The I-130 filing fee is $625 if you submit the petition online and $675 if you mail a paper application.1eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – Fees The fee applies to each petition, so sponsoring more than one relative means paying it more than once. It is non-refundable once USCIS accepts the petition, even if the case is later denied.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 3 – Fees
Why Online Costs Less
The $50 difference reflects the lower processing burden of digital submissions. Online filers also get real-time case status updates that paper filers do not receive. If you have the option, filing online is both faster and cheaper.
One Fee Per Relative
You must file a separate Form I-130 for each relative you are sponsoring, and each petition carries its own filing fee.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative A U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse and two siblings pays three separate fees. At the online rate, that is $1,875 in I-130 fees alone.
One partial exception exists in the family preference categories. If you petition for an adult married child, that child’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be listed as derivative beneficiaries on the same petition without a separate I-130.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21) cannot be derivatives. Each needs their own petition and their own fee.
How to Pay
Online filers are routed to a secure Pay.gov portal after completing the application and receive instant confirmation once the transaction clears.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Immigrant Fee – Start Payment
Paper filers face tighter rules. As of October 28, 2025, USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed applications. Paper submissions must include payment by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or by ACH bank transfer using Form G-1650.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Modernize Fee Payments with Electronic Funds Download Form G-1450, complete it, and place it on top of your petition package.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
If you lack a bank account or electronic payment access, you can request an exemption by filing Form G-1651 with your petition and certifying undue hardship or lack of banking access. An approved G-1651 lets you pay by check or money order.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment Write the check to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” without abbreviations.
What Happens if the Payment Fails
A declined card or bounced payment causes USCIS to reject the entire petition. The agency will not try the card a second time.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pay With a Credit Card by Mail A rejected petition does not keep its original filing date. When you resubmit, USCIS treats it as a new filing with a new date.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 Part B Chapter 6 – Submitting Requests
For immediate relative petitions, where visa numbers are always available, losing a few weeks may not matter much. In family preference categories with wait times measured in years, a lost priority date is a serious setback. Confirm your card has sufficient funds and is not near its expiration date before you file.
Fee Waivers Do Not Apply to Form I-130
Form I-130 is not on the list of forms eligible for a fee waiver under federal regulation.10eCFR. 8 CFR 106.3 – Fee Waivers and Exemptions Regardless of financial hardship, USCIS requires the full $625 or $675 to process the petition. Filing Form I-912 will not reduce the amount owed on an I-130.
VAWA self-petitioners sometimes referenced in fee-relief discussions file Form I-360, not Form I-130.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant That is a different petition with its own fee structure.
What Comes After the I-130 Fee
The I-130 fee is the first bill in the family-based green card process, not the last. If your relative is abroad and goes through consular processing, expect a $325 immigrant visa application processing fee paid to the National Visa Center, a separate $220 USCIS immigrant fee for producing the green card after entry, and an immigration medical exam that commonly runs between $200 and $500.12U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services Including the I-130 fee, the minimum for consular processing generally lands around $1,200 to $1,500 per person.
If your relative is already in the U.S. and eligible to adjust status by filing Form I-485, that form carries a substantially higher fee than the I-130, and biometrics, medical exam, and interview costs also apply. Families frequently spend $2,000 or more per person in government fees on the adjustment path before any attorney costs.
Budget for the full sequence before you start. An approved I-130 can sit idle at the National Visa Center if the follow-on fees are not ready when the case is called.