As of October 21, 2026, the government fees for an EB-1A start with Form I-140: $715 on paper or $665 online, plus an Asylum Program Fee that is $300 for a self-petitioner (USCIS, Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26). Premium processing is optional and costs $2,965, after a rise from $2,805 on March 1, 2026 (91 FR 1060, FR Doc. 2026-00321). If you adjust status inside the US, Form I-485 costs $1,440 on paper for each applicant aged 14 or older (USCIS, Form G-1055).
So the EB-1A cost for one person filing on paper, with a work permit and advance parole but without premium processing, is $3,345 in USCIS fees. The sections below list every fee, explain which ones are optional, and show how the total changes for a family or for consular processing. Legal fees, translations and the medical exam are separate and are not set by USCIS.
- Form I-140 costs $715 on paper or $665 online under the USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26.
- An EB-1A self-petitioner pays a $300 Asylum Program Fee with the I-140, and the online discount does not apply to it.
- Premium processing for an EB-1A I-140 rose from $2,805 to $2,965 for requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.
- USCIS guarantees action on a premium EB-1A (E11) petition within 15 business days.
- Form I-485 costs $1,440 on paper for applicants 14 and older, or $950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent.
- With a pending I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024, a work permit costs $260 and advance parole costs $630 on paper.
- Consular processing replaces the I-485 with a $345 State Department fee per person plus the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee.
How much is the I-140 filing fee for an EB-1A in 2026?
The Form I-140 fee is set by regulation at $715 (8 CFR 106.2(a)(11)). Filing online costs $665, because USCIS regulations make most online filings $50 cheaper than the paper fee (8 CFR 106.1(g)). The fee schedule in effect today, Form G-1055 dated October 16, 2026, shows the same two figures (USCIS, Form G-1055).
You can file an EB-1A for yourself. The regulation says an alien "or any person on behalf of the alien" may file the I-140, and that neither a job offer nor a labor certification is required (8 CFR 204.5(h)(1) and (h)(5)). That is why there is no PERM labor certification step in an EB-1A budget; our guide to why EB-1 skips labor certification explains what that saves in time.
What is the Asylum Program Fee for EB-1A self-petitioners?
Every Form I-140 carries an extra Asylum Program Fee. The regulation sets it at $600, reduced to $300 for a small employer and $0 for a nonprofit, and it says the online filing discount does not apply (8 CFR 106.2(c)(13)). The fee schedule spells out where a self-petitioner falls: the $300 tier is listed for petitioners "filing as a Small Employer or self-petitioner" (USCIS, Form G-1055). The regulation's definition explains why an individual qualifies:
"Small employer means a firm or individual that has 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in the United States, including any affiliates and subsidiaries." 8 CFR 106.1(f)(1)
If a large company files an EB-1A on your behalf instead, it pays the regular $600 tier, and a qualifying nonprofit such as a university pays nothing (USCIS, Form G-1055; 8 CFR 106.1(f)(2)). The H.R. 1 fees that USCIS adjusted for inflation effective October 16, 2026 do not include the I-140 or the I-485 (91 FR 62541 to 62542, FR Doc. 2026-20187).
How much does EB-1A premium processing cost after March 1, 2026?
Premium processing for an EB-1A I-140 costs $2,965, and USCIS lists the same amount for paper and online requests (USCIS, Form G-1055). The fee went up by $160 under a final rule published on January 12, 2026, which tracked a 5.72 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index between June 2023 and June 2025 (91 FR 1060, FR Doc. 2026-00321). The rule's DATES section reads:
"Compliance date: Requests for premium processing postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the new fee." 91 FR 1059 (Jan. 12, 2026), DATES
The premium fee cannot be waived, and it must be paid in addition to, and separately from, the other filing fees (91 FR 1060). For an EB-1A, which USCIS codes as E11, the guarantee is adjudicative action within 15 business days; the NIW and EB-1C categories get 45 business days (USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?). "Action" includes a request for evidence, and the clock stops and restarts when you respond (USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?). USCIS lists the forms eligible for premium processing as Forms I-129, I-140, I-539 and I-765, so it is not available for Form I-485 (USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?). Our guide to what I-140 premium processing actually guarantees covers when it is worth paying for.
The timeframe itself may change. A USCIS proposed rule titled "Amending the Premium Processing Timeframe" (RIN 1615-AD25) was received for White House review on October 13, 2026 and was still pending on the date of this article (OIRA, EO 12866 review, RIN 1615-AD25). The OIRA listing gives only the rule's title and stage, not its text (OIRA, EO 12866 review, RIN 1615-AD25).
What does the green card stage cost if I adjust status?
