The 2026 U.S. Immigration Affordability Index
How much six common immigration journeys really cost in 2026 — and where those costs hit families hardest. The same federal fee, we found, is far harder to afford in some states than others.
Published August 4, 2026 · Covers all 50 states + D.C. · Free to republish with attribution
Key Findings
Every figure is drawn from the CitizenPath 2026 Affordability Index and is free to quote with attribution.
$3,883
The priciest journey to permanent residence is for those navigating from a K-1 fiancé visa to green card, done yourself.
138%
Do-it-yourself marriage green card costs more than a month's income for a couple living at 150% of the poverty line.
111 hours
Minimum-wage work to afford citizenship in Mississippi — vs. 45 hours in Washington D.C.
2.2x
Hiring an attorney more than doubles the cost of a marriage-based green card, to about $8,344. A guided service costs less, about $4,440.
A flat fee is not a flat burden: Because USCIS charges the same fees nationwide, affordability comes down to local wages. The least affordable states — Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Alabama — are among the 20 still at the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
What Each Journey Costs in 2026
Typical do-it-yourself cost (government fees plus common expenses), with guided-service and attorney totals for comparison. Built on typical costs — never on CitizenPath's own pricing.
| Journey | Government fees | Typical DIY cost | With guided service | With attorney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-1 fiancé visa + adjustment | $3,270 | $3,883 | $5,009 | $9,183 |
| Marriage green card (adjustment of status) | $3,005 | $3,744 | $4,440 | $8,344 |
| Spousal green card (consular processing) | $1,355 | $1,968 | $2,461 | $6,968 |
| Removal of conditions (I-751) | $750 | $944 | $1,272 | $3,544 |
| Naturalization (N-400) | $760 | $802 | $1,175 | $2,902 |
| Green card renewal (I-90) | $465 | $494 | $725 | $1,294 |
The 20 states at the $7.25 federal minimum wage all require the same 516 hours. Full figures for every state are in Appendix A and the downloadable CSV.
+75% — The administration’s proposed rule would raise the fee to apply for U.S. citizenship from $760 to $1,330. The rule is not yet final, but if adopted it would sharply widen the affordability gap this report documents.
Explore the Data
Interactive: compare journey costs, sort all 50 states (plus District of Columbia) by affordability, and see the work-hour burden for each journey.
1. What each journey costs with preparation method
Typical self-preparation cost (government fees + medical exam + common incidentals), with guided-service and attorney-assisted totals for comparison. The guided figure is the average across the guided providers surveyed, CitizenPath included. Attorney figures assume straightforward cases.
2. State affordability ranking
Rank 1 = least affordable. Composite score (higher = more burdensome) weights minimum-wage work hours 50% and share of median income 30%. Click any column header to sort; type to filter.
| Rank | State / district | Work hrs | % of monthly income | Composite |
|---|
3. Work-hour burden by journey
Minimum-wage work hours needed to afford the typical self-prep cost. Pick a journey; states shown most to least burdensome.
The Least and Most Affordable States
Work hours a minimum-wage worker needs to afford a marriage-based green card ($3,744).
| Least Affordable | Work Hrs |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 516 |
| Louisiana | 516 |
| Kentucky | 516 |
| Oklahoma | 516 |
| Alabama | 516 |
| Most Affordable | Work Hrs |
|---|---|
| Washington D.C. | 209 |
| Washington | 219 |
| Connecticut | 221 |
| California | 222 |
| New Jersey | 235 |
The 20 states at the $7.25 federal minimum wage all require the same 516 hours. Full figures for every state are in Appendix A and the downloadable CSV.
What It Means
"We built the Affordability Index because families deserve to know what an immigration journey really costs before they start. The same federal fee lands very differently depending on where you live and what you earn." — Russ Leimer, CitizenPath co-founder and CEO
"For most families, the filing fee is only the beginning. My concern is that cost pushes some applicants to cut corners or give up — not because they are ineligible, but because they cannot afford the process." — Cesar Luna, CitizenPath co-founder and immigration attorney
Download the Report & Data
Free to republish with attribution. Cite as: CitizenPath U.S. Immigration Affordability Index, 2026 Edition.
How We Did It
The Index measures the true, all-in cost of six common immigration journeys using verified 2026 government fees (USCIS, U.S. State Department), 2026 federal poverty guidelines, 2026 state minimum wages, and 2024 Census median household income. Provider costs — medical exams, translations, and immigration-help pricing — come from original CitizenPath price research. Rankings use typical self-preparation cost only, never CitizenPath's price. Download the full methodology in the previous section.
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