IR-2 Government Filing Fees — Current Costs (2026)

Understanding IR-2 Government Filing Fees

Most parents assume the IR-2 visa process involves one government filing fee. The actual structure includes three separate charges assessed at different stages: the USCIS petition filing fee, the Department of State consular processing fee, and the medical examination fee. None of these covers attorney representation, document translation, or courier services—those are separate professional fees. Each government charge serves a distinct purpose in the adjudication process, and each is subject to change by agency fee rule without advance notice to applicants.

The IR-2 visa category covers unmarried children under 21 years of age of U.S. citizens. Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) is filed with USCIS to establish the qualifying relationship. Once USCIS approves the petition and the child's priority date becomes current, the National Visa Center (NVC) transfers the case to the U.S. consulate in the child's country of residence for consular processing. The Department of State assesses its own fee at that stage. A final medical examination, required by the consulate before the visa interview, carries a separate fee set by the panel physician, not by USCIS or DOS.

This article explains which fees are charged at each stage, what they cover, how they change, and where to confirm current amounts before filing.

The USCIS I-130 Petition Filing Fee

The I-130 petition filing fee is paid to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when the U.S. citizen parent submits the petition to establish the parent-child relationship. As of early 2026, USCIS lists this fee on its official fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms—the only source for current amounts. The fee funds USCIS processing of the petition, including biometrics collection if required, background checks, and case review. It does not cover consular processing, visa issuance, or any action taken by the Department of State.

USCIS adjusts its fee schedule periodically through Federal Register rulemaking. The most recent fee changes took effect under rules published in 2024 and 2025, with additional adjustments expected as agency budgets shift. Before filing, confirm the current I-130 fee at uscis.gov/forms and include it with the petition package. Filing without the correct fee or with an outdated payment amount results in rejection of the entire package without adjudication.

Payment methods accepted by USCIS include check, money order, and credit card (via Form G-1450). The agency does not accept cash, and international money orders must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. financial institution. The fee must match the exact amount posted on the USCIS fee schedule at the time of filing—no variance is permitted.

The Department of State Consular Processing Fee

After USCIS approves the I-130 petition and the National Visa Center completes document collection, the case transfers to the U.S. consulate or embassy in the child's country of residence. The Department of State assesses a separate immigrant visa application processing fee, paid directly to DOS, not to USCIS. As of 2026, this fee is published on the State Department's Consular Affairs website at travel.state.gov under immigrant visa fees. The amount varies by visa category; IR-2 falls within the immediate relative immigrant visa fee structure.

This fee covers consular officer review of the visa application, interview scheduling, and visa issuance if the application is approved. It does not cover USCIS petition costs, medical examination fees, or document translation. Payment is typically made online through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) after the National Visa Center instructs the applicant to pay. The consulate will not schedule a visa interview until this fee is paid in full.

DOS adjusts its fee schedule independently of USCIS, and amounts change without requiring Federal Register notice in the same manner USCIS does. Always verify the current immigrant visa fee on travel.state.gov before scheduling the consular interview. Outdated fee amounts found on third-party websites or older USCIS correspondence do not control—only the figure posted on the official State Department website at the time of payment applies.

Medical Examination Fee

Every immigrant visa applicant, including IR-2 beneficiaries, must undergo a medical examination performed by a panel physician designated by the U.S. consulate. This examination is required before the visa interview and must be completed within the timeframe specified by the consulate. The medical exam fee is set by the panel physician, not by USCIS or the Department of State, and varies by country and provider.

The exam includes a physical examination, review of vaccination records, and tests for communicable diseases of public health significance as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The panel physician provides the results in a sealed envelope, which the applicant presents at the visa interview. The consulate will not proceed with the interview without this sealed medical report.

Because the fee is set by private medical providers under contract with the consulate, it is not listed on USCIS or DOS fee schedules. The U.S. consulate's website for the specific country publishes a list of approved panel physicians, and applicants should contact those physicians directly to confirm current fees and appointment availability. Some consulates post estimated fee ranges, but the actual amount charged depends on the physician selected and the services provided during the exam.