At the green card stage, each person applying for a green card in the US files Form I-485. Since April 1, 2024, the work permit and travel document are no longer bundled into the I-485 fee, and the biometrics cost is built into the main fee rather than charged separately (USCIS, FAQ on the USCIS Fee Rule). Current amounts:
| Form | Paper | Online | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-485, applicant 14 or older | $1,440 | $1,390 | Yes, per person |
| I-485, child under 14 filing with a parent | $950 | $900 | Yes, per child |
| I-765 work permit, with a pending I-485 filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024 | $260 | $260 | Optional |
| I-131 advance parole, with a pending I-485 | $630 | $580 | Optional |
| I-693 medical exam (USCIS fee) | $0 | n/a | Yes, civil surgeon charges separately |
All amounts come from the current fee schedule (USCIS, Form G-1055). If your I-485 was filed with a fee on or after July 30, 2007 and before April 1, 2024 and is still pending, the work permit and advance parole cost $0 (USCIS, Form G-1055).
The medical exam has no USCIS fee, but you pay the doctor. USCIS says fees for immigration medical examinations "are established by the civil surgeon" and may vary (USCIS, Form I-693). You must submit the I-693 with your I-485, in the civil surgeon's sealed envelope if you file on paper, or USCIS may reject the I-485 (USCIS, Form I-693), so this cost lands at the same time as the filing fees. Our guide to the green card medical exam explains what it involves, and our explainer on the I-485 in practice covers the rest of the adjustment stage.
One travel cost is easy to miss. When you return on advance parole, CBP will require the separate H.R. 1 immigration parole fee each time you seek parole at a port of entry, unless it determines you qualify for an exception (USCIS, Form G-1055). That fee is $1,050 for parole granted on or after October 16, 2026 (91 FR 62536, FR Doc. 2026-20185). One of the ten statutory exceptions covers a lawful applicant for adjustment of status returning after temporary travel abroad (90 FR 48318, FR Doc. 2025-19564), but DHS applies the exceptions case by case (91 FR 62536).
Do family members pay separate EB-1A fees?
Your spouse and children do not need their own I-140. If your petition is approved, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible to immigrate in E-14 and E-15 status as your derivatives (USCIS, Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1). Each of them pays their own green card stage fees. Using the paper amounts in the table above, a spouse who files an I-485 with a work permit and advance parole pays $2,330, and a child under 14 filing with a parent pays $1,840 for the same three forms (USCIS, Form G-1055). Our guide to how family members are covered by an EB-1 petition explains who qualifies.
What does consular processing cost instead?
If you or a family member will receive the green card through a US consulate abroad, there is no I-485, work permit or advance parole fee. Instead, each person pays the State Department's immigrant visa application processing fee, which is $345 for employment-based applications (22 CFR 22.1, item 32). After the visa is issued, each immigrant also pays the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee (8 CFR 106.2(c)(3)), which USCIS uses to process the immigrant visa packet and produce the green card (USCIS, USCIS Immigrant Fee). USCIS encourages paying it after you pick up the visa and before you travel, and you will not receive the card until it is paid (USCIS, USCIS Immigrant Fee). This article does not cover medical exam costs abroad.
What is the total EB-1A cost in government fees?
These totals use paper fees, a self-petitioner's $300 Asylum Program Fee, and the optional work permit and advance parole for everyone adjusting status (USCIS, Form G-1055; 22 CFR 22.1). They exclude medical exams, legal fees and any parole fee at the border.
| Scenario | Without premium | With premium ($2,965) |
|---|---|---|
| I-140 only (I-140 plus Asylum Program Fee) | $1,015 | $3,980 |
| Single applicant, adjustment of status | $3,345 | $6,310 |
| Applicant and spouse, adjustment of status | $5,675 | $8,640 |
| Applicant, spouse and two children under 14, adjustment of status | $9,355 | $12,320 |
| Single applicant, consular processing | $1,595 | $4,560 |
If something goes wrong, there are further fees. An appeal or motion on Form I-290B costs $800 (USCIS, Form G-1055). Refiling a petition instead means paying the I-140 fees again, because each petition must be filed with the correct fee (USCIS, Form G-1055).
What this means for you
The fixed part of an EB-1A budget is small next to the variable part. The I-140 and Asylum Program Fee together are $1,015 on paper, while the green card stage scales with the number of people in your family and with whether you request work permits and travel documents (USCIS, Form G-1055). Premium processing is the single largest optional fee, and it buys faster action on the I-140 only (USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?).
Fees are paid by credit card or ACH debit for most paper filings, and a wrong fee gets the filing rejected (USCIS, Form G-1055). Before you file:
- Check every amount against the current Form G-1055 edition on the day you mail or submit.
- Pay the $300 Asylum Program Fee tier if you are self-petitioning, and do not deduct the online discount from it.
- Pay the premium processing fee separately from the I-140 fee.
