EB-2 NIW cost
How much does an EB-2 NIW 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
- $7,995 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-2 NIW cost in total?
As of October 2026, an EB-2 NIW for one person filing inside the US costs about $10,450. That is a legal fee from $7,995 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 $13,415.
- USCIS petition fees: $1,015 if you file for yourself, by mail.
- Premium processing (Form I-907): $2,965, optional. For NIW, USCIS acts within 45 business days.
- Green card step (Form I-485): $1,440 per adult by mail, $1,390 online.
- Legal fee: flat, from $7,995. Frank plans are separate and optional.
Government fees
EB-2 NIW 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 NIW petition (you can file it yourself) | $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: for NIW, USCIS acts within 45 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-2 NIW total USCIS fees, by scenario
Paper filing fees, filing for yourself. Add the legal fee (from $7,995) 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: $7,995 + $2,455 = $10,450. With premium: $7,995 + $5,420 = $13,415. 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-2 NIW legal fee | From $7,995. Tiers: $7,995, $10,975, $14,975. |
| 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 $10,450 for one person filing in the US. That is a legal fee from $7,995 plus $2,455 in USCIS fees. Premium processing adds $2,965.
Usually you, because you can file an NIW for yourself, with no job offer. As a self-petitioner you pay the $300 Asylum Program Fee, not $600. See a green card without an employer sponsor.
An employer can file an NIW 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).
For NIW, premium processing means USCIS acts within 45 business days, not 15. 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 an NIW is worth the cost for you?
Start with the free evaluation. It looks at EB-2 eligibility and the three-part test from Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016) 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
- Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016), DOJ EOIR
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.
