EB-3 Costs: Who Pays What, and the Government Fees

An EB-3 Other Workers case has four groups of costs. PERM costs are the prevailing wage, recruitment and attorney work on PERM. Government fees are Form I-140 and either the visa or Form I-485. The other two groups are medical exams and documents, and service fees charged by whoever helps with the case. The key rule: under 20 CFR 656.12(b), the employer may not take money from the worker for anything related to getting PERM, including the employer's attorney fees.

Figures checked October 19, 2026.

Key takeaways

• The employer pays PERM costs; taking money from the worker for PERM is prohibited.
• Form I-140: $715 on paper or $665 online, plus the Asylum Program Fee.
• Immigrant visa fee: $345 per person; Form I-485: $1,440 on paper or $1,390 online.

PERM costs: the employer pays

According to 20 CFR 656.12 (Cornell LII), paragraph (b):

• The employer may not seek or receive payment for any activity related to obtaining labor certification (PERM), including the employer's attorney fees, whether as an incentive or as reimbursement.
• "Payment" is broad: cash, wage or benefit deductions, kickbacks, bribes, in-kind payments, and free labor.
• The worker may pay their own costs, such as their own attorney. But if one attorney represents both the employer and the worker, the employer must bear those costs.

If anyone asks you to "pay for PERM" or deducts recruitment costs from your wages, check with a licensed immigration attorney.

Government fees

The $345 visa fee is per person, so a family of four interviewing in Ho Chi Minh City pays it four times. Fees can change; check before you file.

Other costs

• Medical exam with a panel physician (abroad) or civil surgeon (in the U.S.). The clinic sets the price.
• Civil documents, police certificates, translations and notarizations.
• Airfare to the U.S. after the visa is issued.

Service fees and attorney fees

Beyond government fees, whoever helps with the case usually charges for their work: coordination, translation, case tracking, and immigration attorney fees for the worker's legal work outside PERM. When you get a quote, ask for:

1. An itemized list: what goes to the government, what goes to the attorney, what is a service fee.
2. A written contract naming the legal entity and its address.
3. Payment to a company account, not to an individual, with receipts.
4. Payments tied to case milestones, not everything up front.
5. A refund clause in case the case cannot go forward.

Government fees go straight to USCIS or the State Department through official channels. USCIS never accepts Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal or gift cards. See EB-3 Scam Warning Signs.

How Manna One Solution quotes

On our EB-3 page we split costs into the same four groups: employer-paid costs, attorney fees, government fees, and Manna One Solution's service fee (coordination, Vietnamese-language support, translation, case tracking). We quote each case after a first look at your details. Manna One Solution is not a law firm; licensed immigration attorneys handle the legal work.

See also: What Is EB-3 for Unskilled (Other) Workers?, How Long Is the EB-3 Other Workers Wait?.

Sources

• 20 CFR 656.12, Improper commerce and payment (Cornell LII) (checked October 19, 2026)
• USCIS: G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26) (checked October 19, 2026)
• USCIS: I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers (checked October 19, 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services (checked October 19, 2026)
• USCIS: Common Scams (checked October 19, 2026)