- Budget a separate I-485 for every family member adjusting status, at $950 for children under 14 filing with a parent.
- Book the civil surgeon early, since the completed I-693 must go in with the I-485, in its sealed envelope if you file on paper.
- Ask your attorney about the parole fee exception before traveling on advance parole.
Where to start
If you are weighing whether to spend these fees on an EB-1A now, our free evaluation at /evaluate/ compares your record with the EB-1A criteria. Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, finds real opportunities for the criteria you are still missing. When you are ready, petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked October 21, 2026.
- USCIS, Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26). I-140, Asylum Program Fee tiers including self-petitioners, I-907, I-485, I-765, I-131, I-693, I-290B and USCIS Immigrant Fee amounts; payment methods; parole fee note.
- DHS, Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees, 91 FR 1059, FR Doc. 2026-00321 (Jan. 12, 2026). Premium fee rise from $2,805 to $2,965, March 1, 2026 compliance date, 5.72 percent CPI-U basis, separate remittance.
- USCIS, USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees (Jan. 9, 2026). USCIS announcement of the new premium fees by classification.
- USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing? (last updated 03/23/2026). 15 and 45 business day timeframes, clock reset after an RFE, list of eligible forms.
- OIRA, Pending EO 12866 Regulatory Review, RIN 1615-AD25 (received Oct. 13, 2026). Pending proposed rule on the premium processing timeframe.
- 8 CFR 106.1, Fee requirements (eCFR, current). Small employer and nonprofit definitions and $50 online filing discount.
- 8 CFR 106.2, Fees (eCFR, current). $715 I-140 fee, Asylum Program Fee, $1,440 and $950 I-485 fees, $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee.
- 8 CFR 204.5, Petitions for employment-based immigrants (eCFR, current). Self-petitioning and no job offer or labor certification for EB-1A.
- 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of fees for consular services (eCFR, current). $345 employment-based immigrant visa application processing fee.
- USCIS, Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule (last updated 04/01/2025). Unbundling of I-765 and I-131 fees, biometrics built into the main fee.
- USCIS, Form I-693 (last updated 07/24/2026). Civil surgeon sets medical exam fees; I-693 must be filed with the I-485, sealed for paper filings.
- USCIS, USCIS Immigrant Fee (last updated 04/08/2024). What the immigrant fee pays for, and when and how it is paid.
- USCIS, Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 (last updated 01/24/2025). Spouse and children as E-14 and E-15 derivatives.
- USCIS, Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees, 91 FR 62540, FR Doc. 2026-20187 (Oct. 1, 2026). List of H.R. 1 fees, which excludes the I-140 and I-485.
- CBP, Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2027 Adjustments for Inflation, 91 FR 62534, FR Doc. 2026-20185 (Oct. 1, 2026). $1,050 parole fee from October 16, 2026; case-by-case exceptions.
- DHS, Immigration Parole Fee Required by HR-1 Reconciliation Bill, 90 FR 48317, FR Doc. 2025-19564 (Oct. 16, 2025). Exception for adjustment applicants returning from temporary travel.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an EB-1A cost in government fees in 2026?
For a single applicant filing on paper and adjusting status in the US, the USCIS fees are $715 for Form I-140, a $300 Asylum Program Fee, $1,440 for Form I-485, $260 for a work permit and $630 for advance parole, a total of $3,345. Premium processing adds $2,965. The medical exam fee is set by the civil surgeon and is extra. Legal fees are separate and are not government fees.
Does an EB-1A self-petitioner pay the $600 Asylum Program Fee?
No. The USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, lists a $300 Asylum Program Fee for a small employer or self-petitioner filing Form I-140, compared with $600 for a regular petitioner and $0 for a nonprofit. USCIS regulations define a small employer as a firm or individual with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in the United States. The $50 online discount does not apply to this fee.
How much is EB-1A premium processing in 2026?
Premium processing for an EB-1A Form I-140 costs $2,965. The fee rose from $2,805 under a final rule published January 12, 2026, for requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. It is paid with Form I-907, separately from the I-140 fee, and cannot be waived. USCIS commits to take action on an EB-1A petition within 15 business days or refund the fee.
Do my spouse and children pay separate fees in an EB-1A case?
They do not file their own Form I-140, because family members qualify as derivatives of the principal's approved petition. Each person who adjusts status in the US files a separate Form I-485: $1,440 on paper for anyone 14 or older, or $950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent. Each person who wants a work permit or advance parole pays $260 and $630 on paper.
Is it cheaper to get an EB-1A green card through consular processing?
In government fees, usually yes. Instead of the $1,440 Form I-485, each person pays the State Department's $345 immigrant visa application fee for employment-based cases and the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee, $580 in total. There are no work permit or advance parole fees. Whether consular processing suits your situation, including travel and timing, is a question for your attorney.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
