Green Card Cost Calculator - PERM I-140 I-485 Total

Why Green Card Costs Look Different in Dallas and San Jose

Employment based Green Card cost feels very different depending on where your attorney practices and how many people are filing. In Dallas Texas, a typical EB2 case with one primary and adjustment of status may show attorney fees around 4000 to 5500 for PERM plus I-140 plus I-485, while the same structure in San Jose California or San Francisco California may show 6500 to 9000 due to higher market rates. The USCIS fees stay the same nationwide because they are federal, but attorney and medical exam costs move with local cost of living.

In Austin Texas, attorney rates are close to Dallas, so total stays moderate. In Houston Texas, rates are slightly lower than Dallas, so a small reduction appears. In Florida, Orlando and Miami show lower to moderate attorney rates, so total may be lower than California. In New York New York, rates are high similar to San Francisco, so total climbs. Seattle Washington sits mid high between Texas and California.

This calculator separates federal USCIS fees from local market attorney fees and per person medical exam to show why total shifts by location even though PERM itself has no Department of Labor filing fee. It also separates adjustment of status path inside United States from consular processing outside United States to show where I-485 fee versus DS-260 immigrant visa fee applies.

What Makes Up Green Card Cost Inside Real Math

First component is PERM. The Department of Labor does not charge a filing fee for PERM labor certification, but employer pays for recruitment process including job ads, newspaper postings where required, State Workforce Agency posting, and attorney time to prepare Form ETA 9089. For estimate, PERM related attorney portion ranges from 1500 to 3000 depending on market.

Second component is I-140 immigrant petition. USCIS charges a filing fee for Form I-140. For this estimate, we use 715 as baseline from USCIS fee schedule. If you choose premium processing, add I-907 fee of 2805 for faster decision. Attorney portion for I-140 ranges from 1500 to 3000.

Third component is adjustment of status or consular processing. Inside United States, each person files I-485 with USCIS fee. For estimate, we use 1440 per person for I-485 including biometric services where applicable. Outside United States, each person pays DS-260 immigrant visa fee at National Visa Center, estimated at 1200 per person plus affidavit of support processing. This calculator switches automatically based on filing path you select.

Fourth component is medical exam. Inside United States, civil surgeon charges for Form I-693 medical exam, typically 300 to 600 per person. Outside United States, panel physician charges similar range. Photos, translation, and travel add small additional cost per person, estimated at 100 per person.

Fifth component is dependents. Each dependent adds its own I-485 or DS-260 fee plus medical plus attorney add-on. Attorney add-on per dependent ranges from 500 to 1200 depending on market. Family of four therefore shows higher total than single primary.

How to Use This Calculator Without Mistakes

First, select Green Card category. Choose EB2 for advanced degree, EB3 for skilled or professional, EB1 for extraordinary ability or multinational manager, or Family based for relative categories. EB1 does not need PERM, so PERM attorney portion is removed automatically. Family based also does not use PERM.

Second, select filing path. Choose adjustment of status if primary is inside United States and plans to file I-485. Choose consular processing if primary will process at consulate with DS-260. Path changes which USCIS or NVC fees apply and how medical is counted.

Third, choose attorney support. Employer paid attorney shows full attorney total but notes employer may cover. Self paid attorney shows same total but paid by you. No attorney self filing sets attorney fees to zero for estimate, though many still use attorney for PERM.

Fourth, set number of dependents. Zero means only primary. One means spouse, two means spouse plus one child, three means family of four, four means family of five. Calculator multiplies per person fees accordingly.

Fifth, decide premium processing. Select yes if you want to add I-907 premium fee of 2805 to speed I-140 decision. Select no for standard processing. Premium does not speed PERM or I-485.

Sixth, select attorney market location. Texas shows moderate, Florida lower, California San Jose San Francisco high, Los Angeles mid high, New York high, Seattle mid high. Market multiplies attorney base by factor from 0.85 to 1.45 for realistic local estimate.

How This Calculator Figures Total Cost - Formula and Sources

Source: USCIS fee schedule for I-140 and I-485, USCIS I-907 premium processing fee schedule, DOL PERM guidance no filing fee, civil surgeon medical exam market range, attorney market ranges from Texas to California.

