petition categories when case volume exceeds adjudication capacity. These suspensions are announced on the USCIS website and can last weeks or months. If premium processing is suspended for Form I-140 when you file, you file under standard processing and wait for adjudication under the normal queue.

Standard processing times for I-140 petitions vary by USCIS service center and current workload. Processing time estimates are published at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times, but those estimates reflect cases filed months earlier—they do not predict how long your case will take. Filing early does not make USCIS adjudicate faster. What it does is secure your place in the queue and establish your priority date.

When premium processing resumes, you can upgrade your pending I-140 by filing Form I-907 and paying the premium fee. USCIS allows upgrades for cases already in the queue. The guaranteed response window begins when USCIS accepts the I-907, not when the original I-140 was filed.

What If the Fee Increases After I File but Before My Case Is Decided?

Filing fees are locked as of the date USCIS or DOS accepts your petition or application. If a new fee rule takes effect while your case is pending, you do not owe the difference. The fee you paid at filing governs the entire case, including any Requests for Evidence, appeals, or motions filed in connection with that case.

If your petition is denied and you file a new petition—rather than an appeal or motion to reopen—you pay the filing fee in effect at the time of the new filing. A second I-140 petition after a denial is a separate filing with a separate fee.

Fee increases do affect cases not yet filed. If USCIS announces a fee increase effective on a future date, and you file before that date, you pay the old fee. If you file on or after the effective date, you pay the new fee. Postmark date controls for mailed filings; submission date controls for online filings.

How the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu Handles Fee Planning for EB-1A Clients

The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu builds a complete government fee estimate for every EB-1A client during the initial consultation. That estimate accounts for the I-140 petition, premium processing if the client requests it, adjustment of status or consular processing depending on the client's location, dependent filings, and third-party costs like the medical exam. The estimate is updated whenever USCIS or DOS publishes a new fee rule.

Fee changes are frequent enough that quoting a specific dollar amount in an article guarantees the article will be outdated within months. The firm's approach is to direct clients to the current official fee schedule, verify it together during the consultation, and plan the filing timeline around the verified amounts. That consultation fee is $250.

Clients outside the U.S. proceed through consular processing; clients lawfully in the U.S. typically adjust status if their priority date is current. The fee structure differs significantly between the two paths. The firm evaluates which path applies to your situation and itemizes the government costs accordingly. For more on the firm's EB-1A visa assistance in San Diego, contact the office directly.

The Durable Rule About EB-1A Fees

The government fee for an EB-1A green card is not a single number. It is a series of separate filings—I-140 petition, I-485 or immigrant visa application, biometrics, USCIS immigrant fee for consular applicants, and third-party medical costs—each with its own fee, each published by a different agency, and each subject to change by regulation. The only reliable way to know what you will pay is to check the official fee schedules at uscis.gov and travel.state.gov at the time you file.

Fees stated without an as-of date are estimates at best and errors at worst. Budgeting based on outdated information costs you filing time when USCIS rejects your petition for underpayment. Plan your EB-1A filing around the current verified fees, not around what a website said six months ago.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about EB-1A government filing fees and related costs. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration filing fees change frequently, and individual cases may involve additional costs or different filing paths depending on your specific circumstances. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to confirm current fees, evaluate your eligibility, and determine the total cost of your EB-1A case before filing.

Schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu — 4615 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111 · 858-268-8823 · Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM. Consultation fee: $250.