EB-2 NIW Fees in 2026: The Full Cost Breakdown

Updated November 9, 2026 · By Syed Muhammad Shamuel Shees, Founder & Lead Immigration Consultant · 13 min read

Stage 1: the I-140 petition

These fees are non-refundable, even if your petition is denied. That's one more reason to file only when your evidence is complete.

Each petition fee explained

The I-140 filing fee ($715)

This is the base fee for USCIS to process the immigrant petition. It's the same whether you file on paper or online, and the same whether you're inside or outside the United States. USCIS sets it in its fee rule and lists it on the G-1055 fee schedule.

The Asylum Program Fee ($300 for self-petitioners)

Since April 2024, USCIS has charged an Asylum Program Fee on Form I-140 petitions. The amount depends on who files: large employers pay more, small employers pay a reduced amount, nonprofits pay nothing, and self-petitioners like most NIW applicants pay the reduced $300. The fee funds the asylum system, not your case specifically, but it's mandatory, and leaving it out can get your petition rejected.

Paying correctly

• Pay the exact amount. Overpayment and underpayment can both lead to rejection.
• When filing on paper, check the I-140 page for the current accepted payment methods. Requirements have moved toward electronic payment.
• If you request premium processing at filing, the I-907 fee is a separate payment from the I-140 fees.
• Keep proof of payment and your receipt notice.

Premium processing: $2,965

Filing Form I-907 with a $2,965 fee makes USCIS take action on an NIW petition within 45 business days. "Action" can be an approval, a denial or a Request for Evidence. The fee rose from $2,805 to $2,965 for requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.

Premium processing doesn't make a petition stronger and doesn't shorten the wait for your priority date. See EB-2 NIW processing time for the full timeline.

Premium processing: the details that affect cost

You can add it later

You don't have to decide at filing. If your I-140 is pending under standard processing, you can file Form I-907 later to upgrade. Many applicants file standard first and upgrade when timing becomes important, for example when the Visa Bulletin moves or an H-1B deadline approaches.

When the fee is refunded

USCIS refunds the premium processing fee if it doesn't take action within the premium processing period. It isn't refunded because the petition is denied or because USCIS issues a Request for Evidence on time.

What happens with an RFE

If USCIS issues an RFE within the 45 business days, that counts as action. When it receives your response, a new 45-business-day clock starts. You don't pay again.

Is $2,965 good value?

Think of it as buying certainty, not a better result. It's most valuable when a decision unlocks something concrete: filing for adjustment of status while your date is current, extending an H-1B past six years, or making family and career decisions with confidence. It's least valuable when you'd simply be waiting years for your priority date anyway.

Stage 2: the green card

After the I-140 is approved and your priority date is current, you and your family apply for green cards. The route you take decides the cost.

Inside the U.S.: adjustment of status

Outside the U.S.: consular processing

Other costs to budget for

• Credential evaluation for each foreign degree
• Certified translations of every non-English document
• Document attestation in your home country, if needed (for example, HEC attestation in Pakistan)
• Police certificates and civil documents for the consular stage
• Courier and travel costs, including travel to the interview city
• Professional fees for preparing the petition, which vary widely by provider

When each payment falls due

Costs are spread across months or years, which makes budgeting easier. Here's a typical sequence for an applicant processing abroad:

For applicants in the U.S., the I-485 fees replace the visa fees and are paid when you file for adjustment, which can be at the same time as the I-140 if your priority date would already be current.

Concurrent filing

If you're in the U.S. and your priority date would be current in the chart USCIS designates for that month, you may be able to file the I-140 and I-485 together. That means paying the I-485 fees much earlier, but it can also let you apply for a work permit and travel document sooner.

Professional fees: what you should get for your money

Professional fees vary more than any other cost, and comparing quotes on price alone is risky. Ask every provider the same questions:

Be cautious about anyone who guarantees approval. No one can guarantee a USCIS decision, and that promise often signals a high-volume, template-based approach.

Worked totals (government fees only)

These totals exclude medical exams, optional work and travel permits, and the other costs listed above. The family-of-four adjustment row assumes the standard I-485 fee for everyone; some children pay less.

How to avoid wasted money

• Don't file a weak petition to "lock in" a priority date. Since August 2026 USCIS can deny without an RFE, and fees aren't refunded.
• Check the fee on the day you file. USCIS adjusts fees periodically and rejects packages with the wrong amount.
• Get your degree evaluated before paying for anything else. It's the cheapest way to find a fatal problem early.
• Compare professional quotes on scope, not just price. Ask who writes the petition letter, how many revisions you get and whether an RFE response is included.

