A common question that potential clients routinely ask me is this: How much does the K-1 fiancee visa really cost?
It is a good question – and an important one. Before starting the fiancee visa process, please take the time to step back and make sure you understand the costs of the entire process .
The following is meant to provide a detailed discussion of the costs involved in the process. For the most clarity, please use this discussion in conjunction with the K-1 fiance visa process flow chart previously provided.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact this K-1 fiance visa attorney.
K-1 Fiancee Visa Process Costs
The K-1 visa process has multiple steps. If you are confused by the steps below, please review the K-1 visa flow chart.
Initial Stage: K-1 Visa Petition to USCIS
The initial step in the process is for a petition to be submitted to the immigration agency in the United States (USCIS). At this stage, the costs include:
Government Filing Fees
$340 – fiancee visa filing fee to the USCIS.
Legal Fees
It is important to retain an attorney at the beginning of the process. A mistake made at the beginning of the process can result in a delay or even denial at the end of the process (many months in the future). If there is a mistake and you have to start over, you have to pay all of the government and other fees over again.
Legal fees vary from attorney to attorney, however I believe that most attorneys charge a flat legal fee and that most are relatively comparable in terms of cost. However, when choosing an attorney, make sure you know:
- How quickly the attorney will be able to submit the petition.
- Whether the attorney will assist with just the initial petition, or the entire process (and what does his or her quoted legal fees cover)
- Whether there are other charges commonly incurred by applicants besides the flat fee (such as copying fees or mailing fees)
- Whether the attorney will respond to client questions and inquiries during the process (and will there be a charge associated with that response), and
- Whether the attorney commonly handles these types of cases.
Consulate Stage: Interview at U.S. Consulate
After the K-1 visa petition is approved by the USCIS, it is sent to the U.S. Consulate in the beneficiary’s country of residency. At this stage, the beneficiary will need to attend a consulate interview before receiving the K-1 visa. Costs include:
Medical Examination Fee
A fiance visa beneficiary must have a medical examination completed by a U.S. Government approved medical physician before receiving the K-1 visa. Although the cost charged by the physicians vary, it generally costs around $200 t0 $300 – but check around – there may be better deals out their for immigration required medical examinations. Unfortunately, in many countries there are not too many physicians who are certified to complete the required form.
Total Medical Examination Fees: $200-300 (varies)
Department of State’s K-1 Visa Application Fee
The Department of State charges a K-1 visa application fee of $240. This fee will be paid before the Consulate Interview is held (or even scheduled). The consulate will provide details about how the fee is paid once it has received the petition from USCIS.
All K-1 visa applicants must pay this fee.
Total: $240
Government’s Reciprocity Visa Fee
Once the K-1 visa petition is approved by the U.S. Consulate, beneficiaries from certain countries are required to pay a “visa issuance fee.” Whether an applicant needs to pay this fee depends on which country the beneficiary is from and whether or not the U.S. government has a reciprocity agreement with that country. To see if a particular countries has a reciprocity agreement with the US (or if the beneficiary needs to pay a K-1 visa issuance fee) please visit the DOS Reciprocity webpage.
Most applicants do not need to pay this fee, but if they do, the fee often a couple hundred dollars (it varies from country to country).
Total: $0 to a couple Hundred Dollars
Final Stage: Adjustment of Status In United States After Arriving As K-1 Visa holder
Once a K-1 beneficiary enters the United States, it is necessary for the couple to get married within 90 days, and for the couple to apply for an adjustment of status. An adjustment of status allows a foreign national to become a Green Card holder.
Government Filing Fees
$985 Adjustment of Status Application Fee
$85 Biometrics Interview Fee
$0 Employment Authorization Card Fee
$0 Advance Parole Application Fee
Total: $1070
For more information, please contact this New York City K-1 Fiance Visa Attorney.
* Please note, the government fees change often – although not by much. At the time of this writing, the government fees are correct. To make sure that they are still right at the time of your reading, please contact this K-1 Visa lawyer.*