Visa Journey Cost?

[beans 7]

For me:

$455 I-129F

$131 - Interview

$450 - Hotel stay in Vancouver for med. and interview

$300 - Flight from MB to VAC round trip

$350 - Medical Fee in Vancouver

~$100 - Admin costs. passport photos, postage, copies

$350 - Vaccines

$500 - One way ticket from MB to ME

$200 moving costs

$1010 AOS

~$40 Marriage license.

Christ I could go on forever. Add an additional $150 for whatever and thats in my opinion a fair ballpark for a VAC k1

[BermyCat 1]

Let me try to list all the costs for the immigration portion. Of course, there's still moving costs on top of that.

For K-1, Fiancee visa:

$455 to petition for the finance to be able to apply for the visa (I-129F)

$131 for the visa

$1010 to adjust status once she is here and you are married.

plus:

medical $200 to $400

vaccinations - cost varies

travel to and from consulate, civil surgeon

hotel for consulate, civil surgeon

$6 at the border for the I-94

~ Catherine

Edit: Too slow. It looks like beans list is more complete also.

Edited August 25, 2009 by BermyCat

[trailmix 77]

So the base fees for a K1 are:

$455 - I-129F

$131 - Fee at interview

$350 - Medical

Total: $936.00

Adjustment of Status (after you arrive in the U.S.) = $1010

So the total of actual visa and medical fees is: $ 1946.00 approximately. (All fees, except for the medical, are in U.S. dollars by the way)

Edited August 25, 2009 by trailmix

[Abby62 23]

Visa Journey is also a great resource as well as a great source of support as you 'wait' and 'wait' and 'wait' at the various stages of the process.

Good luck to you.

Wow, yes I am finding VJ to be amazing and wonderful, even just based on your response. Thank you so much again! I will stay glued to this site and before long I'll be the expert...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Good grief - I forgot all these little fees and incidentals, but it wasn't as bad as it sounds! At least they don't hit you all in 1 day.

Always good to know what the next upcoming fee is in case you need to save

[minnew 4]

Here is a thread about costs from about a month ago:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...859&hl=cost

At least alot of it is spread out over time, they don't hit you all at once. The most expensive USCIS fee being AOS $1010, but its the relocation to the USA and being without work while waiting for the EAD that can be the most costly, whether its drawing on savings or your SO supporting you with any bills you may have during that time.

Edited August 25, 2009 by minnew

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Its the little hidden costs that make you take a step back and go, "dang!"

So, just to mainly echo everyone you have:

$455 - I-129F filling fee

$250-$350 - Medical

$540- Shots (for me since I had to have Gardisil, but if you're over 26 no worries)

$40+expedited shipping- for long form birth certificate

$89- Renewed my passport. If its going to expire within the next you you need to have it renewed.

$40- Police clearance

$30- Passport photos

$15- Photocopy costs

$131 - Visa processing fee at interview

$1010- AOS

Then you have the costs of traveling to the medical and traveling to the interview depending on how far you are from these places. For us, I would guess we spent in the neighborhood of $500. This isn't counting the cost of my husbands flight when he flew up to come to the interview with me.

Then, after you get the visa you need to move. Depending on how much stuff you need to bring this can cost you a pretty penny! We drove in my husbands car, so between gas and hotel rooms we probably spent around $600-$700. A lot of people end up spending $3,000+ to have furniture and things of that nature brought down.

You also have the costs associated with getting married once you arrive in the US. This is the one part of the process that you're in complete control of! Spend $50 or $50,000, its all up to you.

So long story short its expensive, but worth every penny!

[TimandJoyce 1]

Well, I won't add to the cost, as I think you have enough info!

However, just to say, as long as immunizations are up to date, it only cost me a little over $50 to have the update for the tetnus. As far as hotel and airline costs...keep looking for deals!! I got a great deal off travelzoo to stay at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver for $119.00. So there are some out there, and it just might work out for the time you need it.

By the way, in case it wasn't said, a K-1 may take anywhere from 6-9 months depending. Interviews at the Vancouver consulate can be quicker scheduled than Montreal, because it's not as busy, but it will depend what province your in. Vancouver is for all Western Provinces, and Montreal for all the rest.

Welcome to VJ, and to the Canadian forum. Hope we hear from you lots and feel free to ask any question, or to vent, or to just say hi...

