How much does a K-1 fiancé visa cost in total?
A K-1 fiancé visa costs $940 in government fees to get the visa itself, $3,270 through the green card, and about $6,800 once you add a typical lawyer, the medical exam and translations.
The fees fall in four steps over roughly 15 months: the I-129F petition on day one, the consular fee before her interview, the I-485 adjustment of status after the wedding, and the I-751 two years later. Pages quoting $940 or $2,380 aren't wrong; they stop earlier. The largest single payment is the $1,440 I-485, filed inside the 90 days after she arrives.
USCIS and Department of State fee schedules, 2026 · US petitioner, one applicant, no children
Facts to plan around
- $940Government fees to the visa in her passport: I-129F $675 plus the $265 consular fee
- $3,270Through the conditional green card, with the optional I-765 and I-131 filed alongside I-485
- 90 daysThe window after her entry in which you must marry and file the I-485
- 15 monthsTypical time from filing the I-129F to the green card in hand
- 2 yearsYou must have met in person within the 2 years before filing; the visa cannot be granted otherwise
K-1 visa cost breakdown, fee by fee
Four of these are unavoidable; the work and travel permits are optional and most couples skip one of them.
| Form / fee | Amount | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129F petition (USCIS) | $675 | Day one, filed with USCIS; not refunded if the petition is denied. |
| DS-160 K visa application fee (State Dept) | $265 | After the petition reaches the embassy, about month 8; paid before the interview is scheduled. |
| Form I-485 adjustment of status (after marriage) | $1,440 | After the wedding, inside the 90 days following her entry; includes biometrics. |
| Form I-765 work permit (with I-485) | $260 | Optional, filed with the I-485; the green card often arrives before the permit would have been useful. |
| Form I-131 travel document (with I-485) | $630 | Optional, filed with the I-485; without it she cannot leave the US while the I-485 is pending. |
| Form I-751 remove conditions (2 years later) | $750 | Two years after the green card, in the 90 days before it expires; filed jointly. |
| Total government fees | $4,020 | $3,270 through the green card; $4,020 including I-751 two years later |
Form I-129F, the filing fee
Day oneYou file it as the US citizen; she does nothing at this stage beyond signing a statement of intent to marry. Include proof you met in person within the last two years. USCIS processing runs six to nine months, and the $675 is not returned if the petition is denied.
DS-160, the visa application fee
About month 8Once the approved petition reaches the embassy, she completes the DS-160 online and pays the $265 at a designated bank. The interview is scheduled after payment. For Ukrainian and Russian applicants the post is Warsaw or another third-country embassy, not their home city.
The medical exam
Before the interviewA panel physician approved by the embassy performs it; the fee is $200 to $700 depending on the country and on which vaccines her record is missing. Bring the vaccination history; each missing shot is charged on top.
Form I-485, adjustment of status
After the weddingThe largest single payment. It moves her from K-1 status to a two-year conditional green card and can only be filed after you marry inside the 90-day window. Biometrics are included in the $1,440; the online filing is $50 cheaper.
Forms I-765 and I-131
With the I-485The work permit and the travel document. Many couples skip the $260 permit because the green card lands first; few skip the $630 travel document, because leaving the US while the I-485 is pending abandons the application.
Form I-751, removing conditions
Two years laterThe only fee that lands after the period most calculators cover. Filed jointly in the 90 days before the conditional card expires, $750, and it turns the two-year card into a ten-year one.
What the K-1 visa fees leave out
- Certified translations of her documents, $35 a page, about 6 pages$150–350
- Travel to the interview city, including one hotel night$150–400
- Immigration lawyer, flat fee for the K-1 and the I-485$1,500–$7,000
- Vaccines missing from her record$100–400
- Courier and document shipping$60–120
K-1 or CR-1, which is cheaper
CR-1 costs $1,900 less in fees and she can work on arrival, but you marry abroad first and wait about four months longer.
| K-1 fiancé | CR-1 spouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Government fees | $3,270 through the green card | $1,355 through the green card |
| Time to her arrival | 12 to 20 months; green card 6 or more months after | 12 to 24 months; green card on arrival |
| Work permit | After the I-485, or with a $260 I-765 | Immediately on arrival |
| When it makes sense | You want her in the US before the wedding | You can marry abroad first and wait |
Add this to your full budget
The K-1 fees are 13% of a typical $27,800 path. See the other 87% for your country and timeline.
Questions people ask about K-1 fees
How much does a K-1 visa cost in total?
$940 in government fees to get the visa, $3,270 through the green card, $4,020 once conditions are removed two years later. With a typical lawyer at $3,500, the medical exam and translations, most couples spend $6,000 to $8,000 end to end on paperwork.
How much is the K-1 visa fee?
The visa fee itself is $265, paid by her before the embassy interview. It sits on top of the $675 I-129F petition fee you pay to USCIS on day one, which is why the figure for getting the visa is $940. Neither fee is refundable.
How much money do you need to make to sponsor a K-1 visa?
At the interview you sign an I-134 showing income at 100% of the federal poverty guideline for your household size, about $21,000 a year for a couple in 2026. At the I-485 stage the I-864 raises the bar to 125%, about $26,000, and assets or a joint sponsor can fill a gap.
What is the 2 year rule for a K-1 visa?
You must have met your fiancée in person at least once within the 2 years before you file the I-129F. Video calls do not count. A waiver exists for extreme hardship or established cultural practice, but it is rarely granted, so budget for at least one trip before filing; $4,200 covers two in the typical scenario.
Is a lawyer required for a K-1?
No. Straightforward cases are routinely filed without one. A lawyer costs $1,500 to $7,000 for the petition through the I-485 and makes sense with prior visa denials, a criminal record on either side, or a previous K-1 petition, since a second one needs a waiver.
Is CR-1 cheaper than K-1?
Yes, by about $1,900 in government fees, $1,355 against $3,270, and she arrives with a green card and can work from day one. The trade is time and sequence: you marry abroad first and wait roughly four months longer for her to arrive.
Sources and date
Every figure on this page was checked against the source on the date shown.
- USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055 ↗Checked Sep 11, 2026
- Department of State, visa fees ↗Checked Sep 11, 2026
- USCIS Immigrant Fee ↗Checked Sep 11, 2026
- USCIS, Form I-485 ↗Checked Sep 11, 2026