Budgeting from Pakistan and other countries

Government fees are set in U.S. dollars, so your local-currency cost changes with exchange rates. A few tips for applicants paying from abroad:

• Budget with a margin. Exchange rates can move between the time you plan and the time you pay. Many applicants budget 10–15% above the current conversion.
• Check card limits. International card payments for USCIS and State Department fees may hit bank limits. Confirm your limits and inform your bank before paying.
• Add local costs. Degree attestation, certified translations, police certificates, courier fees and travel to the interview city all add up. In Pakistan, immigrant visa interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
• Plan for the medical exam for every family member, paid directly to the embassy-approved panel physician.

For a full Pakistan-specific walkthrough, see EB-2 NIW from Pakistan.

The real cost of a denial

The government fees for a denied petition are lost, but that's rarely the biggest cost. A denial also costs:

• Time: months or years of waiting, during which your priority date isn't protected.
• Refiling costs: a new petition means paying the filing fees again, and often professional fees too.
• Opportunities: job offers, business plans and family decisions that depended on approval.
• Status risk: for people in the U.S., a denial can affect plans to extend or change status.

Spending a little more on a properly prepared petition is usually cheaper than paying twice. Read the 12 most common reasons for denial before you file.

A note on fee changes

USCIS adjusts fees through formal rules, and premium processing fees are adjusted periodically for inflation, as happened on March 1, 2026. The State Department sets consular fees separately. Fees in this article are current as of the date at the top. Before paying anything, confirm the amount on the official fee pages linked below.

How NIW costs compare with other green card routes

The NIW is one of the least expensive green card routes for qualified professionals, mainly because there's no labor certification process and no investment requirement. The main cost is the work of building a strong petition.

Can an employer pay for an NIW?

Yes. An employer can file an NIW petition on your behalf, and pay its costs, instead of you self-petitioning. In that case the Asylum Program Fee depends on the employer's size and type. Remember that a self-petitioned NIW stays yours regardless of who employs you, which is one of its biggest advantages.

A worked family budget: consular processing

Here's how a family of four (two adults, two children) processing abroad might plan their government fees, alongside the other items to budget for.

Fee-saving moves that backfire

• Skipping the credential evaluation to save money, then filing on the wrong EB-2 route.
• Using cheap, partial translations that don't meet USCIS's full-translation requirement.
• Choosing a provider on price alone, then receiving a template petition.
• Filing too early to save a few months, with a file that can now be denied without warning.

The cheapest NIW is the one you only file once.

Rejections, refunds and refiling

It helps to know the difference between a rejection and a denial, because they have very different cost consequences.

Because a denial costs the full petition fees and often professional fees too, the most effective way to control cost is to file once, with a complete case.

What a professional engagement usually covers

NIW preparation services generally fall into a few stages. Knowing them helps you compare quotes fairly.

1. Profile assessment: reviewing your CV, degree and achievements to decide whether the NIW fits and which EB-2 route to use.
2. Strategy: defining the proposed endeavor and mapping evidence to each prong.
3. Evidence and letters: helping you collect and organize exhibits and plan recommendation letters.
4. Petition letter: drafting the legal argument that ties everything together.
5. Assembly and filing: preparing forms, the exhibit index and the final package.
6. RFE support: preparing a response if USCIS requests more evidence.
7. Green card stage: I-485 or National Visa Center preparation, often quoted separately.

A quote that seems low may exclude stages 6 and 7, or rely on a template petition. A quote that seems high should explain the depth of work in stages 2 to 4. Ask for the scope in writing.

Also check who you're dealing with. Only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives can give legal advice and represent you before USCIS. Consultants can help you prepare, organize and understand your case, and you should know which you're hiring.

EB-2 NIW cost: FAQs

Related EB-2 NIW guides

• EB-2 NIW processing time in 2026
• How to file EB-2 NIW, step by step
• EB-2 NIW eligibility requirements in 2026
• EB-2 NIW vs EB-1A: which fits you?
• EB-2 NIW: the complete 2026 guide
• EB-2 NIW from Pakistan: the 2026 guide

Official sources

• USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055)
• USCIS: Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
• USCIS: Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service
• USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
• USCIS: Employment-Based Immigration, Second Preference EB-2 (includes National Interest Waiver under Matter of Dhanasar)
• U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin

Phoenix Immigration Consulting Services LLC is an immigration consulting firm, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice or representation. This article is general information, accurate as of the date above. Immigration rules, fees and dates change often, so check official USCIS and Department of State sources before acting. All decisions rest with USCIS and the U.S. Department of State.