How Much Does a Green Card Cost Without a Lawyer in 2026? Full Breakdown
Real green card costs in 2026: USCIS fees, prep costs, medical exam, translations, and more. Comparison with attorney costs.
📋 Informational · Not legal advice
This article presents costs based on published USCIS fees and typical 2026 market ranges. MBO Immigration LLC is a document preparation service — we are not attorneys. USCIS fees can change; always verify on uscis.gov before paying.
One of the first questions when researching your green card is: how much does it cost?
The answer has three parts: USCIS fees (government), medical and document costs, and the cost of who helps you with preparation. Here’s each.
Quick summary — Total estimated cost
For a marriage green card with a U.S. citizen, living inside the U.S. (concurrent filing I-130 + I-485):
| Category | Without lawyer (with preparer) | With lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS fees | $1,440 | $1,440 |
| Medical exam | $200–$500 | $200–$500 |
| Certified translations | $50–$200 | $50–$200 |
| Passport photos | $20–$40 | $20–$40 |
| Packet preparation | $800–$2,500 | $3,000–$8,000+ |
| Total estimated | ~$2,500–$4,500 | ~$5,000–$10,000+ |
USCIS (government) fees 2026
These are the official fees anyone applying to USCIS pays, regardless of whether they have a lawyer, preparer, or do it themselves. Unavoidable.
For marriage green card (concurrent filing)
| Form | USCIS fee 2026 |
|---|---|
| I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) | $675 |
| I-485 (Adjustment of Status) | $1,440 (includes I-765 + I-131) |
| I-693 (Medical exam) | $0 (USCIS) |
| Total USCIS for marriage green card | $1,440 combined |
Note: if you pay I-130 and I-485 separately, USCIS processes them separately but combined cost is ~$2,115. Most people pay together via concurrent filing.
For other services
| Service | USCIS fee 2026 |
|---|---|
| N-400 (Citizenship) | $760 (online) or $710 (paper) |
| I-90 (Green card renewal) | $415 (online) or $465 (paper) |
| I-765 (Work permit, alone) | $520 |
| I-131 (Travel document, alone) | $630 |
| I-751 (Remove conditions) | $750 |
| I-129F (K-1 fiancé visa) | $675 |
Important: these fees are non-negotiable and go directly to the government. Any service telling you they can “avoid” or “reduce” these fees is fraud. Walk away.
Additional costs (all applicants)
Medical exam (I-693): $200–$500
You need a USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon. Cost varies:
- Public clinics / community centers: $200–$300
- Private doctors: $300–$500
- Specialists with extra services: $500+
Some health insurance covers part. Call your local Health Department — some counties offer the exam at reduced prices.
Certified translations: $50–$200
Any non-English document needs certified English translation. Typical costs:
- Birth or marriage certificate: $25–$50 each
- Diplomas: $35–$75 each
- Criminal records: $50–$100 each
For a marriage green card, you typically need 2–4 translated documents. Total: $100–$200.
Passport photos: $20–$40
USCIS requires 2 passport-style photos per applicant. Walgreens, CVS, FedEx make USCIS-compliant photos for $15–$20.
Other possible costs
- FedEx/UPS to mail certified packet: $20–$40
- Copies and notarizations: $20–$50
- Document duplicate fees: variable
Cost of who helps you with preparation
This is where the most variation is. Three main options:
Option 1: DIY — $0 prep cost
Pros: free. Cons: very high error risk. USCIS rejects packets with errors and doesn’t refund the fee. A rejection from one error can cost you $1,440 + 6–12 additional months.
If your case is very straightforward and you’re good with paperwork, could work. For most people, not worth the risk.
Option 2: Document preparer — $800–$2,500
A preparer fills forms, organizes evidence, and reviews everything is complete before submitting. Typically:
- Marriage green card: $800–$2,500
- N-400 citizenship: $400–$1,000
- I-130 only: $400–$900
- I-765 work permit: $200–$500
Pros: reasonable price, knowledge of USCIS requirements, avoids common errors. Cons: CANNOT give legal advice, CANNOT represent you before USCIS, CANNOT defend you if something goes wrong legally.
Option 3: Immigration attorney — $3,000–$8,000+
A licensed attorney can represent you legally. Typically:
- Marriage green card: $3,000–$8,000+
- N-400: $1,500–$3,500
- Deportation case: $5,000–$15,000+
Pros: complete legal analysis, representation, defense if problems arise, expertise in complex cases. Cons: expensive. For straightforward cases without legal risk, much of what they charge is for tasks a preparer can do.
Which option is best for you?
Ask yourself:
- Does my case have legal complications? (record, deportation, prior fraud, asylum cases, etc.) → Attorney.
- Is my case straightforward? (citizen spouse, no record, legal entry) → Preparer or DIY.
- Am I detail-oriented and have time? → Possibly DIY.
- Worried about doing things right but don’t want to pay attorney? → Preparer.
Payment plans
At MBO Immigration we offer 2–3 payment installments for services $700+. This makes the cost more manageable:
- 50% to start
- 50% before sending the packet
(or three payments, depending on the case)
Common costs that ARE fraud — walk away
If anyone tells you any of these, it’s fraud:
❌ “I can make USCIS approve you faster for extra money” ❌ “I can avoid USCIS fees” ❌ “I guarantee approval” ❌ “I have connections at USCIS” ❌ “Pay me cash and we don’t fill forms”
USCIS doesn’t accept bribes. Nobody has “connections” to speed up your case. Approval guarantees are illegal (the decision is USCIS’s, not the preparer’s or attorney’s).
Ready to start your case?
At MBO Immigration LLC we prepare complete packets for transparent fixed prices. Free quote after reviewing your case — no surprises, no hidden fees.
Related articles
- Do I need a lawyer or can I use a preparer?
- How long does a marriage green card take in 2026?
- I-130 vs I-485 explained
Legal notice: MBO Immigration LLC is a document preparation service. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. Fees and ranges may change; always verify at uscis.gov.