How Much Does a K-1 Fiancé Visa Cost?
A K-1 fiancé visa involves several costs, including the government fee for the fiancé petition, the consular visa application fee, the medical exam abroad, and later the green card application after marriage, plus possible attorney fees, with the total varying and government fees changing over time. There is no single K-1 price, because the cost spans the petition stage, the consular stage, and the later adjustment of status, each with its own fees. Understanding the components lets you build an accurate budget once you confirm the current amounts, since specific figures can become outdated.
This guide breaks down the costs of a K-1 fiancé visa. It connects to our guides on the K-1 fiancé visa timeline و cost of a marriage green card.
Want a clear cost estimate for your K-1 fiancé visa? Atlas Legal can help. Contact our team.
نکات کلیدی
- There is no single K-1 fiancé visa price.
- Costs span the petition, the consular stage, and the later green card.
- The medical exam abroad is a separate out-of-pocket cost.
- Attorney fees and document costs can add to the total.
- Government fees change, so confirm current amounts.
What This Guide Covers
- The petition stage cost
- The consular stage cost
- The green card after marriage
- Other costs
- Confirming current fees
- Frequently asked questions
The Petition Stage Cost
The K-1 process begins when the U.S. citizen files the fiancé petition with USCIS, which has a government filing fee. This is the first cost of the process, and it applies regardless of who prepares the petition. It covers the adjudication of the petition establishing the fiancé relationship.
Because this is only the first stage, the petition fee is not the total cost of a K-1; it is one component. After the petition is approved, the case moves to the consular stage, which has its own separate fees. Our guide to the K-1 timeline explains how the stages progress.
The Consular Stage Cost
After the petition, the case proceeds toward the U.S. consulate abroad, where the fiancé applies for the K-1 visa. This stage involves the consular visa application fee and the immigration medical exam, which the fiancé completes with an authorized doctor abroad and pays directly to the provider.
| Cost component | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Fiancé petition fee | Filing the petition with USCIS |
| Consular visa application fee | Applying for the K-1 visa abroad |
| Medical exam | Required exam by an authorized doctor abroad |
| Green card application fee | After marriage, adjusting status in the U.S. |
The medical exam cost is set by the doctor and varies by location, and any required vaccinations are additional. These consular-stage costs are separate from the earlier petition fee.
Budgeting across the petition and consular stages? Ask Atlas Legal to map your costs.
The Green Card After Marriage
The K-1 gets the fiancé to the United States, but becoming a permanent resident involves a further step and further cost. After marrying within 90 days, the foreign spouse applies for a green card through adjustment of status, which has its own government fees and typically includes work and travel authorization requests.
So the full financial picture of a K-1 includes the eventual green card application, not just the fiancé visa itself. Planning for this later cost helps you budget for the whole journey to permanent residence. Our guide to the marriage green card cost covers that adjustment stage.
Other Costs
Beyond the core government fees and the medical exam, several other costs commonly arise. These can include translating documents into English, obtaining official records such as birth and police certificates, passport photos, travel to the consular interview, and shipping and copying. If you hire an attorney, professional fees are usually the largest optional cost and depend on the case and the attorney.
These extras vary based on your circumstances, such as how many documents you need translated and your travel needs. Accounting for them helps you avoid surprises and see the realistic total cost of the K-1 journey from petition to green card.
Confirming Current Fees
Government filing and visa fees are periodically adjusted, so any specific number can become outdated. The reliable approach is to check the current fees for the fiancé petition, the consular K-1 visa application, and the later green card application at the time you reach each stage. This ensures you budget accurately and pay the correct amounts.
Because the K-1 spans multiple agencies and stages, confirming the current fees for each is the best way to plan. Relying on old figures can lead to budgeting mistakes, so verifying the latest information before each step is the safest approach to managing your K-1 costs.
When to Work With an Immigration Attorney
K-1 costs span several stages and agencies. Legal help is valuable when you want an accurate estimate across the petition, consular, and green card stages, when you are deciding between the K-1 and a spouse visa, when your case has complications, or when you want a well-prepared petition to avoid costly delays. An attorney can help you understand the full cost and plan. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case.
سوالات متداول
How much does a K-1 fiancé visa cost?
