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How Much Does it Cost to Obtain a Green Card?2023-02-23T18:04:52-05:00
  • U.S. Language Services LLC

How Much Does it Cost to Obtain a Green Card?

If you’re considering applying for a green card, you are no doubt wondering how much this process will cost. After all, it’s important to stay informed of the various fees and documents that the U.S. government requires as part of obtaining a green card. Our guide helps you understand why green cards are important and the costs associated with the two most common ways to obtain a green card.

In this guide we will cover these questions:

What Is a Green Card and Why Is It Important?

A United States green card is an identification card that makes the holder a permanent United States resident. The card is officially known as a Permanent Resident Card and it is obtained through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Green card holders are granted similar protections and rights as United States citizens when it comes to living and working, but they will not have the right to vote. Green card holders can apply for full citizenship after three years if they are married or after five years if they are single.

Obtaining a green card is an important step toward citizenship for many, and it enables individuals to legally work and live in the United States in addition to being protected by United States laws, eligible for certain U.S. government benefits, study at United States universities without risk, and ensure their family is also eligible to apply for green cards.

How Much Does it Cost to Obtain a Green Card?

There are two main methods for obtaining a green card – adjustment of status or consular processing. We give you an explanation of these green card types and detail the costs associated with each type of green card application process.

It’s important to note that most green cards are obtained via family status or through employment opportunities. However, there are a few other categories that may make you eligible to obtain a green card, something we discuss in more detail below.

How Much Does an Adjustment of Status Green Card Cost?

An adjustment of status green card is applied for by those within the United States. Individuals applying for a green card through this process will need to fill out a few different forms including an immigrant petition (for most people, this is Form I-130) and Form I-485. You may also need to attend an interview and attend a biometric services appointment.

The cost of your adjustment of status green card depends on the forms that you submit along with your application, the cost of your biometrics appointment, and the cost of the required medical exam, which varies based on your location and the provider.

Most individuals applying for a green card through the adjustment of status process can expect to pay $1,760, which is broken down into the costs below.

Keep in mind that the forms you submit and their fees might vary based on your individual situation; you will also need to anticipate the cost of your medical exam added to the total of $1,760.

This isn’t a complete list of forms you may need, and if you have questions, you can consult the Adjustment of Status process information on the USCIS website or an immigration attorney.

How Much Does a Consular Processing Green Card Cost?

A consular processing green card is one that is applied for by an individual outside of the United States. Both the USCIS and the U.S. Department of State are involved in this process, and you will most likely need to submit your applications to a U.S. Department of State consulate abroad for an immigrant visa that allows you to travel legally to the United States and become a permanent resident.

The forms you submit during this process determine your overall costs. For most people, the total cost is $1,200, which we break down into the forms and fees below.

Again, this isn’t a complete list of forms you may need, and you will need to add the cost of a medical exam to the total cost of $1,200. Consult the Consular Processing green card information on the USCIS website for more information on unique situations and the complete list of forms you may need to apply for a green card in this manner.

Are There Other Types of Green Cards?

While most green cards tend to be applied for on a family basis or due to offers of employment, there are several other categories that the USCIS lists as a basis for eligibility when applying for a green card.

These categories include items such as:

  • Green cards for special immigrants, such as religious workers or international broadcasters
  • Green cards for refugees or asylum seekers
  • Green cards for human trafficking or crime victims
  • Green cards for victims of abuse
  • Green cards via registry

You can review a full list of green card eligibility categories on the USCIS website. Once you have identified the category that best fits your situation, you can then begin the process of identifying which application process is best for you – adjustment of status or consular processing.

If you have questions about the fees associated with forms related to special green card eligibility statuses, you can either use the fee calculator on the USCIS website or review the USCIS fee schedule.

Where Can I Get a Certified Translation?

Throughout the green card application process, you may need to submit forms that are in English, such as:

It’s important that all of these forms be in English so that your application processing time isn’t slowed down or rejected.

You can order a certified translation of these documents from our online store:

Order Your Certified Translation

The content provided by U.S. Language Services is for general information and educational purposes only, not a substitute for professional legal or financial advice. Despite our efforts to ensure accurate and timely content, we do not guarantee the completeness, correctness, or suitability of the information on our site or any linked content.

U.S. Language Services is not a law firm; its content should not be taken as legal advice. For specific legal concerns, please consult a licensed attorney. Similarly, financial information on our site is for informational purposes only, not financial advice. Consult a certified financial advisor or tax professional for advice tailored to your situation.

By accessing U.S. Language Services, you acknowledge that it does not provide legal or financial advice. You agree not to rely on its content as such. U.S. Language Services and its contributors bear no liability for any inaccuracies, losses, or damages resulting from the use of information on our site.

Guaranteed Acceptance

All our certified to English translations are accepted by the USCIS. Our translations follow the guidelines established by the USCIS and are also accepted by educational institutions.

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FAQs

You can order most translations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through our online store. For large projects (more than 20,000 words or 50 pages), please request a quote.

General Questions

Can you expedite my translation?2024-05-01T19:21:27-04:00

We offer expedited service for Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and German.

With expedited service, your order is given priority and you can expect the turnaround time to be reduced by 50%.

Expedited service includes a 50% surcharge.

If you require expedited service for a document in another language, please inquire regarding availability. If we are able to accommodate your request, our staff will provide you with instructions on how to proceed.

Who will translate my document?2023-04-29T11:35:49-04:00

Our translators have years of experience in the translation industry and specialize in different areas of service. Many of them have graduate degrees and certificates in fields such as law and engineering.

