How Much Does a K1 Fiancee Visa Cost?

One thing everyone who is considering apply for a K1 fiance visa wants to know is how much it cost. Since not all applicants will use the services of an immigration attorney and because these fees vary from attorney to attorney this article will just examine the the other costs of the fiance visa.

Government Filing Fees

The largest cost of the fiance visa are the government filing fees. The USCIS and the Department of State both charge fees with the applications that must be submitted to apply for the K1 fiance visa. The following is a list of the current government fees for a K1 visa:

Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance......$535

K1 Fiance Visa Fee......$265

Medical Examination......Varies from country to country but the average fee is around $225.

Form I-485 Application to Adjust Status....$1225 (*This includes the biometric fee.)

*You may also file forms I-131 and I-765 at the time of adjustment of status but there is no filing fee for these if submitted together with the I-485.

I-485 Medical Exam....Fees vary but average is $200.

Estimated Total Government Fees....$2450

Other Fees & Costs

In addition to the government filing fees a K1 visa applicant can expect to incur other costs and expenses associated with the K1 visa application including:

• Document translation fees. All documents submitted to the USCIS or U.S. Embassy must be translated to English.
• Mailing fees. While not required I recommend that you submit all documents to the USCIS and Department of State via FedEx or UPS for tracking purposes.
• Travel Expenses. Obviously, if the fiance visa is issued your fiance will have to travel to the U.S. Additionally, unless your fiance lives in the same city where the U.S. embassy or consulate which will adjudicate the K1 application he or she will need to travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for her interview.

Conclusion

If you are planning to file a K1 fiance visa you can expect to spend in excess of $3000 on government filing fees and other associated expenses. The process is not cheap but it is even more expensive if you don't do it correctly the first time and it's denied. Many people try to save money by not hiring an attorney given the costs of the filing fees and other expenses alone. At the end of the day many of these people end up spending more and losing over a year of time with their fiance because their K1 application is denied. If you would like to ensure that your K1 is approved the first time and would like professional assistance with your case please contact me today.