Edited August 25, 2009 by TimandJoyce

[Krikit 1,163]

I just wanted to say.... welcome to VJ..... and the K-1 visa sucks.

[trailmix 77]

I just wanted to say.... welcome to VJ..... and the K-1 visa sucks.

[Abby62 23]

I just wanted to say.... welcome to VJ..... and the K-1 visa sucks.

So do you think I should just go over there, get married and deal with the paper work later??

Just kidding, I only want to follow the procedures by the letter!! I think I read if you get married first and attempt to do the paper work later, you could run into (me) being forced to stay in Canada for a year or more as the paper work gets processed....is this true??

[Marilyn. 340]

the CR1 visa can take as long as a year but it could be as short as 6 months too

you could still visit the US while you are waiting for your visa.. you just need to bring along a lot of strong ties to Canada to show that you plan on going back..

Edited August 25, 2009 by Marilyn.

[Abby62 23]

the CR1 visa can take as long as a year but it could be as short as 6 months too

you could still visit the US while you are waiting for your visa.. you just need to bring along a lot of strong ties to Canada to show that you plan on going back..

Well I should share this little story at this time. This how new I am at all of this immigration stuff..anyways.

Me and my BF decided that since I was travelling back and forth to the u.s., (he lives in Indianapolis), that I should just box up some things and leave them at his house since I was going back and forth so often..BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!! I had everything documented, like I had some clothes, hats, pictures, etc..I got pulled into secondary and was accused of immigrating to the u.s. that day. I cried, pleaded, begged my case, that this was NOT at all the case. I was patted down, fingerprinted, photo taken etc.

I have a 20 year career here in Canada, 2 older children, a home..etc. etc..well they denied me entry into the U.S. for the very first time in my whole life! Not good. I had to come back and get a notarized letter from a lawyer stating where I lived, all of my pay stubs, bank statements, all ID, bills..the list goes on and on. So now when I cross I immediately and ALWAYS get pulled into secondary inspection.

I have a nice tabbed binder with all of my information..I mean tons. Proof of every time I cross into the u.s. and back to Canada. I have been told over time..i.e. maybe 10 or 15 x's that I enter the u.s. with NO problems that I might be able to have this erased.

We only want to follow the rules to the law and never attempt anything that would jeopardize us both in any way. This was a complete shock to me and it is such a hassle now. Every time I get pulled in, it's a long wait and a frustrating one, however I am just blessed that they do let me back into the U.S. to see my BF....

[Marilyn. 340]

it is perfectly legal to get married and do the CR1 visa paperwork afterward...

and the worst that could happen when you try to visit the US during the visa process is that you will be denied entry.. but that will have no effect on your visa... you just need to disclose that info on the DS-230 form and/or at the interview...

[Krikit 1,163]

I think I read if you get married first and attempt to do the paper work later, you could run into (me) being forced to stay in Canada for a year or more as the paper work gets processed....is this true??

The same thing can happen with the K-1 visa. It's always up to the CBP Officer at the border whether they let you in or not no matter which visa you apply for. Some have been denied entry but it hasn't affected their visa approval. The caution I give for the K-1 visa is due to the following:

• You have to marry and adjust status within 90 days of arrival. This throws a huge wrench into any wedding plans you'd like to make. You cannot plan ahead. You are at the mercy of the system. Then you have to apply to remove the conditions of your residency 3 months prior to your temporary greencard expiry.
• Some States require a SSN to apply for a marriage license. See below for some giggles on this process.
• You are stuck in the US for ~ 3 months after applying for your AOS/AP/EAD (which you can't apply for until you marry) while you wait for your Advance Parole (AP) document to be approved and arrive. The AP allows you to re-enter the US should you need to leave for any reason. Having to apply for an emergency AP due to death or illness while you are already under a ton of stress is no walk in the park.
• You need an SSN for everything here. And I mean everything. Many K-1'ers have had a terrible time trying to get one because the SSO people do not understand the K-1 visa.
• When you do apply for an SSN, you need to do so within 76 days of entry, but not prior to two weeks following entry. Prepare to be denied and told you cannot have one until you receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Or worse.... prepare to be told you have to apply for a K-3 visa! If you don't have an SSN, your life goes on hold.

These are just a few of the reasons why a K-1 visa is not very user friendly.