During every initial consultation with a K-1 fiance visa applicant, the question of money and costs comes up. It is an important topic and many applicants simply do not know all of the costs required for a K-1 Fiancee Visa applicant.
Before starting the fiancee visa process, please review the following cost discussion. To best use this information, please review the K-1 Visa process. The K-1 Visa’s flow chart will provide the best explanation of when the costs are due.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact this NYC K-1 fiance visa Lawyer.
K-1 Fiance Visa Process Costs
The K-1 visa process is multi-stepped. If you are confused by the steps below, please review the K-1 visa flow chart.
Initial Stage: USCIS K-1 Visa Petition
To initiate the K-1 visa process, a petition must be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service agency (USCIS). At this initial stage, the costs include:
Government Filing Fees
$340 – K-1 fiance visa filing fee to the USCIS.
Legal Fees
It is important to retain a K-1 visa lawyer at the beginning of the process. A mistake made at the beginning can result in a petition being denied or delayed (a denial or a delay that will not become apparent for many months). Any mistake resulting in a denial will mean that the petition must be started again – and all government and other fees already paid will be lost.
Legal fees vary from lawyer to lawyer, however I believe that most K-1 visa lawyers charge a flat legal fee and that most are relatively standard in terms of cost. However, not all lawyers provide the same level of service and expertise. When choosing a lawyer, make sure you know:
- How quickly the lawyer will handle the application and submit the petition.
- How much assistance the lawyer will provide. Will he or she assist during just the initial petition? During the entire process? How much does the quoted legal fees cover?
- Whether the quoted legal fees exclude any other charges commonly incurred by applicants (such as copying fees or mailing fees)?
- Whether the lawyer will respond to client questions and inquiries during the process (will those responses cost anything), and
- Whether the attorney commonly handles K-1 visa petitions?
Consulate Stage: Interview at U.S. Consulate
After USCIS approval, the K-1 visa petition is sent to the U.S. Consulate where the beneficiary resides. During this stage, the beneficiary must attend a consulate interview to receive the K-1 visa. Costs include:
Medical Examination Fee
A medical examination must be completed on a fiance visa beneficiary by a U.S. Government approved medical physician. No visa will be issued before the examination is completed. The medical examination cost will vary, but it is generally around $200 t0 $300. In many countries there are not many physicians who are certified to complete the required form.
Total Medical Examination Fees: $200-300 (varies)
Department of State K-1 Visa Application Fee
The Department of State charges a K-1 visa application fee of $240. This fee must be paid before the Consulate Interview is held (sometimes even before the interview will be scheduled). The consulate will provide the couple with details about how the fee is paid once it has received the petition from USCIS.
All K-1 fiance visa applicants must pay this fee.
Total: $240
Government’s K-1 Reciprocity Visa Fee
Beneficiaries from certain countries are required to pay a “visa issuance fee” once their K-1 visa petition is approved by the U.S. Consulate. Whether this fee must be paid depends on where the beneficiary is from and whether or not the United States has a reciprocity agreement with that country. To see if a particular country 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 are not required to pay this fee. If it is required, the fee is often a couple hundred dollars (it varies from country to country).
Total: $0 to a Couple Hundred Dollars
Adjustment of Status In United States After Arriving As a K-1 Visa holder
Once a K-1 fiance(e) enters the United States, it is necessary to marry within 90 days. Additionally, the couple must apply for adjustment of status. The adjustment of status will change the K-1 status holder to a Green card holder (permanent resident).
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 Lawyer.