How much does an immigration lawyer cost?

By Javi Pérez, independent researcher (not a lawyer)Last reviewed · 9 sources cited below · How we research

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change and differ by court and county. Confirm current amounts with the court or a lawyer licensed in your state before you rely on them.

Short answer

Immigration cases cost USCIS filing fees plus the lawyer's fee. As of October 2026, paper filing fees are $760 for an N-400, $675 for an I-130, $1,440 for an adult I-485 and $520 for an I-765, and online filing saves $50 on eligible forms. Lawyers usually charge flat fees for routine filings and hourly for court cases; Clio's 2025 average immigration rate is $366 per hour. DOJ-accredited representatives at recognized nonprofits are a low-cost alternative; notarios cannot give immigration legal advice.

Two separate bills: USCIS fees and the lawyer

An immigration case usually costs two things: the government filing fees, which are the same whoever prepares the forms, and the lawyer's fee, which varies with the complexity of your case. Government fees are paid to USCIS (or to the immigration court or State Department for other steps) and are never part of a lawyer's fee, even if the lawyer collects them from you to submit with the forms.

Common USCIS filing fees

USCIS fees under 8 CFR 106 (eCFR current as of Oct. 7, 2026)
FormPaper filingOnline filingNotes
N-400, naturalization$760 [1]$710 [2]Reduced fee of $380 if household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines [1]
I-130, relative petition$675 [1]$625 [2]
I-485, green card (adjustment of status)$1,440 (age 14+) [1]No online fee verified$950 for a child under 14 filing with a parent [1]
I-765, work permit$520 [1]$470 [2]$260 if filed with a fee-paid I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024 that is still pending [1]

Filing online, where USCIS allows it, costs $50 less than paper, but the discount does not apply to the reduced $380 N-400 fee or the $260 I-765 fee [2]. Fees change; confirm the amount with the USCIS fee calculator before you file [8].

Example: a family-based green card filed from inside the U.S. by an adult spouse, on paper: I-130 $675 + I-485 $1,440 + I-765 $260 = $2,375 in USCIS fees [1], before any lawyer's fee, medical exam or translation costs.

How immigration lawyers charge

Most immigration lawyers charge flat fees for routine filings such as naturalization, a marriage-based green card or a work permit renewal, and hourly fees for removal (deportation) defense, appeals and cases with complications. Clio's 2025 data puts the average immigration lawyer rate at $366 per hour [9].

Example (illustrative, not a quote): a lawyer who spends 10 hours on a straightforward marriage-based adjustment at $366 per hour would bill 10 × $366 = $3,660. Add the $2,375 in USCIS fees above and the total is $6,035. A case with a prior visa overstay, a criminal record or a removal history can take several times as many hours.

What makes an immigration case more expensive

  • Prior immigration violations, removal orders or unlawful presence that require a waiver.
  • Any arrest or conviction, which needs analysis of immigration consequences.
  • Requests for evidence (RFEs) or denials that require a response or appeal.
  • Removal proceedings in immigration court, which involve hearings and briefing.
  • Translation of foreign documents and expert or country-conditions evidence in asylum cases.

Questions to ask

  • Is the fee flat, and does it include responding to an RFE and attending the interview?
  • Are USCIS fees included in your quote or separate?
  • What happens to the fee if the case is denied?
  • Will you personally handle my case, or a paralegal?

Fee waivers and reduced fees

USCIS accepts fee waiver requests (Form I-912) for some forms but not others. The N-400 is eligible; the I-765 is eligible except for DACA; the I-485 is eligible only in categories exempt from the public charge rule, such as asylees; and the I-130 is not on the list [3]. One basis for a waiver is that you or a household member currently receive a means-tested public benefit [3]. For naturalization, the reduced $380 fee is a separate option for households at or below 400% of the poverty guidelines [1].

Low-cost help: accredited representatives

The Department of Justice recognizes nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that provide immigration legal services, and accredits some of their non-attorney staff to represent people before USCIS and the immigration courts [4]. Accredited representatives may practice only through a recognized organization, and the program exists to expand representation for low-income people [4]. Find them on the EOIR roster [5]; many charge low fees or none.

In immigration court there is no public defender: the law gives you the right to a lawyer only "at no expense to the Government" [7]. That makes nonprofit and pro bono help especially important if you are in removal proceedings. See also legal aid guide and can I afford a lawyer.

Warning: notarios and "immigration consultants"

In many Latin American countries a notario is a lawyer, but in the U.S. a notary public only witnesses signatures. USCIS warns that a notario público is not authorized to provide any legal services related to immigration, and that only an attorney or an accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized organization can give immigration legal advice [6]. Paying a notario can cost more in the long run: wrong forms, missed deadlines and fees for a lawyer to fix the damage. Check that an attorney is licensed with a state bar, or that a representative appears on the EOIR roster [5], before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Are USCIS fees included in an immigration lawyer's fee?

Usually not. Government fees are paid to USCIS and are separate from the lawyer's fee, even if the lawyer collects them to file with your forms. Ask for a written quote that lists both.

Can I get a fee waiver for a green card?

Only in limited categories. USCIS accepts fee waivers on Form I-485 only for categories exempt from the public charge rule, such as asylees. The I-130 relative petition is not eligible.

Is it cheaper to file online?

Yes, by $50 per form where online filing is available, such as the N-400, I-130 and I-765. The discount does not apply if you are already paying a reduced fee.

Will I get a free lawyer in immigration court?

No. Federal law gives you the right to a lawyer only at no expense to the government. Look for nonprofit recognized organizations, accredited representatives and pro bono programs.

Can a notario help me with my immigration papers?

No. USCIS says notarios públicos are not authorized to provide immigration legal services. Only licensed attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives can give immigration legal advice.

Sources

  1. 8 CFR 106.2: Fees (USCIS fee schedule) — eCFR (current as of Oct. 7, 2026). Paper filing fees for N-400, I-130, I-485 and I-765, including reduced fees (checked October 11, 2026)
  2. 8 CFR 106.1: Fee requirements — eCFR (current as of Oct. 7, 2026). Online filing costs $50 less than paper for eligible forms; the discount does not apply to reduced fees (checked October 11, 2026)
  3. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Forms eligible for a fee waiver and the means-tested benefit basis (checked October 11, 2026)
  4. Recognition and Accreditation Program — U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review. Nonprofit recognized organizations and non-attorney accredited representatives (page updated April 29, 2026) (checked October 11, 2026)
  5. Recognition and Accreditation Rosters — U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review. Lists of recognized organizations and accredited representatives (checked October 11, 2026)
  6. Common Scams — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A notario público is not authorized to provide immigration legal services (checked October 11, 2026)
  7. 8 U.S. Code § 1362 — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Right to counsel in removal proceedings at no expense to the government (checked October 11, 2026)
  8. Filing Fees — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to pay USCIS fees and where to find the fee calculator (checked October 11, 2026)
  9. Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends Report data) — Clio. 2025 average hourly rates: all lawyers $349; by practice area (criminal, family, employment, immigration, bankruptcy, workers' comp) (checked October 11, 2026)