Cost to Petition a Relative, I-130 Form

Last updated: August 12, 2025.

By Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney

• The minimum cost to petition a relative is $1,305-$2,065 per immigrant
• This cost doesn’t include medical examination fee and other expenses (attorney fees, English translations, etc.)
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative is a form used in family-based immigration applications
• Form I-130 is filed by “Petitioner” – a U.S. citizen or green card holder who wants to sponsor their family member for permanent residency
• The family member being sponsored for green card is called “Beneficiary“

Filing the Form I-130 is typically the first step in any family-based immigration application.

The costs associated with filing Form I-130 depend on the following factors:

• Number of family members being sponsored
• Location of the beneficiary (U.S. or abroad)
• Whether an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole will be requested (only for applicants located in the U.S.)
• Whether you hire an immigration attorney or prepare the application yourself
• Cost of medical exam (Form I-693)

Form I-130 filing fees

Form I-130 filing fees:

• $625 (if filing online), or
• $675 (if filing by mail)

Form I-130 filing fee for this petition cannot be waived.

NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on this petition. 

You must submit all fees in the exact amounts. 

If filing Form I-130 by mail, USCIS accepts the following payment methods:

• Money orders, cashier’s checks and personal checks payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
• Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions

If filing several forms in the same package, submit a separate payment for each fee. Otherwise, USCIS will reject your application.

If filing Form I-130 online, you can make a credit card payment.

Always check the current Form I-130 filing fee on the USCIS website. Failure to submit the correct filing fee will result in rejection of your application.

How many Forms I-130 must be filed if sponsoring several family members?

If you are sponsoring more than one family member, a separate Form I-130 filing might be required for each individual.

See the table below to determine the number of Form I-130 applications that must be filed:

Form I-130 eligible relatives

All family-based immigrants fall into one of two major categories:

• Immediate relative, or 
• Family preference category

The following immigrants are considered “immediate relatives”:

• spouse of a U.S. citizen;
• unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen; or
• parent of a U.S. citizen.

All other qualified relationships are considered family preference categories:

• Unmarried children of US citizen over 21
• Married sons and daughters of US citizens (any age)
• Spouses of permanent residents
• Unmarried children under 21 of permanent residents
• Unmarried children over 21 of permanent residents
• Siblings of US citizens

How Much Does it Cost to Petition a Relative Living in the U.S.

If the family member being sponsored is physically present in the US, he or she might be eligible for Adjustment of Status.

Adjustment of Status is the process of applying for green card that doesn’t require an applicant to depart the U.S.

To apply for Adjustment of Status, a relative must file Form I-485 with USCIS (along with other required immigration forms and supporting documents).

Certain requirements must be met before an applicant can file Form I-485:

• Relative must have been inspected and admitted by the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol)
• Relative’s priority date must be current (doesn’t apply to immediate relatives of US citizens)
• Relative must be otherwise eligible for permanent residency

The cost of petitioning a relative who is located in the U.S.:

Note: The fees above include only mandatory filing fees.

You can also expect to pay for additional expenses:

• Vaccination fees
• Attorney fees
• English translation
• U.S. passport style photographs
• Cost of obtaining documents
• Shipping
• Copying

How Much Does it Cost to Petition a Relative Living Abroad

If the relative being sponsored is located outside the U.S., he or she will complete the so-called “Consular Processing“.

This process includes an immigrant visa application with the National Visa Center (NVC) and attending an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Consular processing is the only method available to relatives located outside the U.S.

The cost of petitioning a relative who is located abroad:

Other I-130 Fees to Keep in Mind

Apart from the government fees and medical exam fees, you can expect to pay for the following expenses:

• Vaccination Fees: Some immigrants will get missing vaccinations

• Documents Translation Fee: Any document in a foreign language must be translated to English. Documentation translation fees can vary between $20-$40/per page.

• Document Fee: If requesting missing documents from the government agencies, expect to pay the required fees

• Travel Expenses: Cost of traveling to the interview location, or biometrics appointment

• Shipping Costs: cost of mailing the documents to USCIS

Form I-130 Cost Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much does the I-130 form cost?

Related Links:

Form I-130 Instructions

How to fill out Form I-130

Form I-130 checklist of documents