DEFINITIONS
CAT = Category EB2 EB3 EB1 FAM
PATH = AOS or CP consular
DEP = Number of dependents 0 to 4
FAM_SIZE = 1 plus DEP
I140_FEE = 715 USCIS
I907_FEE = 2805 if premium yes else 0
I485_FEE = 1440 per person if AOS
DS260_FEE = 1200 per person if CP
AOS_AFF = 120 affidavit support fee per case if CP
MED = 400 medical per person baseline
PHOTO = 100 photos translation per person
ATT_PERM = 2000 if EB2 EB3 else 0
ATT_I140 = 2000 base
ATT_AOS = 1500 base primary AOS
ATT_CP = 1200 base primary CP
ATT_DEP = 700 per dependent base
MKT = Market factor TX 1.00 CA-H 1.45 CA-L 1.25 NY 1.40 FL 0.85 WA 1.20

CORE FORMULAS
1. Market Adjusted Attorney Primary = (ATT_PERM plus ATT_I140 plus PATH attorney) times MKT
2. Attorney Dependents = DEP times ATT_DEP times MKT
3. Total Attorney = Market Adjusted Primary plus Dependents if attorney not none else 0
4. USCIS Primary = I140_FEE plus I907_FEE plus (I485_FEE if AOS else DS260_FEE)
5. USCIS Dependents = DEP times (I485_FEE if AOS else DS260_FEE)
6. Total USCIS = USCIS Primary plus USCIS Dependents plus (AOS_AFF if CP else 0)
7. Total Medical Other = FAM_SIZE times (MED plus PHOTO)
8. Total Cost = Total USCIS plus Total Attorney plus Total Medical Other
9. Cost Per Person = Total Cost divided by FAM_SIZE

Verified with default values:

• Category EB2 Texas AOS 0 dependents no premium: USCIS 715 plus 1440 equals 2155, Attorney (2000 plus 2000 plus 1500) times 1.0 equals 5500, Medical 500, Total 8155
• Same with 2 dependents: Family size 3, USCIS primary 2155 plus dependents 2 times 1440 equals 5035, Attorney primary 5500 plus dependents 2 times 700 equals 6900, Medical 3 times 500 equals 1500, Total 13435
• Same with California high market: Attorney primary 5500 times 1.45 equals 7975, Attorney dependents 1400 times 1.45 equals 2030, Total higher by about 3105 versus Texas
• Premium yes adds 2805 to USCIS total
• EB1 removes PERM 2000 so attorney primary 3500 Texas AOS
• Consular path: USCIS primary 715 plus 1200 equals 1915 Texas, dependents 1200 each, plus 120 support fee

Guards: Dependents 0 to 4 capped, category trimmed upper case, market factor 0.85 to 1.45 capped, fees non negative, non finite to zero, rounding only at display, attorney zero if none selected.

Understanding What Each Number Tells You

Estimated Total Green Card Cost: Main result. Sum of USCIS fees plus attorney fees plus medical and other per person costs for primary plus dependents. This is the number to plan budget around. Changes with category, path, market, and premium.

USCIS Fees: Federal fees paid to USCIS or NVC. Includes I-140 plus I-485 or DS-260 plus premium if selected. Same nationwide, does not change with Texas versus California. Increases with dependents because each person pays its own I-485 or DS-260.

Attorney Fees: Estimated attorney charges for PERM plus I-140 plus I-485 or consular. Varies by market factor. Texas moderate, Florida lower, California San Jose San Francisco high, New York high. Zero if you select no attorney self filing.

Medical plus Other: Medical exam per person plus photos and translation per person. Civil surgeon or panel physician range. Does not include travel to consulate.

Cost Per Person: Total divided by family size. Useful to see average cost per family member. Family of four shows lower per person than single primary if attorney dependent add-on is smaller than primary.

Example Walkthrough - Three Families

Story 1 - Dallas Texas, EB2, Adjustment of Status, 0 dependents, no premium, employer paid attorney: Category EB2 includes PERM. Market factor Texas 1.0. USCIS primary I-140 715 plus I-485 1440 equals 2155. Attorney primary PERM 2000 plus I-140 2000 plus AOS 1500 equals 5500. Medical 400 plus photo 100 equals 500. Total 2155 plus 5500 plus 500 equals 8155. Cost per person 8155. Employer may cover attorney 5500, so out of pocket for employee may be USCIS plus medical 2655.

Story 2 - San Jose California, EB3, Adjustment of Status, 2 dependents, premium yes, self paid attorney: Market factor California high 1.45. Family size 3. USCIS primary 715 plus 2805 premium plus 1440 equals 4960. Dependents 2 times 1440 equals 2880. Total USCIS 7840. Attorney primary 5500 times 1.45 equals 7975. Dependents attorney 2 times 700 times 1.45 equals 2030. Total attorney 10005. Medical 3 times 500 equals 1500. Total 7840 plus 10005 plus 1500 equals 19345. Per person about 6448. Premium adds 2805 but speeds I-140 only.

