-newbie question- official Fee chart?

[joa 0]

hi fellas...

i just jumped aboard, hope you don't mind.... i'm from argentina and last year i bumped into a very nice girl from florida, at a disco, and then... -insert incredibly cute love story here-

anyways, she's now here and will be staying until august, and then she must be back, and of course i wanted to go along, just to be with her. we figured, for some reason, that just "getting married" would instantly give me the right to live and work there. we had no idea

i'm just now finding out how much work, stress and patience it takes to be with a loved one. ironic, since the u.s. of a. would really be the last place on earth i would choose to live in, had i not met her (please, americans, don't take it personally .

alas, here i am, another one of you.

now for the real questions, if any of you would be kind enough to answer:

1) after some research i've decided to go for the K-1 visa, since it seems to take a little less time in general, and involves less paperwork, am i right?

2) i can't find anywhere and official source for the fees involved in the whole process, specifically the ones involving the K1 visa. could anyone provide the link where i can find this info?

3) just last october i got a tourist visa, they gave me a 10 year B2. do i still need to apply for the nonimmigrant visa, and hence pay the $100 again?

4) i've seen some sites offering their services to do the whole process for you. has anyone tried them? are they worth it? aprox. how much more would it cost?

my apologies if these questions have been answered a million times before, but i searched a bit and couldn't find that info.

well i think that's all for now. i'm now still shocked and a bit scared at the (visa) journey that awaits.

so long, and welcome me aboard...

joaquin

[athena_ny 1]

My husband is the same way...extenuating circumstances kept him in the USA then he met me, and if it weren't for me, would have gone back to Peru as soon as what has kept him here was cleared up. So I hope no one gets offended, to me, it's understandable. (As as aside, we live in FL too.)

You CANNOT use the B2 to get into the country with intent to immigrate (which would be what you'd be doing). You need to go through the K1 process. Unless you're already married (I'm not clear by your post whether you realized before you got married what it entails or after...if you are already married, it's the K3 you need to look into).

I'm not sure on the current fees for K1 but in October they're going up to over $1,000 (and then AOS is another lengthy expensive process as well...).

I'm sure someone else can provide you with more numbers and info, but good luck!

hi fellas...

i just jumped aboard, hope you don't mind.... i'm from argentina and last year i bumped into a very nice girl from florida, at a disco, and then... -insert incredibly cute love story here-

anyways, she's now here and will be staying until august, and then she must be back, and of course i wanted to go along, just to be with her. we figured, for some reason, that just "getting married" would instantly give me the right to live and work there. we had no idea

i'm just now finding out how much work, stress and patience it takes to be with a loved one. ironic, since the u.s. of a. would really be the last place on earth i would choose to live in, had i not met her (please, americans, don't take it personally .

alas, here i am, another one of you.

now for the real questions, if any of you would be kind enough to answer:

1) after some research i've decided to go for the K-1 visa, since it seems to take a little less time in general, and involves less paperwork, am i right?

2) i can't find anywhere and official source for the fees involved in the whole process, specifically the ones involving the K1 visa. could anyone provide the link where i can find this info?

3) just last october i got a tourist visa, they gave me a 10 year B2. do i still need to apply for the nonimmigrant visa, and hence pay the $100 again?

4) i've seen some sites offering their services to do the whole process for you. has anyone tried them? are they worth it? aprox. how much more would it cost?

my apologies if these questions have been answered a million times before, but i searched a bit and couldn't find that info.

well i think that's all for now. i'm now still shocked and a bit scared at the (visa) journey that awaits.

so long, and welcome me aboard...

joaquin

[Dan J 277]

1. More or less, it takes about the same time regardless.

2. There are fees for different forms, all the fees are listed here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

3. Ok, this is a little tricky. For most visas, you can enter the country and get married and file for adjustment of status IF you don't enter with the intent to marry. I think there are certain visas that are dual intent that allow you to get married anyway.

4. Most people here file the petitions themselves. Unless you have complications in your case an attorney or agent is not nessary. Normal fees seem to be $1000+ but it varies.

[athena_ny 1]

I think H1B the only real dual intent visa ... but I could be wrong.

1. More or less, it takes about the same time regardless.

2. There are fees for different forms, all the fees are listed here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

3. Ok, this is a little tricky. For most visas, you can enter the country and get married and file for adjustment of status IF you don't enter with the intent to marry. I think there are certain visas that are dual intent that allow you to get married anyway.

