Green Card Sponsorship Costs Rise

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) increased fees for several immigration forms in early 2024, including a $2,965 charge for premium processing of Form I-140, which is used by employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency.

Previously, the filing fee for Form I-140 included the cost of work and travel permits, but USCIS has since separated these fees, adding hundreds of dollars to the total cost for applicants.

Employers and immigration attorneys say the higher costs are making it more expensive to hire and retain foreign talent, particularly for small businesses and startups that may have limited budgets for immigration sponsorship.

The fee changes are part of a broader USCIS effort to address budget shortfalls and reduce processing times, but critics argue the increased financial burden could deter some companies from sponsoring workers for green cards.

For applicants, the total cost of the green card process can now exceed $5,000 when including legal fees and other expenses, up from around $3,000 in previous years.