Comparison Tool

Compare U.S.CIS Filing Fees Across Paths

Among the paths modeled, the Diversity (DV) lottery is cheapest in government fees at about $325 (the immigrant visa fee), while EB-5 is the most expensive at about $6,005 because the I-526 petition alone is $3,675 under the current (court-reverted) fee. Family immediate-relative adjustment, employment-based adjustment, and K-1 fiancé adjustment all land near $3,000-$3,050 in base government fees. These are filing fees only - medical exams, translations, and attorney costs are separate and can double or triple the real total.

Results

Visualization

VisaFig provides general estimates for informational and educational purposes only. U.S. immigration law is complex and outcomes depend on individual facts, current forms, and the monthly Visa Bulletin cutoffs published by the U.S. Department of State, which we do not model here. Government filing fees reflect the DHS 2024 Fee Rule (effective April 1, 2024) and the November 2025 EB-5 court stay, and they change over time - always confirm the exact current fee with the official USCIS Fee Calculator (uscis.gov/fees) before filing. Nothing on this site is legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative for your specific case.

How It Works

We sum the published government filing fees for a representative filing in each path using the DHS 2024 Fee Rule (effective April 1, 2024) and the November 2025 EB-5 court stay that reverted I-526 to its pre-2024 level. Components used: I-130 $675, I-485 (adjustment) $1,440, I-765 (EAD) $260, I-131 (travel) $630, I-864 (affidavit) $0, I-140 $715, I-526 $3,675, I-129F $675, and the State Department immigrant visa fee $325 (DS-260 is free). Family immediate-relative and K-1 use adjustment inside the U.S.; family preference and diversity use consular processing and pay the immigrant visa fee instead of I-485. EB-5 adds the large I-526 petition. The chart compares all six so you can see the spread at a glance.

What Should You Do?

These numbers are government filing fees only. Real cost is usually higher: the I-693 medical exam ($200-$600 typical), certified translations, and attorney fees (frequently $1,500-$5,000+, far more for EB-5) are separate. Employment petitions also usually owe the Asylum Program Fee (generally $600, reduced to $300 for small businesses and $0 for nonprofits) on top of the I-140, which we excluded from the base comparison - add it for a true employment total. Fees change, and the EB-5 figure in particular was the subject of litigation in 2025; always confirm the exact current amount with the official USCIS Fee Calculator before you send a check. This comparison is for planning, not a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Diversity path only $325?

DV winners pay the State Department immigrant visa fee ($325) and file DS-260 for free; they generally do not pay USCIS adjustment or petition fees unless they later adjust status inside the U.S.

Why is EB-5 so expensive?

The I-526 investor petition alone is $3,675 under the current court-reverted fee, and adding adjustment forms brings the government total to about $6,005, far above the family and employment paths.

Is the Asylum Program Fee included?

No. Most employment petitioners also owe a $600 Asylum Program Fee on Form I-140 (reduced for small businesses, $0 for nonprofits). We show the base I-140 fee only, so add it for employment cases.

Are attorney and medical costs in here?

No. This is government filing fees only. Medical exams, translations, and legal representation are separate and often exceed the filing fees.

Are these fees current?

They reflect the DHS 2024 Fee Rule and the 2025 EB-5 court stay. Fees change, so verify the exact amount on uscis.gov/fees before filing.

Why does family preference cost less than family immediate relative?

Preference cases are usually processed consularly and pay the $325 immigrant visa fee instead of the $1,440 I-485 adjustment fee, so the government total is much lower - though they may face longer Visa Bulletin waits.