The EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) lets qualified professionals self-petition for a green card — without an employer or a job offer. One of the first questions people ask is simple: what does it cost? This page breaks down the U.S. government filing fees for an EB-2 NIW in 2026, from the immigrant petition through the green card stage.
To learn who qualifies and how the category works, see our overview of the EB-2 National Interest Waiver.
These Are Government Fees, Not Attorney Fees
The numbers below are USCIS government filing fees only. They are not Altius Law's attorney fees.
Altius does not publish attorney fees, because the right fee depends on the details of your case — your field, your evidence, whether you are inside or outside the United States, and how complex the filing is. If you want a quote for legal representation, the best step is to book a consultation so we can look at your specific situation.
Government filing fees are set by USCIS and can change. The figures on this page are current as of July 2026. Always confirm the amount on the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS fee calculator before you file.
The Core Filing: Form I-140
Every EB-2 NIW starts with Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. This is the petition where you ask USCIS to grant the national interest waiver and approve you for the EB-2 category.
USCIS charges a lower fee for forms filed online than for the same forms filed on paper, where an online option is available.
| Form | What it's for | Paper filing | Online filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers (the EB-2 NIW petition) | $715 | $665 |
| I-907 | Premium Processing (optional — 15-business-day handling) | $2,965 | $2,965 |
| I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence (adjustment of status — green card from inside the U.S.) | $1,440 | $1,390 |
Fees as of July 2026 — set by USCIS and subject to change. Confirm current amounts on the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS Fee Calculator.
Fees as of July 2026 — fees are set by USCIS and can change; check the G-1055 fee schedule for the current amount. You can also confirm your specific total with the USCIS fee calculator.
A note on biometrics: for most applicants the biometrics (fingerprinting) service is now bundled into the form fee, so there is no separate biometrics charge shown for these forms. Confirm the current treatment on the G-1055.
A Real NIW Cost Advantage: No Asylum Program Fee
When an employer files an I-140 to sponsor a worker, that petition normally carries an extra charge called the Asylum Program Fee. Because the EB-2 NIW is a self-petition — there is no employer — the Asylum Program Fee does not apply to you.
That fee is defined by USCIS as an employer fee tied to employer-sponsored petitions, so a self-petitioning NIW applicant does not pay it. This is a genuine, built-in cost advantage of the NIW route compared with an employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 case. You can confirm the fee's scope on the G-1055 fee schedule.
Optional: Premium Processing (Form I-907)
Premium processing is optional. For an extra $2,965, filing Form I-907 asks USCIS to act on your I-140 within 15 business days — issuing an approval, a request for evidence, or a denial in that window, rather than the standard timeline.
Fees as of July 2026 — set by USCIS and subject to change. Confirm current amounts on the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS Fee Calculator.
Premium processing only speeds up the I-140 petition decision. It does not change the fee for any other stage, and it does not guarantee approval — it only guarantees a faster response. Whether it is worth paying depends on your timing and your priority date. Confirm the current premium processing fee on the G-1055 or fee calculator.
The Green Card Stage: Two Routes
After (or, in some cases, alongside) the I-140, there are two ways to reach the green card, and the fees differ because different agencies are involved.
Route 1: Adjustment of Status (from inside the U.S.)
If you are already in the United States in a qualifying status, you file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence, with USCIS to get the green card without leaving the country:
- I-485: $1,440 paper / $1,390 online (as of July 2026 — see the G-1055)
So a common self-petitioner total for the two core USCIS filing fees — the petition plus the green card application — looks like this:
- Paper: $715 (I-140) + $1,440 (I-485) = $2,155
- Online: $665 (I-140) + $1,390 (I-485) = $2,055
Fees as of July 2026 — set by USCIS and subject to change. Confirm current amounts on the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS Fee Calculator.
Add $2,965 if you also choose premium processing on the I-140. Depending on your situation you may choose to file related applications (for example, a work permit or travel document) alongside the I-485; whether those carry a separate fee, and how much, is listed on the G-1055 fee schedule. Confirm your exact total on the USCIS fee calculator — fees as of July 2026 and subject to change.
Route 2: Consular Processing (from abroad)
If you are outside the United States, you still file the I-140 with USCIS:
- I-140: $715 paper / $665 online (as of July 2026 — see the G-1055)
After USCIS approves the I-140, the case moves to the U.S. Department of State. The immigrant visa application fee and related charges are billed later by the National Visa Center (NVC), not by USCIS. There is also a separate USCIS Immigrant Fee that is typically paid after the visa is issued.
We are not listing dollar amounts for those Department of State stages here, because those fees are set and collected by the State Department rather than USCIS, and they can change. Check the current amounts on the official State Department fees page: travel.state.gov — Fees for Visa Services.
What This Page Does Not Include
To keep the numbers accurate, this page lists only the government filing fees documented above. It does not include:
- Attorney fees — Altius does not publish these; book a consultation for a quote on your case.
- The Department of State immigrant visa fees — billed later by the National Visa Center for consular cases; see travel.state.gov.
- Other out-of-pocket costs — such as the required medical examination, document translations, passport photos, expert opinion letters, and any travel. These vary by provider and are not government filing fees.
Get a Total for Your Specific Case
The filing fees above are a starting point, but your real total depends on which route you take, whether you use premium processing, which forms you file, and your circumstances. An immigration attorney can map out the exact fees and the evidence your NIW petition will need.
- Learn more about the EB-2 National Interest Waiver
- See how the NIW works in specific fields: EB-2 NIW for doctors and EB-2 NIW for pilots
- Contact Altius Law or book a consultation to get a quote
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Government filing fees are set by USCIS and the U.S. Department of State and are subject to change; the amounts shown are current as of July 2026. Always verify current fees on the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055), the USCIS fee calculator, and travel.state.gov before filing. For advice on your specific case, book a consultation.