Cost of Opportunity

My daughter, US born citizen.

Living in the United States is wonderful adventure, but don't forget about the entry fee. Here are a few examples of USCIS fees:

For a legal resident to become a US citizen:

Biometric (fingerprinting): $80

N-400 Application for US Naturalization: $595

Petition for family members to reunite in the United States includes but not limited to:

I-130 Application for Relative Alien: $330

I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residency: $930 ($600/child under 14)

*May also need a work visa while waiting for permanent residency, see below.

Non-immigrant work visa

I-765 Application for Employment Authorization: $340 (Fee charged at every renewal term)

Certain cases such as refugees or crime victims can waive the fees. There are organizations such as the Northwest Immigration Rights Project guiding low-income immigrants through the complex and expensive immigration system. This is a friendly reminder: Don't take your citizenship status for granted.