A common question that potential clients routinely ask me is this: How much does the marriage visa process cost.
It is a good question – and any competent marriage visa lawyer should be able to tell you the costs. However, I find that many potential clients do not realize that the government filing fees are not the only costs in the process. On the other hand, some potential clients over estimate how much they will be required to pay.
Hopefully the following clearly explains the costs – if not, please do not hesitate to contact this NYC marriage visa attorney for further explanation.
For this blog post, I will only discuss the costs if someone is inside the United States. Part II of the Marriage Visa Process Costs Series will discuss the costs outside the United States.
Marriage Visa Costs If Inside the United States
Often, if a couple marries and the foreign national spouse is in the United States, it is possible to “adjust status” to a green card holder without leaving the United States. If eligible, the process costs include:
Government Filing Fees
$420 for the Marriage Visa Petition
$985 for the Adjustment of Status Petition
$85 for the Biometrics Interview
$0 for the Employment Authorization Petition
$0 for the Advance Parole Petition
Total Government Fees: $1490
Unfortunately, this entire amount, must be paid to the Government at the time that the application is submitted.
Medical Examination Fee
Almost all Marriage Visa applicants who are seeking to adjust status must obtain a medical physical from a USCIS approved medical physician. Although the cost charged by the physicians vary, it is generally costs around $200 t0 $300 – but check around – there may be better deals out their for immigration required medical examinations.
Total Medical Examination Fees: $200-300 (varies)
Marriage Visa Legal Fees
This fee varies from attorney to attorney and law firm to law firm. I believe that most attorneys offer their marriage visa services on a flat fee basis, and that most attorneys have comparable rates.
Most important when dealing with a marriage visa attorney is to make sure he or she is:
- Able and willing to do the process quickly,
- Competent in spotting issues and handling Marriage Visa petitions, and
- Willing to quickly answer your questions and explain the situation to you.
For more information, please contact this New York City Marriage Visa attorney.