How do you keep my information secure?2023-04-29T10:03:03-04:00

All your information is transmitted using SSL/TLS encryption.

We never receive, store or keep your credit card information. Your credit card information is processed externally by Stripe. The same company that manages payments for companies such as Uber, Lyft, Target, Blue Apron, SquareSpace, Slack and Spotify (to name a few).

U.S. Language Services has a strict confidentiality policy. We understand that in certain cases, given the sensitivity of the information to be translated, some clients require we sign a specific confidentiality agreement (NDA). We would be happy to sign your NDA.

How can I pay?2020-04-10T10:40:56-04:00

We accept all major credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal and Google Pay.

In what currency are your prices?2022-02-25T08:57:58-05:00

All prices — both in the online store and in quotes sent via email — are indicated in U.S. dollars (USD).

Is my payment safe?2023-06-09T08:58:15-04:00

Yes. We use Stripe and PayPal as payment platforms. We never receive, store or keep your credit card information.

Certified Translation

What is a certified translation?2020-04-10T10:52:38-04:00

A certified translation is a word-for-word translation required for official use by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), universities, colleges, state or federal institutions and courts.

All our certified translations are issued in accordance with the regulations established by the USCIS, the institution that most frequently requires this type of document. A certified translation includes a certificate issued on our corporate letterhead signed by the translator and a U.S. Language Services representative in PDF format.

How much does it cost?2023-05-01T07:17:26-04:00

The price for a certified translation is $39.00 per page. No hidden fees.

Each page may contain up to 250 words or fewer including numbers. Pages may be letter size (8.5″ x 11″), A4 or smaller and one sided.

For languages that use logograms, such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese, each character is considered a word.

How are the pages counted?2022-06-28T09:54:53-04:00

When you order a certified translation, the most significant variable is how the pages of the document are calculated. We take into consideration both the number of physical pages in your original document and the total word count.

Each page may contain up to 250 words. Pages may be letter size (8.5″ x 11″), A4 or smaller and one sided.

For example: A project with 2 physical pages that each contain 500 words (1,000 words total), is calculated as 4 pages (1,000 words ÷ 250 = 4 pages).

What happens if I don’t count the number of pages correctly?2020-04-10T10:48:37-04:00

Don’t worry. Our team reviews each order individually. If the number of pages is greater, we’ll contact you with instructions on how to proceed. If you ordered pages in excess, we’ll issue you a refund using the same payment method.

How long will it take?2023-04-29T12:36:46-04:00

For most common languages, including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and Chinese you can expect to receive:

  • A 1-3 page translation in 2 business days
  • A 4-10 page translation in 4 business days
  • An 11-20 page translation in 6 business days
  • A 20+ page translation in 6+ business days

For orders in other language pairs, our team will review your document and provide you with the delivery date once you place your order.

Note: Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

Do you offer expedited service?2024-05-01T19:21:18-04:00

We offer expedited service for Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and German.

With expedited service, your order is given priority and you can expect the turnaround time to be reduced by 50%.

Expedited service includes a 50% surcharge.

If you require expedited service for a document in another language, please inquire regarding availability. If we are able to accommodate your request, our staff will provide you with instructions on how to proceed.

Note: Standard terms apply for expedited service. Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

Do you offer notarized translations?2021-11-10T14:29:32-05:00

No, we do not offer notarized translation services.

How will my certified translation be delivered to me?2024-10-11T11:33:24-04:00

All certified translations are delivered in PDF format; we do not mail physical copies.

Standard Translation

How much does it cost?2023-04-29T09:57:10-04:00

The price for a standard translation is $0.12 per word. No hidden fees.

For languages that use logograms, such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese, each character is considered a word.

Is there a minimum?2023-04-29T10:08:08-04:00

Yes. The minimum per document is $24 or 200 words.

What is a standard translation?2020-11-11T11:14:07-05:00

A standard translation is a high-quality, professional translation of documents or text-based files delivered in an editable Word file. If you require a different format (pages, rtf, txt) just let us know when placing your order using the comments field. This service is perfect for:

  • Press releases, employee manuals
  • Websites, blog posts, emails, text messages
  • Financial statements, legal contracts
  • Online stores, e-commerce, product descriptions, etc.
What languages do you translate?2022-03-21T11:43:14-04:00

U.S. Language Services provides translation services in 35 languages. We translate both from English and into English:

  • Arabic
  • Bulgarian
  • Catalan
  • Chinese (Simplified & Traditional)
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dari
  • Dutch
  • Farsi
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Hungarian
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese (Brazil & Portugal)
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Slovak
  • Spanish (Spain and Latin America)
  • Swedish
  • Tagalog
  • Turkish
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietnamese
How long will it take?2023-04-29T12:36:19-04:00

For most common languages, including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and Chinese you can expect to receive:

  • A 500 word translation in 2 business days
  • A 1,000 word translation in 3 business days
  • A 2,000 word translation in 4 business days
  • A 5,000 word translation in 6 business days

For orders in other language pairs, our team will review your documents and provide you with the delivery date once you place your order.

Note: Orders placed after 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) will be processed by our team on the following business day. Delivery dates exclude weekends & holidays.

How do you ensure quality?2023-04-29T11:49:21-04:00

Each project is assigned to a translator with experience in that field to guarantee that the proper terminology is used. In addition, all translations undergo a careful revision process before they are delivered to the client.

We encourage you to take a look at any of the more than 300 reviews we have received from satisfied clients.

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