A re-entry permit costs $630 to file with USCIS, and that single fee covers both the application and the biometrics appointment.1USCIS. G-1055 Fee Schedule Once you add passport photos, certified mailing, any required translations, and (for many applicants) an immigration attorney, realistic out-of-pocket spending on a re-entry permit runs closer to $700 or more.
What the $630 Fee Covers
The $630 is the filing fee for Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, when used to request a re-entry permit. Biometrics are built into that amount, so there is no separate fingerprinting fee to add on top.1USCIS. G-1055 Fee Schedule After USCIS receives your application, it will schedule you at a local Application Support Center for fingerprints and a photograph.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
One thing that catches people off guard: re-entry permits are not eligible for a fee waiver. Even if you would qualify for a waiver on other USCIS forms based on income or public benefits, USCIS will not waive the $630 for this application.1USCIS. G-1055 Fee Schedule
How You Have to Pay
Starting October 28, 2025, USCIS stopped accepting personal checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders for paper-filed forms unless the applicant qualifies for a specific exemption.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Electronic Payments Policy Alert The standard payment method is now a credit or debit card, authorized on Form G-1450 (Authorization for Credit Card Transactions) placed on top of the application. ACH bank transfer through Form G-1650 is the other option.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
If you don’t have access to banking or electronic payment systems, or electronic payment would cause undue hardship, you can request an exemption to pay by paper check or money order using Form G-1651.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment Approved paper payments must be drawn on a U.S. financial institution, in U.S. funds, and made out to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” written in full, not abbreviated.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
If you file Form I-131 in the same envelope as other USCIS forms, pay each fee separately. A single combined payment means USCIS will reject the entire package if one form in it is defective.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
Other Expenses to Budget For
The $630 is the only fixed government charge. The additional costs vary by applicant.
- Passport-style photographs. The application requires two identical photos meeting U.S. passport specifications. Drugstores and big-box retailers typically charge $5 to $15, and professional studios can run up to about $20.
- Postage and shipping. Certified or express mail adds only a modest amount but gives you a tracking number. Since USCIS will reject an application filed with an incorrect fee, proof of delivery is worth the few extra dollars.
- Document translation. Any supporting document not in English must include a certified English translation, with the translator certifying the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent in both languages. Cost depends on the language and the length of the document.
- Attorney fees. An immigration attorney can prepare and file the I-131 for you. Fees for this type of application generally run about $350 to $600, higher in expensive markets or complicated cases.
If the Permit Is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged
There is no discounted replacement. If the permit is lost, stolen, or damaged after you receive it, you have to file a new Form I-131, pay the full $630 again, and include a written statement explaining what happened to the original.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them On the form, select the option in Part 4 indicating the document was received but subsequently lost, stolen, or damaged. If the permit was damaged rather than lost, send the damaged document in with the new application.
Expedited Processing Doesn’t Cost Extra
USCIS considers expedite requests for re-entry permits at no additional fee, but approval is discretionary and the bar is high. Qualifying situations include the death or serious illness of a family member abroad, an urgent need for medical treatment overseas, or a pressing professional or academic commitment where you filed on time but processing has run past your departure date. Vacation travel does not qualify.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Expedite Requests Expect to provide documentation of the urgency, and expect USCIS to weigh whether you filed early enough given your planned travel.
The Cost of Skipping the Permit
If you stay outside the United States for a year or longer without a valid re-entry permit, the fallback is a Returning Resident Visa (SB-1) from a U.S. consulate. That route carries $385 in combined fees and requires you to prove your extended absence was beyond your control.8U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services The dollar figure is smaller than the $630 filing fee, but the evidentiary burden and the risk of denial make the re-entry permit the cheaper option in practice for anyone who knows in advance they’ll be abroad that long.