What are the costs "after" entering on a K-1

[slowlyman 118]

AOS - After marriage to obtain first GC.

ROC - filed in the 90 days prior to the expiration date of the GC which is 2 years from approval (if you divorce in this time she needs to file as soon as the divorce is final).

N-400/USC - If you're still together, 3 years from the "resident since" date on the GC (minus 90 days). If you're no longer together, it's 5 years (minus 90 days).

Please also bear in mind, the fees went up in Nov 2010

- AOS $930 + $80 = $1010

- ROC $465 + $80 = $545

- N-400 $595 + $80 = $675

TOTAL = $2230 (a saving of $110 compared to now)

This also doesn't include, as others stated, photocopying, mailing and any other random costs. Prior to that of course the fees were even MUCH lower (its a little distressing to read how much cheaper :S) so it's likely the $2340 that we're quoting you now will be a few hundred dollars more down the line.

The AOS is the one that hurts the most, you have 2 years to save for the ROC (and it MUST be filed before the GC expires otherwise her LPR status will be revoked and she's deportable). N-400 you don't have to file as soon as the window opens so you have time there too.

Somebody should put this in a guide. Less the costs of course.

If it is already out there, please post the link.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Is there a reason someone would not file all 3 of them together? I'm curious. I can't think of one.

What Gotham said. Some people don't read the instructions and see the fees are waived and think "I'm not paying for the EAD, I'll just wait". Then they're on here and realise it was free and that their AOS is taking forever. Same with AP. A fair few people have said "why would I bother filing it?" and not filed it then hop on here saying they have an emergency, didn't realise AOS would take so long etc etc

[loughrey101 13]

AOS - After marriage to obtain first GC.

ROC - filed in the 90 days prior to the expiration date of the GC which is 2 years from approval (if you divorce in this time she needs to file as soon as the divorce is final).

N-400/USC - If you're still together, 3 years from the "resident since" date on the GC (minus 90 days). If you're no longer together, it's 5 years (minus 90 days).

Please also bear in mind, the fees went up in Nov 2010

- AOS $930 + $80 = $1010

- ROC $465 + $80 = $545

- N-400 $595 + $80 = $675

TOTAL = $2230 (a saving of $110 compared to now)

This also doesn't include, as others stated, photocopying, mailing and any other random costs. Prior to that of course the fees were even MUCH lower (its a little distressing to read how much cheaper :S) so it's likely the $2340 that we're quoting you now will be a few hundred dollars more down the line.

The AOS is the one that hurts the most, you have 2 years to save for the ROC (and it MUST be filed before the GC expires otherwise her LPR status will be revoked and she's deportable). N-400 you don't have to file as soon as the window opens so you have time there too.

Wow it's really unfair they charging over a thousand for the AOS straight after the expense of a wedding and possibly a new home. It really is very expensive the whole process even though their service quality is notoriously poor. Is there a way to pay that in increments? The GC lasts for 10 years I believe so you have considerable time.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Wow it's really unfair they charging over a thousand for the AOS straight after the expense of a wedding and possibly a new home. It really is very expensive the whole process even though their service quality is notoriously poor. Is there a way to pay that in increments? The GC lasts for 10 years I believe so you have considerable time.

Pay the AOS fee in increments? Nope. All fees are expected up front when you file the package.

[bigdog 376]

Here are the form numbers for the usual steps from AOS to citizenship using the K-1 visa route: I-485, I-751, N-400.

Here is the USCIS site that lists the current fees associated with those forms:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Of course, that doesn't count other "incidental" fees, such as, medical exams and vaccinations, document preparation and certifications, licenses and fees, copying and mailing fees, transportation costs, etc. In conclusion, this endeavor is certainly not for the faint of heart, or light of wallet.

YMMV.

Good luck on your visa journey.

Good Response, I agree.

[NikLR 13,227]

I am happy to have the green card immediately after I move and be able to travel or work. Look at the immigration cost comparision for K1 and CR1 and you'll see a reason why not wanting to be apart for the first year of marriage, suddenly becomes a "this is logical."

[NikLR 13,227]

FYI - to obtain citizenship you need to be in the USA for 3 years not just an LPR. If you're out of the country for months at a time, that extends the period of time until you can become a citizen if that is what you want.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=a0ffa3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=a0ffa3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[Kelli/Ozzy 8]

I just went thru the AOS process for my husband, the fee is $1070.00 for green card application, work permit and advanced parole (ability to travel) but............ before that we had to see a civil surgeon and get a second round of immunizations. i already had added him to my insurance and they got billed as routine so my insurance covered them at 100% (she billed about $600.00 for 3 different shots) but she charged me a $200.00 paperwork fee and put all details in a sealed envelope that i sent to USCIS with the AOS application.

we filed on 4/19/13, biometrics was done on 5/24/13 and we got work permit and advanced parole on 6/29/13

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Besides those numbers you should take in considerarion other documents like driver license. SSN it's free but also think in the costs of getting copies, translations and all the things you need for the further applucations. Also the wedding certificate (here in Florida is $100) and other cost if you are having a wedding. As a former k1 visa holder myself, the 1st year is the most expensive. My hubby spent a lot of money not only in terms of immigration but also to make sure I had everything I need (car, health and car insurance, driver's license, some clothes, etc etc) even when I brought everything I could, there's a lot of things I left behind (2 or 3 suitcases is not enough to move your life to another country)

I love the way you wrote this.

[loughrey101 13]

I just went thru the AOS process for my husband, the fee is $1070.00 for green card application, work permit and advanced parole (ability to travel) but............ before that we had to see a civil surgeon and get a second round of immunizations. i already had added him to my insurance and they got billed as routine so my insurance covered them at 100% (she billed about $600.00 for 3 different shots) but she charged me a $200.00 paperwork fee and put all details in a sealed envelope that i sent to USCIS with the AOS application.

we filed on 4/19/13, biometrics was done on 5/24/13 and we got work permit and advanced parole on 6/29/13

The one thing I'll miss about Europe is medical bills are much lower than the states and we don't have to worry about insurance. I'm going to have a hard time adjusting to these kinds of things. But can I ask why he needed a second round of shots? I hope I won't have to do the same and so I'd like to get everything covered over here first because shots here cost no more than 20 bucks a shot.

[Pitaya 2,577]

I love the way you wrote this.

That is the exact reason why I crafted my response in the manner that I did. The USCIS link may remain the same, but the fee schedule may change.

Kudos to my fellow August AOS filers!

Edited July 1, 2013 by A&B

[Andrea&Henry 311]

I love the way you wrote this.

hahahah but why? thanks

[rin and john 71]

Is there a reason someone would not file all 3 of them together? I'm curious. I can't think of one.

The only one would be if you had a K3 (now obsolete). No need for AP (so in our case no AP). If Rin had already had a SSN, we wouldn't have filed EAD either.

[MIBEN 83]

We filed ROC in May the cost is now at $590.

[Partita 17]

Find a good and cheap doctor to transcribe your vaccines for AOS, coz a lot of them charge much for it also, all the preparations for these packets (copies, etc) are time-consuming and can get costly too. The good news is that there is a point where it all ends,just gotta sit and enjoy the ride lol

This is a good advice. Also, if one does not obtain a record of vaccines, there is a blood test called a BLOOD TITER.

It will give a person a document which shows all the vaccines throughout one's life. A doctor will write a note if there is any required vaccine missing. Also, the results of this test serve as a document for a medical exam.