EB-1A cost
How much does an EB-1A green card cost?
Every fee in one place: USCIS fees, the partner firm’s legal fee, and costs people forget. USCIS fees are as of October 2026.
Last checked October 2026 · Sources
- Legal fee from
- $8,995 flat
- I-140 + Asylum Program Fee
- $1,015 (self-petitioner, by mail)
- Premium processing
- $2,965, optional
- I-485 per adult
- $1,440 by mail
Quick answer
What does EB-1A cost in total?
As of October 2026, an EB-1A for one person filing inside the US costs about $11,450. That is a legal fee from $8,995 plus $2,455 in USCIS fees. The USCIS fees are $1,015 for Form I-140 with the Asylum Program Fee, and $1,440 for Form I-485. Optional premium processing adds $2,965, for about $14,415.
- USCIS petition fees: $1,015 if you file for yourself, by mail.
- Premium processing (Form I-907): $2,965, optional. USCIS acts within 15 business days.
- Green card step (Form I-485): $1,440 per adult by mail, $1,390 online.
- Legal fee: flat, from $8,995. Frank plans are separate and optional.
Government fees
EB-1A USCIS fees, as of October 2026
These fees go to the government, not to us. They come from the USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26.
| Form | What it is for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-140 | The EB-1A petition | $715 by mail, $665 online |
| Asylum Program Fee | Paid with each I-140 | $300 for self-petitioners and small employers (25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees). $600 for other employers. $0 for nonprofits. |
| Form I-907 (optional) | Premium processing: USCIS acts within 15 business days | $2,965 |
| Form I-485 | Green card from inside the US, age 14 and over | $1,440 by mail, $1,390 online |
| Form I-485, child under 14 | Filed together with a parent’s I-485 | $950 by mail, $900 online |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and photo | No separate fee listed for these forms |
| Form I-765 (optional) | Work permit while your I-485 is pending | $260 |
| Form I-131 (optional) | Advance parole (travel) while your I-485 is pending | $630 by mail, $580 online |
| Form I-693 | Medical exam report, filed with the I-485 | $0 to USCIS. The doctor’s fee varies. |
| If you finish abroad instead | USCIS Immigrant Fee, plus the State Department immigrant visa fee | $235, plus $345 per person |
Filing Form I-140 with Form I-907? Then you must file by mail (USCIS Form I-140 page). Self-petitioners pay the $300 Asylum Program Fee (USCIS I-140 fee guidance). The $260 work permit fee applies if your I-485 was filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024. The fee schedule also lists a parole fee set by law: $1,020, rising to $1,050 for requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026 (USCIS). Green card applicants returning from a short trip abroad can qualify for an exception. The $345 visa fee is from 22 CFR 22.1, item 32(b). Fees change, so your attorney confirms them before filing.
Total cost scenarios
EB-1A total USCIS fees, by scenario
Paper filing fees, filing for yourself. Add the legal fee (from $8,995) to any row.
| Scenario | The math | USCIS total |
|---|---|---|
| Petition only | $715 + $300 | $1,015 |
| Petition + premium processing | $1,015 + $2,965 | $3,980 |
| Petition + green card (I-485) for you | $1,015 + $1,440 | $2,455 |
| Petition + premium + I-485 for you | $3,980 + $1,440 | $5,420 |
| Petition + I-485 for you, a spouse and one child under 14 | $2,455 + $1,440 + $950 | $4,845 |
| Same family, with premium processing | $4,845 + $2,965 | $7,810 |
| Optional: work permit + travel document, per person | $260 + $630 | add $890 |
Example with the legal fee: $8,995 + $2,455 = $11,450. With premium: $8,995 + $5,420 = $14,415. If a larger employer files for you, the Asylum Program Fee is $600, so add $300. You can file Form I-485 only when a visa number is available for your country (Visa Bulletin).
Our fees
Legal fee and add-ons
Legal work is done by licensed attorneys at an independent partner firm, under a separate agreement. Fees are flat, never hourly. Your exact fee is quoted before you sign.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| EB-1A legal fee | From $8,995. Tiers: $8,995, $10,975, $14,975, $17,975. |
| Attorney evaluation (60 minutes) | $250 |
| Ex-USCIS officer profile review | $400 |
| Recommendation letter pack (5 drafts) | $500 |
| Petition-ready exhibit binder | $600 |
| Translation and certification | $95 per document |
| Frank plans (separate and optional) | Free evaluation. Starter $49/month, Pro $299/month, Concierge $599/month. |
Frank helps you build your evidence. It never includes legal representation. See all prices and how Frank works.
Included
What the flat legal fee includes
-
A senior attorney leads your case
Plus a custom legal strategy memo.
-
Petition preparation and filing
The partner firm prepares and files your petition.
-
Recommendation-letter coaching
Help getting strong letters from the right people.
-
Second-attorney review
A second attorney reads the petition before filing.
-
RFE or NOID response
Included if one comes on a case they filed.
-
Unlimited communication and a case portal
Plus visa stamping support if you need it.
Paid separately: government fees, optional premium processing, translations and document procurement, and third-party expert opinion letters.
Budget for these too
Costs people forget
-
Translations
Every foreign-language document needs a full, certified English translation (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). Price varies by provider.
-
Credential evaluation
Sometimes used for degrees from outside the US. Price varies. Your attorney tells you if you need one.
-
Medical exam
A USCIS civil surgeon fills in Form I-693, which you file with your I-485. The doctor sets the fee, so it varies (USCIS I-693).
-
Expert opinion letters
Third-party letters are not in the legal fee. Price varies.
-
Travel
Trips to a biometrics appointment, an interview, or a consulate if you finish abroad. Varies.
FAQ
Questions people ask
As of October 2026, about $11,450 for one person filing in the US. That is a legal fee from $8,995 plus $2,455 in USCIS fees. Premium processing adds $2,965.
Usually you, because you can file EB-1A for yourself. As a self-petitioner you pay the $300 Asylum Program Fee, not $600.
An employer can file an EB-1A for you. Then the Asylum Program Fee depends on the employer. It is $600, or $300 for 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, or $0 for nonprofits. Your attorney explains what else changes.
Generally no. Filing fees are generally non-refundable, whatever the outcome (8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(v)). USCIS does refund the premium processing fee if it misses its timeframe (USCIS premium processing).
It only speeds up the I-140 decision, to 15 business days. A request for more evidence stops the clock. It does not speed up the I-485 or change your place in the visa line. Read more on I-140 premium processing.
Not by default. Some cases get refund-backed terms, but only if the reviewing attorney approves after assessing the case. They cannot be requested or bought.
Not sure EB-1A is worth the cost for you?
Start with the free evaluation. It shows how your profile looks against the criteria before you spend anything. It is information, not legal advice. A partner-firm attorney confirms eligibility before anything is filed.
Sources · checked October 2026
- USCIS Fee Schedule, Form G-1055 (edition 10/01/26), PDF
- USCIS Fee Schedule web page
- USCIS: Form I-140 (updated 07/24/2026)
- USCIS: Guidance on Paying Fees for Form I-140 (09/23/2024)
- USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing? (updated 03/23/2026)
- USCIS: Form I-693 (updated 07/24/2026)
- eCFR: 8 CFR 103.2, fees and translations
- eCFR: 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; a partner-firm attorney confirms what applies to you before anything is filed.
