Find out how much it will cost to process and obtain a green card in the US by 2025, as well as the steps to take to manage it

One of the most important documents that immigrants who want to settle in the United States obtain is the so-called green card or permanent resident card, which gives them the opportunity to access different services, work, and in the future apply for American citizenship. Recently, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced the different fees that will apply starting next year.

The government agency clarifies that the prices for this type of procedure will vary depending on the different categories and the form that the person has. The most common routes used are the adjustment of status for subjects who reside within the country, applications linked to humanitarian reasons or related to employment and others that are made through a sponsoring family member.

In addition to the main costs of the forms, people will have to cover other costs such as the well-known medical examinations and biometric data. In the event that the applicant has certain financial difficulties, there may be certain fee exemptions provided that these people meet the requirements established by law.

People who are in the United States temporarily with their respective visa and wish to become permanent residents must do so through Form I-485. Adults must pay approximately $1.440, while minors under 14 years of age who require it must come with at least one of their parents and pay $950.

Form I-485 also covers the applicant's complete immigration and security history, which is one of the pieces of information that people should pay close attention to when filling it out in order to continue the process without errors.

In the case of people who have Form I-130, which offers U.S. citizens and permanent residents support so that their relatives can obtain a permanent resident card, the fees in this case are lower and through the presentation method, for example, people will pay about $625 if they submit online and those who do so on paper will pay $675. The government agency (USCIS) details that this is the first step for people to obtain residency and the fee is paid when submitting the documentation.

Another expense that applicants must pay is the medical examination, which will be performed by an authorized clinic and the prices will vary depending on the tests performed and the doctor who performs them. On the other hand, USCIS indicates that biometric services, which include fingerprints and photographs, will cost $85.

Green card fees can also vary depending on the category that the person falls under. First, those who are refugees or asylees may have to pay less money or even nothing, while those in the specialized worker category will fill out other forms that have different prices depending on the type of work they do in the U.S.

The United States government, in its efforts to support those in need, has created Form I-912, which allows applicants to request a fee waiver. However, it should be noted that this is only admissible for people who receive government benefits, refugees or individuals with humanitarian needs, and applicants who have monetary income below the federal poverty line. These applications must include evidence that supports their needs, such as receipts of public assistance, income statements, among others.

USCIS also reveals that costs may vary depending on other factors such as:

• Country of origin: There are countries that have different agreements with the US authorities that may differ from other cases in terms of requirements or costs of the procedure.
• Immigrant Category: It may vary depending on the reason for your application, i.e. humanitarian status, employment or family.
• Legal Services: Although it is not mandatory to hire the services of a lawyer, it is very likely that it will incorporate expenses into the processing.

In cases where there are complexities in the processing, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) does recommend the use of lawyers who can help optimize the financial resources of applicants.

USCIS adds that those who wish to successfully complete the process to acquire a green card must submit all the necessary documents in the application, use the existing payment options to save time, and constantly access the agency's website for updates to find out if fees have changed.