Cost of Moving to the USA in 2026: Every Official Fee
The official cost of moving to the United States is split between two agencies. The Department of State charges for the visa at the consulate. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) charges for the petition behind it and for the green card itself. Add rent, which varies by a wide margin between states, and the customs rules for your belongings. This guide lists each amount from the State Department's fee page, the USCIS fee schedule of 7 October 2026, the Census Bureau and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
A visitor, student or exchange visa costs $185.00 to apply for, and a petition-based work visa such as the H or L costs $205.00. Students also pay a SEVIS fee of $350. A family-based immigrant visa costs $325.00, plus the I-130 petition at $675 on paper and the USCIS Immigrant Fee of $235. Adjusting status inside the country costs $1,440 on paper. The median gross rent in the United States is $1,413 a month, and $2,036 in California.
1. Visa application fees at the consulate
| Visa | Application processing fee |
|---|---|
| Non-petition-based visas: B visitor, F student, J exchange visitor, M vocational student, TN professional | $185.00 |
| Petition-based visas: H temporary workers, L intracompany transferees, O, P, Q and R | $205.00 |
| E treaty trader or investor, and the Australian professional specialty visa | $315.00 |
| K fiancé(e) or spouse of a US citizen | $265.00 |
| Immigrant visa: immediate relative and family preference | $325.00 |
| Immigrant visa: employment-based | $345.00 |
| Diversity Visa application, per person selected | $330.00 |
| Affidavit of Support review, when reviewed domestically | $120.00 |
The fees are non-refundable, and every applicant pays the fee for the category applied for. If a visa is approved, an issuance fee may also apply, depending on nationality.
2. USCIS fees
| Form or fee | Paper filing | Online filing |
|---|---|---|
| I-130, Petition for Alien Relative | $675 | $625 |
| I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers | $715 | $665 |
| I-485, adjustment of status, applicant over the age of 14 | $1,440 | $1,390 |
| I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | $675 | — |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee, for people immigrating as lawful permanent residents | $235 | |
| H-1B registration, per beneficiary | $215 | |
- Asylum Program Fee on the I-140: an additional $600 for a regular petitioner, $300 for a small employer or self-petitioner, and $0 for a nonprofit.
- The Immigrant Fee pays for the green card. USCIS uses it to process the immigrant visa packet and produce the card. You will not receive the card until it is paid, and USCIS encourages paying after you collect the immigrant visa and before you travel.
These amounts are from Form G-1055, edition 10/07/26.
3. Students
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| I-901 SEVIS fee, F or M visa applicants | $350 |
| I-901 SEVIS fee, J visa applicants | $220 |
| Visa application fee | $185 |
The SEVIS fee is due once an approved school accepts your enrollment and registers you in the SEVIS system.
4. Income a family sponsor must show
A relative who sponsors you files an Affidavit of Support and must show income of at least 125% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. For the guidelines effective March 1, 2026, in the 48 contiguous states:
| Sponsor's household size | 125% of the guidelines |
|---|---|
| 2 | $27,050 |
| 3 | $34,150 |
| 4 | $41,250 |
5. Rent and income by state
The Census Bureau's figures for 2020 to 2024 give a baseline for housing costs.
| Area | Median gross rent | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1,413 | $80,734 |
| California | $2,036 | $99,122 |
| Washington | $1,760 | $98,141 |
| Florida | $1,669 | $74,568 |
| New York | $1,621 | $85,974 |
| Texas | $1,403 | $78,476 |
| Illinois | $1,274 | $83,390 |
The same data put median monthly owner costs with a mortgage at $1,963.
6. Bringing your belongings
- Household effects are duty-free on conditions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection lists furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, linens and similar furnishings, along with tools of the trade and professional books.
- The conditions: you used them abroad for no less than one year, and they are not intended for any other person or for sale.
- Personal effects are a separate class. Clothing, jewelry, photography equipment and vehicles cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects, but duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age.
- Vehicles: all vehicles are dutiable.
7. Later: citizenship
The naturalization application, Form N-400, costs $760 on paper or $710 online. A lawful permanent resident can usually apply after five years.
Three example routes
| Route | Government charges that apply |
|---|---|
| Student on an F visa | $350 SEVIS fee and $185 visa application fee |
| Spouse of a US citizen applying abroad | $675 or $625 for the I-130, $325.00 immigrant visa fee, $120.00 if the Affidavit of Support is reviewed domestically, and the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee |
| Spouse of a US citizen applying inside the United States | $675 or $625 for the I-130 and $1,440 or $1,390 for the I-485 |
Medical examinations, translations, flights and shipping are private costs and are not included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a US visa cost in 2026?
$185.00 for visitor, student and exchange visas, $205.00 for petition-based work visas such as H and L, and $315.00 for E visas, according to the State Department's fee page.
How much does a green card cost?
For a family-based case abroad: the I-130 at $675 on paper or $625 online, the $325.00 immigrant visa fee and the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee. Inside the United States, the I-485 costs $1,440 on paper.
What is the USCIS Immigrant Fee?
A $235 fee paid by people immigrating as lawful permanent residents. USCIS uses it to process the visa packet and produce the green card.
How much do international students pay to come to the US?
A $350 SEVIS fee for F or M students, or $220 for J exchange visitors, plus the $185 visa application fee.
What is the average rent in the United States?
The median gross rent was $1,413 a month in Census Bureau data for 2020 to 2024, ranging from $1,274 in Illinois to $2,036 in California among the states listed here.
Can I bring my furniture to the US duty-free?
Yes, if you used the household effects abroad for no less than one year and they are not intended for another person or for sale.
Do I pay duty on my car?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that all vehicles are dutiable.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State — Fees for visa services
- USCIS — Fee schedule, Form G-1055 (edition 10/07/26)
- USCIS — USCIS Immigrant Fee
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS fee
- USCIS — I-864P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
- U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs duty information
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Fees change by regulation, so check the form page before you pay. Information, not legal or financial advice.