How Much Does a K-1 Visa Cost?
Complete Guide to K-1 Visa Costs (2025): Filing Fees, Additional Expenses
Planning to marry your fiancé(e) from another country? The K-1 fiancé visa allows them to enter the United States for marriage and subsequent green card application. This outlines all the costs associated with the K-1 visa process in 2025, including government fees and other expenses, so you know what to expect.
K-1 Visa Cost
The mandatory government filing fee to get a K-1 visa in 2025 is $940 or $2380 for the K-1 visa and the “Adjustment of Status” form required to transfer from a K-1 visa to a marriage green card after arriving in the United States. This does not include the typical cost of the required medical exam, which varies by provider.
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Detailed Government Fee Breakdown
The following chart breaks down the fees you pay directly to the government — in most cases, that’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
| Fee type | Cost |
| K-1 visa petition (Form I-129F) | $675 |
| U.S. State Department processing (Form DS-160) | $265 |
| Medical examination | *Varies |
| Adjustment of status form (Form I-485) | $1440 |
*The typical cost for a medical exam is around $200, but this amount can vary significantly by provider. Boundless customers have reported prices ranging from $100 to $500. Our detailed guide to preparing for the medical exam has more information.
Additional Required Expenses
When budgeting for your K-1 visa application, consider these necessary additional costs:
- Document Preparation
- Translation services: $20-$40 per page for certified translations of non-English documents
- Official document fees: Varies by country for birth certificates, police certificates, and other required documents.
- Professional passport-style photos: $10-$20 per set
- Travel and Administrative Expenses
- Transportation to the medical exam
- Travel to U.S. embassy or consulate for the K-1 visa interview
- Shipping and postage fees for application materials
- Vaccination updates if required (costs vary by type and provider)
Modern Relationship Costs
In today’s digital world, couples often meet online and maintain long-distance relationships before pursuing a K-1 visa. This can create additional costs that should be factored into your overall budget:
Technology and Communication
- International phone plans or SIM cards: $30-100 Monthly
- High-speed internet for video calls: $40-80 Monthly
- Premium subscriptions for international messaging apps: $5-15 Monthly
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) services for restricted countries: $5-12 Monthly
- International calling cards or phone credits: Varies by country
Meeting Requirements
The K-1 visa requires couples to have met in person within the past two years. In the post-pandemic world, this often involves:
- Multiple round-trip flights: $600-2,000 per trip
- Travel insurance with COVID coverage: $50-200 per trip
- PCR or antigen tests, if required: $50-300 per test
- Quarantine hotel costs, if required: $500-1,500
- Travel visa fees for meeting in third countries: $20-200
Digital Documentation
- Electronic notarization services: $25-50 per document
- Cloud storage for relationship evidence: $2-10 Monthly
- Digital backup services: $5-15 Monthly
- Professional scanning services for paper documents: $0.10-0.50 per page
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Remote Relationship Management
Managing a long-distance relationship while navigating the K-1 visa process requires careful planning and organization. Below are some tips to make the application process easier when the time comes.
Digital Organization
- Create shared digital folders for document collection
- Maintain a detailed timeline of your relationship with supporting evidence
- Keep records of all video calls, messages, and virtual interactions
- Document all travel and meeting expenses for potential visa interview questions
- Store copies of all digital communication in multiple secure locations
Meeting Planning Strategies
- Consider meeting in countries that are cost-effective for both parties
- Look for multi-city flight deals that can accommodate visa requirements
- Research countries with flexible visa policies for both partners
- Plan meetings around major holidays to maximize vacation time
- Consider travel insurance that covers visa denial and COVID-related cancellations
K1 Visa Cost-Saving Tips
- File online when possible to receive the $50 USCIS discount
- Compare medical examination providers in your area to find competitive pricing
- Plan ahead for document gathering to avoid rush fees
- Consider using professional passport photo services at retail stores for more affordable rates
- Keep copies of all receipts for your records and potential tax purposes
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Timeline and Planning
The K-1 visa process typically takes 6-9 months from initial filing to visa approval. Consider spreading out the costs by:
- Paying the I-129F filing fee first ($675)
- Saving for the medical exam while the I-129F is processing
- Preparing for the DS-160 fee ($265) and embassy interview expenses
- Planning for the adjustment of status fees ($1440) after arriving in the United States
Planning for the Future
Beyond the immediate visa costs, couples should consider also these long-term financial aspects:
Post-Arrival Expenses
- Initial housing setup costs: $2,000-5,000
- Emergency fund for unexpected delays: $3,000-5,000
- Health insurance coverage gap: $200-500 monthly
- Professional wardrobe for job hunting: $500-1,000
- Initial transportation needs: $500-3,000
Wedding Planning
- Marriage license fees: $25-100
- Simple ceremony costs: $100-500
- Required marriage documentation: $25-50
- Certified marriage certificate copies: $10-30 each
Important Considerations
- You must marry within 90 days of entering the United States on a K-1 visa
- All fees are subject to change and should be verified on the USCIS website
- Fee waivers are generally not available for K-1 visa applications
- Keep additional funds available for unexpected expenses or document requests