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Buy Green Card Online: What You Can Actually Pay For Legally
- Posted
- Editor
- Tessa Quinn
- 4 min read
Contents
You cannot buy a green card online. Immigration benefits cannot be bought or sold[1]. What you can pay online are official USCIS application fees. As of April 1, 2024, Form I-485 costs $1,440, Form I-765 costs $260, and Form I-131 costs $630[2]. Form I-90 for renewal or replacement costs $465[3]. Pay through your myUSCIS account using a valid credit or debit card or U.S. bank account[4][5]. First step: file Form I-485 online at https://www.uscis.gov/i-485[6].
What You Get
- Official USCIS application forms
- You can file Form I-485 online through a USCIS online account. This is the application to register permanent residence or adjust status, not a purchase of a green card itself.
- Fee payment through myUSCIS
- You can pay the required filing fees online using a valid credit or debit card or a U.S. bank account. USCIS warns against paying fees outside your myUSCIS account.
- Current fee schedule
- As of April 1, 2024, Form I-485 costs $1,440, Form I-765 costs $260, and Form I-131 costs $630 when filed concurrently. Form I-90 for green card renewal or replacement costs $465.
- USCIS Immigrant Fee payment
- You can pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online through the official USCIS website to process immigrant visa packets and produce Permanent Resident Cards.
- Rejection avoidance
- Each application must be accompanied by the correct fee unless you are exempt or eligible for a fee waiver. Incorrect fees will result in rejection of the filing.
- Scam awareness
- USCIS warns against offers to expedite your case for money and promises of quick benefits. Immigration benefits cannot be bought or sold, and any website claiming to sell green cards directly is fraudulent.
Legal Green Card Application Fees and Payment Options (April 2024)
| Form/Service | Fee (USD) | Payment Method | Requirements | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form I-485 (Adjust Status, age 14+) | $1,440 | myUSCIS online account: credit/debit card or U.S. bank account [2][6] | Must file with correct fee or application rejected [7]; separate payment required [2] | Fee waiver available for eligible filers [7]; fee applies to filings on/after 1 April 2024 [8] |
| Form I-485 (Adjust Status, under age 14, certain conditions) | $950 | myUSCIS online account: credit/debit card or U.S. bank account [6] | Must file with correct fee or application rejected [7]; separate payment required [2] | Fee waiver available for eligible filers [7]; fee applies to filings on/after 1 April 2024 [9] |
| Form I-765 (Employment Authorisation, filed with I-485) | $260 | myUSCIS online account: credit/debit card or U.S. bank account [6] | Separate payment required when filed concurrently with I-485 [2]; must pay correct fee [7] | No longer free when filed with I-485 as of 1 April 2024 [2]; renewals free if I-485 filed before 1 April 2024 [2] |
| Form I-131 (Travel Document, filed with I-485) | $630 | myUSCIS online account: credit/debit card or U.S. bank account [6] | Separate payment required when filed concurrently with I-485 [2]; must pay correct fee [7] | No longer free when filed with I-485 as of 1 April 2024 [2]; renewals free if I-485 filed before 1 April 2024 [2] |
| Form I-90 (Green Card Renewal/Replacement) | $465 | myUSCIS online account: credit/debit card or U.S. bank account | Must file with correct fee or application rejected [7] | Fee waiver available for this form [3] |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Check official site | Official USCIS website only: valid credit/debit card or U.S. bank account [5] | Required to process immigrant visa packets and produce Green Cards [5]; pay only through official site [5] | Never pay through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers to individuals [4]; only legitimate channel is USCIS website [5] |
How to Get a Green Card
Confirm your eligibility before paying anything
You cannot buy a green card online as a product. Immigration benefits cannot be bought or sold, and payments must be made only for legitimate application fees as prescribed by USCIS under 8 CFR § 103[1]. Check whether you qualify for adjustment of status, consular processing, or renewal before starting any payment.
Prepare the correct fee amounts
As of April 1, 2024, Form I-485 costs $1,440, Form I-765 costs $260, and Form I-131 costs $630 when filed concurrently[2]. Three separate filing fee checks are required for a concurrent adjustment of status package[2]. Form I-90 for Green Card renewal or replacement costs $465[3].
Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee if required
The USCIS Immigrant Fee must be paid online through the official USCIS website to process immigrant visa packets and produce Permanent Resident Cards[5]. Use a valid credit or debit card or U.S. bank routing and checking account numbers directly from a U.S. bank account[5].
Check for fee waivers or exemptions
Each application must be accompanied by the correct fee unless you are exempt or eligible for a fee waiver[7]. Form I-90 fee waivers are available[3]. If your I-485 was filed before April 1, 2024, and fees were paid, you do not need to pay additional fees for I-765 or I-131 renewals while the I-485 remains pending[2].
Watch for scam warning signs
USCIS warns to be cautious of offers to expedite your case for money and promises of a quick benefit[4]. Requests to transfer money to an individual or pay fees outside your myUSCIS account are scam tactics[4]. Any website claiming to sell green cards directly is fraudulent.
Risks, Limitations and Guarantees
Paying USCIS fees online does not guarantee approval of your application. Each application must be accompanied by the correct fee unless you are exempt or eligible for a fee waiver, and incorrect fees will result in rejection of the filing[7]. If your payment is rejected due to an incorrect amount, you will need to resubmit with the correct fee. The USCIS fee schedule document G-1055 is the authoritative source for current immigration filing fees and explicitly warns that incorrect fees will cause a filing to be rejected[7].
USCIS fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application. If your I-485, I-765, or I-131 is denied, you will not receive a refund of the filing fees paid[2]. Fee waivers are available for certain forms, including Form I-90[3], but you must apply for a waiver before submitting your application. If your I-485 was filed before April 1, 2024 and fees were paid, you do not need to pay additional fees for I-765 or I-131 renewals while the I-485 remains pending[2].
Immigration benefits cannot be bought or sold, and payments must be made only for legitimate application fees as prescribed by USCIS under 8 CFR § 103[1]. USCIS warns against requests to transfer money to an individual or pay fees other than through your myUSCIS account[4]. Any offer to expedite your case for money or promise of a quick benefit is a scam tactic[4]. Verify that you are paying through your myUSCIS account or the official USCIS website for the Immigrant Fee[5] before entering payment details.
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Visit Our ResourcesSources consulted
- What Immigrants Need to Know About Pay-to-Play Green Card Schemes | New Horizons Legal
- Fee Increases for Form I-485, Form I-765, and Form I-131
- Revised 5/1/2025 - Catholic Charities Family & Community Services USCIS & Immigration Program Fees
- Avoid Scams | USCIS
- USCIS Immigrant Fee | USCIS
- Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | USCIS
- G-1055, Fee Schedule
- USCIS Issues Final Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees | USCIS
- USCIS to Increase Immigration Filing Fees Effective April 1, 2024