Estimated Total Cost of K1 Visa

[Ellie-and-David 38]

I'd say all in all (flights included, moving my things from England, medical, vaccinations) the cost has been around $4000 from starting the K1 to the AOS.

Not a small amount of money.

[pushbrk 12,898]

I'd say all in all (flights included, moving my things from England, medical, vaccinations) the cost has been around $4000 from starting the K1 to the AOS.

Not a small amount of money.

In our case, it was two K beneficiaries coming from China, so the total expense including my two trips to China (mostly staying with family instead of hotels) and travel to the US for two was right at $10,000 but that was all before the fee increases. For a single beneficiary an overall cost with two trips abroad is likely to run 4 to 6 thousand depending on travel expenses and incidentals. Canadians in border-town relationships would be significantly less expensive.

[Ellie-and-David 38]

I'd say all in all (flights included, moving my things from England, medical, vaccinations) the cost has been around $4000 from starting the K1 to the AOS.

Not a small amount of money.

In our case, it was two K beneficiaries coming from China, so the total expense including my two trips to China (mostly staying with family instead of hotels) and travel to the US for two was right at $10,000 but that was all before the fee increases. For a single beneficiary an overall cost with two trips abroad is likely to run 4 to 6 thousand depending on travel expenses and incidentals. Canadians in border-town relationships would be significantly less expensive.

Ex'acto mondo. So dependent on personal circumstances. It's very difficult to estimate. It may have even been more than I quoted...things to do with immigration (another $200 for my things to clear customs next week) are yet to be figured in to the final figure.

It's a romantic and financial commitment...no doubt.

[Kris & Liezl 3]

What is the estimated total cost of the K1 Visa - broken down by each portion of the process? Here is what I know so far, as of October 28 2009.

I-129F Petition - $455

Non-Immigrant Visa Processing Fee - $131

Medical Examination - ??? (not sure what range to expect)

Miscellaneous Fees for Fingerprinting, Photos, Mailing Documents & Travel - varies ($50 - $125)

Please let me know if I am missing anything !

I think you are light on your misc. fees. Translations? Easily $100, maybe more depending on how many documents she has. Express mailing can be more than $100 for one delivery for DHL or Fedex, check with them about packages to India, at minimum you will need to send the I-134 for the interview. Police certificate? Cheap in some countries, not so in others.

AOS fee when she arrives...$1010.00

What the #^@% is AOS?

In this context, "adjustment of status" but in another context, "affidavit of support". Your question indicates you have yet to study the guides and did not go to this link provided earlier, where the names of the fees are not abreviated. http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

I see... Hey, according to that link, a K1 and a K3 take about the same amount of time to process - but K3 can be done for a lesser price. I have always been told that people choose to go with K1 because it is faster. The webpage you linked us to was last updated on October 16, 2009 - very recently. Are those time frames accurate? And if so, what is the true advantage of a K1 over a K3 (if one USC simply does not care which country he marries in)? I mean, if they take the same amount of time, couldn't I use the savings from a K3 to send to my friend to handle some expenses on her end? I mean, it looks like you avoid that AOS fee with a K3. Can some of you tell me WHY you picked a K1 over a K3? Thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

I see... Hey, according to that link, a K1 and a K3 take about the same amount of time to process - but K3 can be done for a lesser price. I have always been told that people choose to go with K1 because it is faster. The webpage you linked us to was last updated on October 16, 2009 - very recently. Are those time frames accurate? And if so, what is the true advantage of a K1 over a K3 (if one USC simply does not care which country he marries in)? I mean, if they take the same amount of time, couldn't I use the savings from a K3 to send to my friend to handle some expenses on her end? I mean, it looks like you avoid that AOS fee with a K3. Can some of you tell me WHY you picked a K1 over a K3? Thanks.

You do NOT avoid adjustment of status (AOS) fees with a K-3... A K-3 must also navigate that process...