4. Most people here file the petitions themselves. Unless you have complications in your case an attorney or agent is not nessary. Normal fees seem to be $1000+ but it varies.

[msu17 0]

Check the site listed above for the filing fee for 129F, which is currently 170$ but may be going up in October. You will the have to pay to translate documents into English, get a medical and pay for the actual visa, all of which vary by country which is why there is no link to a site.

Just remember if you go the K1 route, you can't be married until you enter the US on the K1 and then must marry within 90 days. If you have your heart set on a wedding in Argentina you will either have to wait till you get advanced parole after filing AOS OR do the K3. And if you enter into the country with intent to marry on your B2 that is considered visa fraud. It would be very hard for you to prove that you didnt intend to marry since you and your SO have to been together so long.

Most of us say dont bother with a lawyer unless your case is complicated. My SO and I met in the US, neither of us have been married before, no kids, no criminal records etc so we really dont need a lawyer. I definitly wouldnt pay for a kit that just gives you the forms, since they are all available online for free. But if you feel more comfortable with a lawyer, make sure to research them and find someone experienced with K1 visas, and not just immigration visa's in general.

[raymaga 25]

Welcome to VJ. Hope we can be of assistance to you in your journey. The "Guides" and "Visa FAQ" sections at the top of the page are a good place to start for information.

I understand what you mean about living in the U.S. I'm from Canada (I lived 30 minutes from the Canada/US border) and if anyone would have ever told me that I would be living in the U.S. one day, I would have told them they were crazy. I didn't even like to visit for shopping, etc. and did it only when absolutely necessary.

Then, I met my husband..... and the rest is history. And here I am.... living in the U.S.!!!!!!!

Some of the costs involved in the K-1 process are: The I-129F Fiance Visa application ($170.00 US), passport photos for yourself and your fiance, medical exam in your home country (cost varies, in Canada, I paid $275.00 Cdn), police certificates, long form birth certificate, visa fee at Consulate ($100.00 US), and various other miscellaneous document fees. Then, after entry into the U.S., you have to file for Adjustment of Status, Employment Authorization (if wanted), and Advance Parole (if wanted). The fees for these forms are on the USCIS website (www.uscis.gov).

[Minya's wife 24]

hi fellas...

i just jumped aboard, hope you don't mind.... i'm from argentina and last year i bumped into a very nice girl from florida, at a disco, and then... -insert incredibly cute love story here-

anyways, she's now here and will be staying until august, and then she must be back, and of course i wanted to go along, just to be with her. we figured, for some reason, that just "getting married" would instantly give me the right to live and work there. we had no idea

i'm just now finding out how much work, stress and patience it takes to be with a loved one. ironic, since the u.s. of a. would really be the last place on earth i would choose to live in, had i not met her (please, americans, don't take it personally .

alas, here i am, another one of you.

now for the real questions, if any of you would be kind enough to answer:

1) after some research i've decided to go for the K-1 visa, since it seems to take a little less time in general, and involves less paperwork, am i right?

2) i can't find anywhere and official source for the fees involved in the whole process, specifically the ones involving the K1 visa. could anyone provide the link where i can find this info?

3) just last october i got a tourist visa, they gave me a 10 year B2. do i still need to apply for the nonimmigrant visa, and hence pay the $100 again?

4) i've seen some sites offering their services to do the whole process for you. has anyone tried them? are they worth it? aprox. how much more would it cost?

my apologies if these questions have been answered a million times before, but i searched a bit and couldn't find that info.

well i think that's all for now. i'm now still shocked and a bit scared at the (visa) journey that awaits.

so long, and welcome me aboard...

joaquin

The K-1 visa does not automatically grant you working priviledges once you arrive to the States. Once here, you must marry the person who petitioned you, w/in 90n days, and apply to "Adjust Status" based the marriage. A whole new set of forms/fees will be required, along with the "pull-your hair out but you can't do anything to speed things up" waiting period until you are granted permission to work.

If you are already married in a country outside the US, then she must return to the states and file for a IR-1/CR-1 Spousal Immigrant visa (can take a long time) or K-3 Non-Immigrant Spousal visa. The difference between the visas that are termed "Immigrant" vs. "Non-Immigrant" is the level of benefits you are entitled to, or receive as a result of them.

But I'm confused about something. If your intent is just "to be w/ your girlfriend" and you already have a 10 year visa, why not just use that to visit her, why go the Imigration/Intent to emigrate route?

Good luck on your journey, whichever method you chose.

-P