There is no single price. A K-1 involves the government fee for the fiancé petition, the consular visa application fee, and the medical exam abroad, and later the green card application fee after marriage, plus possible attorney fees and document costs. The total spans the petition stage, the consular stage, and the eventual adjustment of status, each with its own fees. Because government fees change over time, you should confirm the current amounts for each stage when you reach it to budget accurately for the full K-1 journey.
What fees are part of the K-1 process?
The main fees include the fiancé petition filing fee paid to USCIS, the consular visa application fee for the K-1 visa abroad, and the immigration medical exam paid to an authorized doctor. After the fiancé enters and the couple marries, there is also the green card application fee for adjustment of status, which typically includes work and travel authorization requests. Optional costs include attorney fees, document translations, and obtaining records. The exact total depends on the current fees at each stage and your specific circumstances.
Do I pay for a medical exam for the K-1?
Yes. The immigration medical exam is generally required and is completed by a doctor authorized for immigration exams abroad, who sets their own price, so it is an out-of-pocket cost separate from government fees. Any required vaccinations are also paid to the provider. The cost varies by location and doctor. Because the medical exam is a standard part of the consular stage, you should budget for it in addition to the petition and visa fees, and confirm current requirements and pricing with an authorized provider before the appointment.
Does the K-1 cost include the green card?
The K-1 visa fees cover getting the fiancé to the United States, but becoming a permanent resident involves a further step and cost. After marrying within 90 days, the foreign spouse applies for a green card through adjustment of status, which has its own government fees. So the full cost of the K-1 journey includes the later green card application, not just the fiancé visa itself. Planning for this additional cost helps you budget for the whole path to permanent residence rather than only the initial visa stage.
Are there attorney fees for a K-1?
Attorney fees are optional, since you can file on your own, but many couples hire a lawyer, especially given the multiple stages and the importance of a well-prepared petition. When you do, attorney fees are usually the largest optional cost and depend on the complexity of the case and the attorney. They are separate from government fees, which are the same regardless of representation. Because the K-1 spans several stages and a strict post-entry deadline, many couples find professional guidance valuable for keeping the process on track.
What other costs should I budget for?
Beyond government fees and the medical exam, budget for document translations into English, obtaining official records such as birth and police certificates, passport photos, travel to the consular interview abroad, and copying and shipping. If you hire an attorney, include professional fees. These extras vary based on your circumstances, such as how many documents need translation and your travel needs. Accounting for them gives you a more realistic total for the K-1 journey from petition through the consular stage and the later green card application after marriage.
Why do K-1 fees change?
Government filing and visa fees are periodically reviewed and adjusted by the agencies that administer them, so any specific figure can become outdated. Because the K-1 spans multiple agencies and stages, from the USCIS petition to the consular visa to the later green card application, fees at each step can change independently. Relying on old numbers can lead to budgeting mistakes or paying an incorrect fee. The reliable approach is to check the current fees for each stage when you reach it, ensuring you pay the correct, up-to-date amounts.
Can I get a fee waiver for the K-1?
Fee waiver availability depends on the specific fee and stage, and not all fees are waivable. Some government fees may have waiver or reduced-fee options for those who qualify based on financial hardship, while others do not. Because fee waiver rules and eligibility can change and vary by form and stage, you should check the current requirements for the specific fees your case involves. If affordability is a concern, exploring whether any waivers apply to your situation is a worthwhile step before proceeding through the K-1 stages.
Bottom Line
A K-1 fiancé visa has no single price. Costs span the fiancé petition fee, the consular visa application fee, the medical exam abroad, and the later green card application after marriage, plus optional attorney and document costs. Government fees change, so confirm current amounts at each stage. Each case depends on its own facts.
If you want a K-1 fiancé visa cost estimate, Atlas Legal Immigration Law can help. Reach us at 1750 E Golf Rd Ste 214, Schaumburg, IL 60173, call (+1) 872 382 2762, or email info@theatlaslegal.com. Learn more on our services page.
Reviewed by the Atlas Legal Immigration Law editorial team. Last reviewed on July 29, 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiancé (K-1)
- U.S. Department of State, Fees for Visa Services
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws, government fees, policies, and processing times may change. Reading this article or contacting Atlas Legal does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any immigration matter depends on its individual facts and circumstances.