You do avoid AOS fees with a immigrant visa (IR/CR)...

A K-1 is typically said to be faster because theoretically you can apply TODAY (assuming you have met) rather than wait for a marriage event to occur. Also, in some countries it is not so easy to marry without "jumping" through many hoops that causes additional delays beyond the marriage event

[Ellie-and-David 38]

What is the estimated total cost of the K1 Visa - broken down by each portion of the process? Here is what I know so far, as of October 28 2009.

I-129F Petition - $455

Non-Immigrant Visa Processing Fee - $131

Medical Examination - ??? (not sure what range to expect)

Miscellaneous Fees for Fingerprinting, Photos, Mailing Documents & Travel - varies ($50 - $125)

Please let me know if I am missing anything !

I think you are light on your misc. fees. Translations? Easily $100, maybe more depending on how many documents she has. Express mailing can be more than $100 for one delivery for DHL or Fedex, check with them about packages to India, at minimum you will need to send the I-134 for the interview. Police certificate? Cheap in some countries, not so in others.

AOS fee when she arrives...$1010.00

What the #^@% is AOS?

In this context, "adjustment of status" but in another context, "affidavit of support". Your question indicates you have yet to study the guides and did not go to this link provided earlier, where the names of the fees are not abreviated. http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

I see... Hey, according to that link, a K1 and a K3 take about the same amount of time to process - but K3 can be done for a lesser price. I have always been told that people choose to go with K1 because it is faster. The webpage you linked us to was last updated on October 16, 2009 - very recently. Are those time frames accurate? And if so, what is the true advantage of a K1 over a K3 (if one USC simply does not care which country he marries in)? I mean, if they take the same amount of time, couldn't I use the savings from a K3 to send to my friend to handle some expenses on her end? I mean, it looks like you avoid that AOS fee with a K3. Can some of you tell me WHY you picked a K1 over a K3? Thanks.

I picked the K1 route because in all the abnormality of long distance dating, the one thing I did want to follow the "traditional" route on was starting our married life....together. That was our choice. I get why other people do things differently.

And FYI - you do not avoid the AOS with a K3.....you avoid AOS with the CR-1. You should read the guides here and do some research.

[pushbrk 12,898]

I see... Hey, according to that link, a K1 and a K3 take about the same amount of time to process - but K3 can be done for a lesser price. I have always been told that people choose to go with K1 because it is faster. The webpage you linked us to was last updated on October 16, 2009 - very recently. Are those time frames accurate? And if so, what is the true advantage of a K1 over a K3 (if one USC simply does not care which country he marries in)? I mean, if they take the same amount of time, couldn't I use the savings from a K3 to send to my friend to handle some expenses on her end? I mean, it looks like you avoid that AOS fee with a K3. Can some of you tell me WHY you picked a K1 over a K3? Thanks.

You do NOT avoid adjustment of status (AOS) fees with a K-3... A K-3 must also navigate that process...

You do avoid AOS fees with a immigrant visa (IR/CR)...

A K-1 is typically said to be faster because theoretically you can apply TODAY (assuming you have met) rather than wait for a marriage event to occur. Also, in some countries it is not so easy to marry without "jumping" through many hoops that causes additional delays beyond the marriage event

Exactly, K1 is generally faster because most people considering it, can file "now" rather than waiting. Most people (I'm an exception) are not comfortable marrying on the first in person visit, so many who haven't met yet go the K1 route for similar reasons. For the vast majority of couples, K3 is just an expensive alternative with no redeeming qualities. It used to be an excellent option (We used it in 2006.) but it's lost its usefulness in most cases.

I won't speak for the website but there isn't a table for total K3 fees presumably because they don't recommend K3. Their FAQ page here... http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/Visa_FAQ.html ... explains why.

[Lost Love 0]

Congratulations Bobby For getting Engaged

AOS $1010

Medicals in India (New-Delhi) comes to $350 including all immunization