Costs for spouse and child

[Steph & Sara 1]

Hey all! First post. My soon to be wife and I are going to be starting the process soon for the CR1 after we get married and I wanted to make sure that we are aware of all the expenses. She has an 8 yr old daughter that we will be filing for as well. So far this is the breakdown of costs that I have found:

 

USCIS $535 x 2

NVC $445 x 2

Medical fees $300 x 2

Green card fee $220 x 2

Total: $3000

 

Are there any other expenses that we don't know about? We don't want any surprises.

[Chancy 6,241]

19 minutes ago, Steph & Sara said:

Are there any other expenses that we don't know about?

 

Incidental expenses, like for travel to the medical & consulate, for acquiring civil documents, for getting vaccinations.

 

In which country do your beneficiaries live?

 

[mam521 2,058]

Hey 👋 Welcome!

 

You may want to start with filling out a timeline here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=440503 and update it as you begin your immi journey.  

 

The fees may end up going up as there is a proposal in to jack certain fees up.  Just be aware that nothing is set in stone in regards to fees.  https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2023/01/04/business-immigration-fees-to-soar-under-uscis-proposed-rule/?sh=171861042b80

 

Your list sounds pretty reasonable.  The medical cost can also be variable depending on the approved doctor you choose.  Other costs may include vaccines that your partner might be missing although that is something you can begin looking into now.  There will also be incidentals like travel and accommodation and small items like passport style photos. 

 

Just in an effort to get ducks in a row, your partner will also need to have sole custody of your soon to be step-daughter or permission from the other parent if they are in the picture.  This can be a court order or if the other parent is involved, they can get a letter notarized by a lawyer stating they understand the child is relocating as a permanent resident to the USA.  

[Steph & Sara 1]

7 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Incidental expenses, like for travel to the medical & consulate, for acquiring civil documents, for getting vaccinations.

 

In which country do your beneficiaries live?

 

Thanks! They live in Canada.

[Steph & Sara 1]

5 minutes ago, mam521 said:

Hey 👋 Welcome!

 

You may want to start with filling out a timeline here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=440503 and update it as you begin your immi journey.  

 

The fees may end up going up as there is a proposal in to jack certain fees up.  Just be aware that nothing is set in stone in regards to fees.  https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2023/01/04/business-immigration-fees-to-soar-under-uscis-proposed-rule/?sh=171861042b80

 

Your list sounds pretty reasonable.  The medical cost can also be variable depending on the approved doctor you choose.  Other costs may include vaccines that your partner might be missing although that is something you can begin looking into now.  There will also be incidentals like travel and accommodation and small items like passport style photos. 

 

Just in an effort to get ducks in a row, your partner will also need to have sole custody of your soon to be step-daughter or permission from the other parent if they are in the picture.  This can be a court order or if the other parent is involved, they can get a letter notarized by a lawyer stating they understand the child is relocating as a permanent resident to the USA.  

Thanks for your response. There is not a father listed on her birth certificate and he hasn't been in the picture since she was like 3 months old. 

[mam521 2,058]

Just now, Steph & Sara said:

Thanks for your response. There is not a father listed on her birth certificate and he hasn't been in the picture since she was like 3 months old. 

That's very lucky!  

 

Where in Canada are you guys?  There's a doctor in BC, a couple in ON and QC.  If you can get any missing vaccines done now under provincial health care, it's helpful.  

 

Once you're into your journey, you can check out the thread posted in my signature.  It follows Canadians who've completed the USCIS stage of the journey and are into the NVC portion.  There's a FAQ - that will also probably help you out.  Don't panic if it looks a bit scary.  Everything will come together in due time!

[Chancy 6,241]

1 minute ago, Steph & Sara said:

They live in Canada.

 

Then they will have their interview at the consulate in Montreal.  If they do not live in or near Montreal, add travel costs to your list.

