K-1 Visa Cost: What You Need to Know

The K-1 is a visa that allows fiancés and fiancées of U.S. citizens to travel to the U.S. with the intent of marrying their partner within 90 days. It is an excellent course of action for those with significant others overseas looking to marry and unify their lives together.

For the latest on the timeline for obtaining a K-1 visa and an overview of general procedures, please read our blog post on the K-1 Visa Timeline.

To get a K-1 visa, all requirements for the visa must be met, the process must be carefully followed, and all necessary fees must be paid, all of which contribute to the overall K-1 visa cost. In this guide, I’ll explain all of the K-1 visa costs. By the end of this guide, you should understand the total K-1 visa cost.

1. Introduction to the K-1 Visa

The K-1 visa is a visa for foreign citizen fiancé(e)s to travel to the U.S. and marry their U.S. citizen partners within 90 days of arrival. There are some basic requirements for the K-1 that are outlined below.

K-1 Visa Requirements

To get a K-1 visa, there are some basic requirements:

• The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen
• Both parties must be free to marry (meaning that if one was previously married, they must be fully divorced from their former spouse)
• The marriage must be legally possible in the U.S. state where the marriage will take place
• Both partners must have physically met within the past two years prior to applying

The physical meeting requirement can be met with evidence such as plane tickets, photos, and any other documents that show proof of the meeting. In the event that there is a hardship preventing a meeting, or certain religious or cultural customs prohibit a meeting, the requirement may be waived. However, it can be difficult to get a waiver for the meeting requirement approved, and it’s generally recommended that a couple meet according to the official guidelines.

2. The K-1 Visa Process

These are the first, basic steps to take when initiating the process and preparing for the overall K-1 visa cost.

a) Make sure you meet all requirements: It’s critical that all requirements met previously are met, especially the physical meeting requirement. Otherwise, the petition may be denied. Showing that the relationship is legitimate is highly important.

b) Form I-129F: The U.S. citizen sponsor must file Form I-129F, along with required evidence, with USCIS. The I-129F cannot be filed with a consulate or overseas office.

c) Visa Processing at the National Visa Center: Once the I-129F has been approved, it is sent to the National Visa Center, which will assign a case number and send the petition to the appropriate consular office. The embassy or consulate will be the one closest to where the fiancé(e) lives.

This covers the first phase of the process, which is filing the petition and understanding the initial K-1 visa cost.

The second phase of the K-1 visa process involves additional steps that contribute to the total K-1 visa cost. They must bring a variety documents to their interview. The first step for setting up an interview is to complete and submit the DS-160 form online. In addition to vital documentation that must be brought, K-1 beneficiaries must complete a medical examination and provide proof of financial support or means.

With the basics of the K-1 visa in mind, let’s talk about the K-1 visa fees.

3. List of all K-1 Visa Fees

Here is a list of all the fees and costs that are needed K-1 Visa:

• The form I-129F filing fee, currently $535;
• DS-160 fee, currently $265;
• Fees for medical examination, varies;
• Immigration lawyer legal Fee, varies;

4. Form I-129F Filing Fee Explained

The filing fee of $535 for the I-129F is mandatory and forms a major part of the K-1 visa cost. With no filing fee, the petition will be automatically rejected by USCIS. The filing fee is usually paid in the form of a check made out to the Department of Homeland Security, and must be submitted with the initial filing.

5. DS-160 Fee Explained

A DS-160 must be completed prior to a consular interview and adds to the overall K-1 visa cost. It is also mandatory for any dependents, such as children of the fiancé(e) under 21. (As a side note, they would qualify for what is known as a K-2 visa). The DS-160 must be completed, submitted, and paid for in the amount of $265 for each application.

6. Medical Examination Fees Explained

The fees for a medical examination will vary and can impact the total K-1 visa cost. A medical examination must be performed on each applicant, regardless of age, by a physician approved by the relevant consulate or embassy.

7. Immigration Lawyer Legal Fee Explained

Having the right lawyer to handle your K-1 visa will greatly improve the chances of your petition’s success, and provide you with peace of mind in the event that any issues arise during the process, which may also impact the overall K-1 visa cost. If you’d like to know more about our legal fees for the K-1 visa and what we at Ashoori Law can do for you, you may request an initial consultation here.

8. Conclusion

The K-1 visa is an excellent option for couples looking to marry and unite their lives in the United States while understanding the full K-1 visa cost. The fees must be kept in mind, but you should now have a better understanding of the overall K-1 visa cost and the K-1 visa process.

If you have any questions regarding the K-1 visa, or if you need help applying for a K-1 visa, you may consider consulting an experienced immigration law firm for guidance. You are also welcome to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com.