Story 3 - Orlando Florida, Family Based, Consular Processing, 1 dependent, no premium, no attorney: Category family no PERM. Market Florida 0.85 but attorney none so zero. Family size 2. USCIS primary DS-260 1200 plus I-130 fee approximated as I-140 placeholder 535? For this estimate we use I-140 715 as immigrant petition placeholder plus affidavit 120. So primary 715 plus 1200 plus 120 equals 2035. Dependent 1200. Total USCIS 3235. Attorney 0. Medical 2 times 500 equals 1000. Total 4235. Per person 2117. Shows consular path lower USCIS than AOS if attorney none, but adds travel not counted.

Common Missteps That Break Green Card Cost Math

1. Thinking PERM has a USCIS filing fee: PERM has no DOL filing fee. Cost is recruitment and attorney time. Adding a fake PERM filing fee overstates total.
2. Forgetting dependent fees: Each dependent pays its own I-485 or DS-260 and medical. Total for family of four is not same as single primary. Multiply per person fees by family size.
3. Assuming premium speeds everything: Premium processing speeds I-140 decision only. It does not speed PERM labor certification or I-485 adjustment. Do not expect faster Green Card approval just because I-140 was premium.
4. Ignoring market difference for attorney: Attorney in Dallas Texas charges less than attorney in San Jose California for same case. Using one national flat fee misstates total by thousands. Apply market factor.
5. Mixing AOS and consular fees: Adjustment of status uses I-485 fee per person. Consular uses DS-260 fee per person plus affidavit support fee. Do not add both I-485 and DS-260 for same person.

Practical Note - How to Use Estimate for Planning

Use this estimate to budget and to compare quotes from different attorneys. If you are in Texas and get a quote of 9000 attorney for EB2 AOS, compare to our Texas baseline 5500 primary plus 700 per dependent. If quote is much higher, ask what is included such as RFE responses or interview preparation. If you are in San Jose California, expect higher baseline due to market. Keep USCIS fees separate because they are federal and must be paid regardless of attorney. Keep medical exam separate because civil surgeon fees vary even within same city. If employer covers PERM and I-140, your out of pocket may be only I-485 plus medical plus dependent costs. For full financial picture, also look at H1B wage level compliance, immigrant cost of living comparison, and citizenship cost after Green Card.

Important Limitations to Remember

This tool gives estimates for educational purposes only. Not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. USCIS fees change and are published on USCIS fee schedule. DOL PERM has no filing fee but recruitment costs vary. Attorney fees vary by market, experience, and complexity. Medical exam fees vary by civil surgeon or panel physician. Consular processing adds travel and NVC fees not fully captured. Actual total depends on exact category, country of birth, visa availability, and case history. Verify with official sources and immigration counsel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does employment based Green Card cost in USA

Employment based Green Card includes PERM which has no DOL filing fee, I-140 petition with USCIS fee, and I-485 adjustment with USCIS fee per person, plus attorney and medical exam. Total varies by category and number of dependents and whether premium processing is used.

What is included in PERM cost for Green Card

PERM itself has no filing fee with Department of Labor, but employers typically pay for recruitment ads, prevailing wage determination, and attorney time for PERM preparation. Costs range by attorney and recruitment needs.

How much is USCIS fee for I-140 and I-485

I-140 immigrant petition fee is set by USCIS, I-485 adjustment of status fee includes filing and biometric services. Fees change over time and are listed on USCIS fee schedule. Premium processing for I-140 is an additional optional fee if you want faster decision.

Does cost change with dependents for Green Card

Yes. Each dependent files separate I-485 with its own USCIS fee and medical exam. Attorney may charge per dependent. More dependents increase total cost proportionally.

What is difference between adjustment of status and consular processing cost

Adjustment of status is filed inside USA with I-485 and medical exam. Consular processing uses DS-260 immigrant visa fee at National Visa Center plus medical exam at panel physician. Consular path may avoid I-485 fee but adds NVC and travel costs.

Is premium processing required for Green Card

No. Premium processing for I-140 is optional and speeds USCIS decision. It does not speed PERM or I-485 and does not guarantee approval.

Are attorney fees mandatory for Green Card

No. You may file without attorney, but many employers use attorney for PERM and I-140 due to complexity. Attorney fees vary by market such as Dallas Texas versus San Jose California and by case complexity.

Does this calculator store my Green Card cost data

No. Entries stay on your device for estimate only. Closing the tab clears entries. No data is sent to a server for this calculator component.