 

[SalishSea 17,801]

1 hour ago, Steph & Sara said:

Hey all! First post. My soon to be wife and I are going to be starting the process soon for the CR1 after we get married and I wanted to make sure that we are aware of all the expenses. She has an 8 yr old daughter that we will be filing for as well. So far this is the breakdown of costs that I have found:

 

USCIS $535 x 2

NVC $445 x 2

Medical fees $300 x 2

Green card fee $220 x 2

Total: $3000

 

Are there any other expenses that we don't know about? We don't want any surprises.

The ROC fee, if your spouse ends up entering the states with the immigrant visa <2 years of marriage.     I believe it is set to increase to $2k.   Note:  given current wait times, it’s likely that won’t be an issue.

Edited January 18, 2023 by Jorgedig

[Steph & Sara 1]

43 minutes ago, mam521 said:

That's very lucky!  

 

Where in Canada are you guys?  There's a doctor in BC, a couple in ON and QC.  If you can get any missing vaccines done now under provincial health care, it's helpful.  

 

Once you're into your journey, you can check out the thread posted in my signature.  It follows Canadians who've completed the USCIS stage of the journey and are into the NVC portion.  There's a FAQ - that will also probably help you out.  Don't panic if it looks a bit scary.  Everything will come together in due time!

They live in Windsor, Ontario. I’ll check it out. Thanks!

[Steph & Sara 1]

22 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

The ROC fee, if your spouse ends up entering the states with the immigrant visa <2 years of marriage.     I believe it is set to increase to $2k.   Note:  given current wait times, it’s likely that won’t be an issue.

That’s after she has been here two years? Are you saying current wait times are more than 2 years because that’s not what I have seen?

[pushbrk 12,870]

7 minutes ago, Steph & Sara said:

That’s after she has been here two years? Are you saying current wait times are more than 2 years because that’s not what I have seen?

If she enters the USA with the spouse visa AFTER you've already been married two years, she will have no conditions to remove.  Yes, from Canada, the process is likely to take two years or more due to interview backlogs in Montreal.

[top_secret 2,403]

1 hour ago, Steph & Sara said:

USCIS $535 x 2

NVC $445 x 2

Medical fees $300 x 2

Green card fee $220 x 2

Total: $3000

 

 

Discount on "NVC fees".😁

Only one $120 AOS fee.

$325 X  2 IV fee.

 

 

 

[SalishSea 17,801]

6 hours ago, Steph & Sara said:

That’s after she has been here two years? Are you saying current wait times are more than 2 years because that’s not what I have seen?

From filing to POE, it is very, very unlikely that it will be <2 years.  That actually works to your advantage, since (as you've discovered in this thread) with a marriage of 2+ years in duration already, she will not have to remove conditions.  ROC is an arduous, long and expensive process.  Being in a position to avoid it is preferable.

 

You may want to devote some time to reading and educating yourselves about the process.  Being well prepared can save you time and money.

 

You can find out more about the large backlogs/administrative processing trends at the Montreal consulate by reading VJ's Canada forum.

 

Good luck.

[mam521 2,058]

15 hours ago, pushbrk said:

If she enters the USA with the spouse visa AFTER you've already been married two years, she will have no conditions to remove.  Yes, from Canada, the process is likely to take two years or more due to interview backlogs in Montreal.

Nope.  Montreal prioritized IR/CR's and cleared the backlog.  The delay now is on the USCIS end OR if Montreal decides to put someone in extended AP or hand them the DS-5535.  The mandamus lawsuits seem to be the only way the people stuck in DS-5535 purgatory get out.  

[pushbrk 12,870]

6 hours ago, mam521 said:

Nope.  Montreal prioritized IR/CR's and cleared the backlog.  The delay now is on the USCIS end OR if Montreal decides to put someone in extended AP or hand them the DS-5535.  The mandamus lawsuits seem to be the only way the people stuck in DS-5535 purgatory get out.  

We'll see.  What would you give as a timeline expectation for the OP, filing to interview?