EB-2 NIW Fees in 2026: Premium Processing, Asylum Program Fee, and Total Costs

Filing fees for the EB-2 NIW changed significantly in 2024 and again in early 2026. If you are budgeting for a self-petitioned NIW, you need current numbers — outdated figures from even 18 months ago will leave you with an incomplete picture.

Here is every fee involved in a NIW self-petition, what each one covers, and who is exempt.

Form I-140 Filing Fee

The base filing fee for Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) as of 2026:

• Online filing: $665
• Paper filing: $715

USCIS introduced the reduced online fee to encourage electronic submission. Both methods are fully accepted; the difference is purely the submission channel.

The Asylum Program Fee

This is the fee most applicants underestimate or are caught off guard by. USCIS implemented the Asylum Program Fee as part of a broader 2024 fee restructuring to fund humanitarian and asylum processing programs.

For EB-2 NIW self-petitioners:

• Individual NIW self-petitioners: $300
• Small employers (25 or fewer full-time employees): $300
• Regular employers (more than 25 full-time employees): $600
• Recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations: Exempt (no Asylum Program Fee)

If you are self-petitioning as an individual — as most NIW applicants do — you pay the $300 rate regardless of your income or the size of any organization you are affiliated with. The $300 is mandatory; it cannot be waived and is not included in the base I-140 fee.

Total without premium processing: $665 (online) + $300 = $965 or $715 (paper) + $300 = $1,015

Premium Processing Fee (Form I-907)

Standard I-140 processing for NIW petitions currently takes 12–18 months. Premium processing guarantees an adjudicatory action — either an approval, RFE, NOID, or denial — within 45 business days.

As of March 1, 2026, USCIS increased the premium processing fee:

• Form I-907 for NIW petitions: $2,965

Note that the 45-business-day guarantee for NIW is different from the 15-business-day guarantee available for standard employer-sponsored I-140 PERM cases. NIW petitions are inherently more complex and receive a longer premium processing window.

Premium processing is optional but widely recommended. For Rest of World applicants, a 45-business-day adjudication enables the entire green card process to complete within 12–24 months. For backlogged applicants (India and China), premium processing still provides a fast adjudicatory result for status-maintenance planning, even though the priority date is established when USCIS receives the I-140 and the wait for a current date may stretch for years.

Total with premium processing (individual NIW self-petitioner, online filing): $665 + $300 + $2,965 = $3,930

Form I-485 Fees (When Filing Adjustment of Status)

Once your priority date is current, you file Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) to obtain the green card. This is a separate filing with separate fees:

• Form I-485: $1,440
• Form I-765 (Employment Authorization Document): Separate form; check the current USCIS fee schedule for any applicable fee
• Form I-131 (Advance Parole for travel): Separate form; check the current USCIS fee schedule for any applicable fee
• Biometrics: Included in the applicable I-485 fee; do not add a separate fee unless USCIS requires it for your filing

For I-485, these fees apply to the principal applicant. Dependents (spouse and children under 21) file their own I-485; verify the applicable fee for each dependent under the current USCIS fee schedule. If you have dependents, factor their filing costs into your budget.

The I-485 fee of $1,440 represents a significant increase from prior years. Combined with the online I-140 phase and premium processing, the standard base government fee outlay for a single NIW applicant filing from start through adjustment of status is approximately $5,370, before any separate I-765 or I-131 fees; paper filing increases the total, while omitting premium processing lowers it.

Fees NOT Paid to USCIS

Several other costs are part of the NIW process but not government fees:

Medical examination (Form I-693): Conducted by a USCIS-approved civil surgeon before I-485 adjudication. Cost varies but typically runs $300–$500+ depending on location and the civil surgeon.

Credential evaluation (if needed for foreign degrees): A NACES-member credential evaluator charges $150–$400 depending on the service and complexity.

Attorney fees (if applicable): Top-tier NIW law firms typically charge $5,000–$8,000 for a complete NIW petition package. Boutique petition narrative services (cover letter and evidence structuring only) run $1,500–$2,500. DIY preparation with attorney review of the final draft is typically $500–$1,500 for the review component.

Who Pays the Fees

For NIW self-petitions, the applicant pays all USCIS fees. There is no employer involved. You are the petitioner and the beneficiary, and all costs are yours.

For employer-sponsored PERM-based EB-2, the employer is legally required to pay 100% of the PERM process costs, including recruitment and legal fees. The I-140 filing fee and I-485 fees are separate from those PERM costs; the beneficiary pays the I-485 fees when filing for adjustment of status.

Planning Your Budget

For a NIW self-petitioner filing online with premium processing, USCIS fees alone total approximately $3,930 for the I-140 phase. When the priority date becomes current and I-485 is filed, add the applicable I-485 filing fee (the standard fee is $1,440), plus any separate I-765 or I-131 fees and dependent costs. The standard base total through green card approval is at least approximately $5,370.

On top of that, budget for medical examination ($300–$500), credential evaluation if your degree is foreign ($150–$400), and any professional preparation assistance you choose to use.

The complete EB-2 Green Card Guide covers current fee schedules alongside the full NIW petition strategy, so you can plan the process with accurate cost expectations from the start.

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