Fee Comparison Table

Bottom Line: Each fee serves a distinct step in the process and is paid to a different entity. Total government cost is the sum of all three, plus any additional fees for document services, translations, or courier charges not covered above.

What's Not Included in Government Fees

Government filing fees cover adjudication and processing by USCIS, the Department of State, and the medical examination required by regulation. They do not cover:

• Attorney representation fees
• Document translation services
• Certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, or divorce decrees
• Courier or express mail services for submitting documents to USCIS, NVC, or the consulate
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) preparation or review, though the form itself has no government filing fee
• Photographs meeting visa specifications, if not included in medical exam cost
• Travel to the consulate for the interview
• Passport fees assessed by the applicant's home country

These are routine costs in every IR-2 case, but they are professional or third-party fees, not government charges. Budgeting for an IR-2 petition means accounting for both sets of costs—government fees and supporting services.

Here's the Honest Answer

Here's the honest answer: government fees change without individual notice to applicants. USCIS publishes fee rules in the Federal Register and updates its online fee schedule, but it does not notify pending or prospective filers individually when amounts increase. The Department of State adjusts consular fees at its discretion, and panel physician fees fluctuate based on local market conditions and exchange rates. A fee amount you see cited in a forum post, an older article, or even last year's USCIS notice may no longer be current.

The only reliable source for a fee amount is the official government website publishing that fee at the time you are ready to pay it. For USCIS, that is uscis.gov/forms. For DOS, that is travel.state.gov. For the medical exam, that is the consulate's list of approved panel physicians. Confirming fees before each payment stage—not once at the start of the case—prevents rejected filings and avoids the delay of resubmitting with corrected payment.

What If the Fee Increases Between Petition Filing and Consular Processing?

Fee increases during the lifecycle of a case are common. If USCIS or DOS raises its fees after you have already paid the earlier fee, you are not retroactively charged the difference for that stage. The I-130 filing fee you paid locks in the rate at the time of filing—even if USCIS raises fees before the petition is adjudicated. Similarly, the immigrant visa application fee locks in when you pay it to the National Visa Center, not when the petition was originally filed.

However, each stage is independent. If you file the I-130 in early 2026 and consular processing does not occur until late 2026 or 2027, the immigrant visa fee charged at that later stage will be the amount in effect at that time, not the amount published when the I-130 was filed. The same applies to the medical exam—what you pay is determined by the panel physician's current rate when you schedule the appointment.

Budget for potential increases if your case will span multiple years, particularly if you are petitioning for a child approaching the age limit. Consult the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu at www.peterchu.com for current fee estimates and case timeline planning.

What If I Paid the Wrong Fee Amount?

If you submit an I-130 petition with an incorrect fee—either too little or an outdated amount—USCIS will reject the entire filing package without adjudication. The agency returns the package with a rejection notice, and the petition receives no filing date or priority date. You must resubmit with the correct fee and current forms. This delay can affect case timelines, particularly if the child beneficiary is approaching 21 years of age, the statutory cutoff for IR-2 eligibility.

If you overpay, USCIS generally issues a refund, but processing refunds adds administrative time and does not accelerate adjudication. The Department of State follows similar rejection procedures if the immigrant visa fee is incorrect. Confirm the exact amount on the official fee schedule immediately before mailing or uploading payment.

What If the Child Turns 21 During the Process?

IR-2 classification applies only to unmarried children under 21 years of age. If the child turns 21 after the I-130 petition is filed but before it is approved, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may allow the child to remain eligible under certain conditions. CSPA "freezes" the child's age for immigration purposes by subtracting the time USCIS took to adjudicate the petition from the child's actual age. If the CSPA calculation results in an age under 21, the child remains eligible as an IR-2 beneficiary.

