What Marriage Visa Should you
Petition for?
Should you marry
overseas, or not?
Until recently the
visa
petition process for married couples was much slower than that for
engaged couples. Now the processing times are roughly
equivalent,
so the decision to marry overseas should be made based upon what the
couple wants to do, not based upon which visa might process the
fastest. Married or engaged, average time for approval of a
well prepared visa petition is about 7 to 8 months from the
day you submit the petition. (updated March 15,
2010)
| For Single/Engaged |
For married couples
You can Choose between a K-3
Spousal Visa, or a CR-1 Visa
Previously
the CR-1 Visa was much slower than the K-3 making the K-3 the popular
choice. This
has recently changed. Currently the processing times are roughly
equivalent, making the CR-1 visa which includes a green
card and is roughly $600 less expensive the new popular choice.
The
K-3 is attractive if it's multiple entry features allowing your alien
spouse two years to come and go to the USA before taking up permanent
residency and
applying for a Green Card is preferred. |
| K-1 Fiancee Visa |
K-3 Spousal Visa |
CR-1 Spousal Visa |
Uses I-129F Petition
USCIS Filing
Fee: $455
Overseas
Medical: $200
Consulate
Visa Fee: $350
Single entry
visa to start travel to USA within 6 months of issuance. Valid for 90
day stay in USA
to marry, and apply for Green Card.
Dependent
Children can be included at the same time. This is a K-2 (Dependent
Visa)
USCIS Filing Fee: $0
Overseas Medical: $200
Consulate Visa Fee: $350
Adjustment
of Status (Green Card), 1-485 Petition
After
marriage in the USA, you apply for permanent residency (Green Card) for
your new spouse.
USCIS Filing
Fee: $930
USCIS
Biometrics: $80
Dependent
Children can be included at the same time.
USCIS Filing Fee: $600
USCIS Biometrics: $0 |
Uses I-130 PLUS I-129F Petitions
Filing Fee:
$ 355
Medical:
$ 200
Visa
Fee: $350
Multiple
entry visa, valid for 2 years. Before visa expires alien spouse should
take up
permanent residence in USA and apply for Green Card.
Dependent
Children can be included at the same time. This is a K-4 (Dependent
Visa)
Filing Fee:
$ 0
Medical:
$200
Visa
Fee: $350
Adjustment
of Status (Green Card), 1-485 Petition
After
marriage in the USA, you apply for permanent residency (Green Card) for
your new spouse.
Filing
Fee: $930
Biometrics:
$80
Dependent
Children can be included at the same time.
Filing
Fee: $600
Biometrics:
$0 |
CR-1 Spousal Visa (If
marriage is less than 2 years old, if older it is called IR-1 Visa),
I-130 Petition
Uses I-130 Petition
Includes
Permanent residency (Green Card) for your new spouse.
USCIS Filing
Fee: $355
NVC
Affidavit of Support Fee: $70
NVC
Immigrant Visa Processing Fee: $400
Medical:
$200
Dependents
USCIS Filing
Fee: $355
NVC
Affidavit of Support Fee: $70
NVC
Immigrant Visa Processing Fee: $400
Medical:
$200 |
Total
Cost Including
Green Card |
Total
Cost Including
Green Card |
Total
Cost Including
Green Card |
| Spouse |
$2,015 |
| Child |
$1,150 |
|
| Spouse |
$1,915 |
| Child |
$1,150 |
|
| Spouse |
$1,047 |
| Child |
$1,047 |
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Fiancee Visa Secrets
Newsletter
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| Free
Fiancee visa tips and news for those going through Fiancee Visa
application to USCIS. Your privacy is guaranteed. |
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Doing
it Yourself ? Try this expert tip.
Expert Tip # 6
Request the consulate to open a “Provisional File”. Once USCIS completes its review of your I-129F, it will send you a notice, I-797C advising the application is approved, then hand off the file to the U.S. State Department to be sent to the overseas consulate that handles the region where your Fiancee is. Typically about a month will go by before the consulate receives the file, and can take action to contact your Fiancee and send her Packet 3. The I-797C that you receive will confirm which consulate the file is being sent to. Contact the consulate immediately via phone or fax and ask if they can open a “Provisional File”. If that consulate allows them to open such a file, then send them a fax requesting this, along with a copy of the I-797C that you received. The consulate will not schedule an interview with your Fiancee until the actual file has arrived, but can send the Packet 3 to your Fiancee for her to respond to.

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