If CSPA does not apply or the calculation results in the child aging out, the case converts to the F1 family-preference category (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens), which carries significantly longer wait times due to annual visa number limits. The fees already paid to USCIS and DOS are not refunded in this scenario, and the case proceeds under the new category with its own priority date and processing timeline.

Aging out during the process is a common issue in IR-2 cases where petition filing is delayed or USCIS processing extends beyond anticipated timelines. The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu at www.peterchu.com can calculate CSPA protection in individual cases and advise on filing strategies to minimize age-out risk.

How to Confirm Current Fees Before Filing

Before filing any petition or paying any government fee, verify the current amount on the official source:

1. USCIS I-130 Fee: Visit uscis.gov/forms, search for Form I-130, and review the fee listed in the form instructions and fee schedule.
2. DOS Immigrant Visa Fee: Visit travel.state.gov, navigate to the immigrant visa section, and confirm the fee for immediate relative visas (IR category).
3. Medical Exam Fee: Access the U.S. consulate's website for the child's country of residence, locate the panel physician list, and contact physicians directly for current fees.

Do not rely on fees cited in articles, forum discussions, or unofficial summaries, including this one. Government fees are volatile regulatory facts that change without individual notice. Confirming amounts at each payment stage—immediately before filing—is the only method to ensure accuracy.

Immigrant Visa Fees vs. Other Family-Based Petitions

The IR-2 visa is one of several immediate relative categories under U.S. immigration law. Other categories include IR-1 (spouse of a U.S. citizen), IR-3 (orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen), IR-4 (orphan to be adopted in the U.S.), and IR-5 (parent of a U.S. citizen). All immediate relative petitions use Form I-130 and follow the same USCIS filing fee structure. The Department of State charges the same immigrant visa application fee across all IR categories, though fees differ for family-preference and employment-based immigrant visas.

Understanding which category applies to your case is essential for fee planning and timeline expectations. IR categories have no annual numerical limits, so consular processing proceeds as soon as the I-130 is approved and NVC completes document collection. Family-preference categories (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) are subject to annual caps and multi-year backlogs, resulting in longer timelines between petition approval and visa availability. The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu provides guidance on category determination and its impact on overall case costs and timelines.

When Attorney Fees Are Separate from Government Fees

Attorney fees are professional service charges, not government filing fees. Immigration attorneys charge for legal representation, case strategy, document preparation, form completion, and communication with USCIS, the National Visa Center, and the consulate. These fees are set by the law firm, not by government regulation, and vary based on case complexity, jurisdiction, and firm experience.

The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu charges a $250 consultation fee to review case eligibility, assess documentation, and provide an estimate of total case costs, including both government fees and professional services. This consultation is separate from representation fees if the client proceeds with filing. Government fees are paid directly to USCIS and DOS; they are not included in attorney fees and are not refundable if the petition is denied.

Understanding the distinction between government fees and attorney fees prevents budget surprises and clarifies what each payment covers. Government fees pay for adjudication; attorney fees pay for the legal work that makes the petition approvable.

Conclusion

IR-2 government filing fees encompass three separate charges: the USCIS I-130 petition fee, the Department of State immigrant visa application fee, and the medical examination fee. Each is assessed at a different stage, paid to a different entity, and subject to change without individual notice. None of these fees covers attorney representation, document translation, or supporting services that are routine in every case.

Confirm all government fees on official sources immediately before payment to avoid rejection and case delays. Budget for both government and professional fees when planning an IR-2 petition, and consult experienced counsel to navigate fee changes, timeline planning, and age-out protection strategies.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about IR-2 government filing fees and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts, current law, and agency policies. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your case. Do not rely on fee amounts cited here—verify all government fees on official USCIS and Department of State websites before filing.

Need Personalized Immigration Guidance? The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu offers a $250 consultation to review your IR-2 case, confirm current fees, and assess eligibility. Contact the firm at 858-268-8823 or visit www.peterchu.com to schedule.

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.