Immigration Lawyer Cost Item Average Cost 30-min Consultation $75 – $150 Hourly Rate $150 – $300 Form Filing Assistance $250 – $800 Green Card Assistance $800 – $5,000 1 more rows ...
Here’s how to spot a good versus not-so-good lawyer… . If he/she comes out, shakes your hand, and sits you down to a nice conversation on your fiance visa case, gives you references to past successful cases, then you have a good candidate. Good lawyers also answer emails, phone calls, and general questions without charging by the minute.
The fiance visa approval is serious to your future. Make sure you place your case in good hands. But if you’re not satisfied with the help that’s out there, take the helm and do your own research. Do not rely on any professional to deliver you a miracle.
If you use an immigration attorney for your Fiance K-1 visa case, make sure he/she’s got a good track record. You probably know my story. How I knew next to nothing about the fiance visa when I first began.
An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.
Fiancé or K-1 visa cost: $2,025 The U.S. citizen partner completes the appropriate government form (I-129F – “petition for a K-1 Visa”), and mails it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the $535 filing fee.
The total cost for a K-1 visa is roughly $1000. Here is a breakdown of K-1 visa costs: The government's required fee for Form I-129F is $535. An applicant may pay with a money order, cashier's check, or personal check.
The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $22,887. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.
All About the K-1 Visa | Fiance Visa | 90 Day Visa It costs $535. The medical examination, which costs around $200, but the price may change depending on the medical service center. The actual K-1 visa application. It costs $265.
6 to 9 monthsThe exact K-1 fiancé processing times can vary, but many applicants are able to enter the United States within 6 to 9 months. There are multiple steps and the process is handled by multiple agencies from (USCIS) to the National Visa Center to the U.S. Department of State.
While the K1 visa application may be difficult, the overall process and approval can be made faster and easier with the assistance of a capable legal representative.
approximately 8 to 11 monthsK-1 Visa Processing Time Summary After filing Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, it may take approximately 8 to 11 months to obtain a K-1 visa. It may be shorter for some and longer for others. As explained, the K-1 processing time can vary based on the agencies that adjudicate the many steps.
between 15 and 20 minutesK1 Visa Interview Format In essence, the interview should last something between 15 and 20 minutes. It will involve you, your fiancé, your relationship, and your plans.
For example, in 2021, a sponsor in the U.S. mainland would need to have income (or assets) of at least $33,125 to cover a petitioner who lives alone and is sponsoring one immigrant and two children (that is, a total of four people).
If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the K-1 visa is most likely the fast path. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.
As of February 2021, the cost of applying for a marriage-based green card in the United States is $1760.
In most cases, an immigration attorney will charge an hourly rate of $150 to $300 per hour, whereas others will charge a set fee for the entire process. For basic immigration form filing, you can expect to pay around $250 to $1,200 in fees. Immigration attorney fees significantly range, depending on the types of services ...
An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.
Green Card lawyer fees range from $795 to $2,900 depending on your situation. Green Card lawyer fees for a sibling or parent of a U.S. Citizen is around $795. An employee sponsored labor certification costs $2,000 in attorney fees, $700 in USCIS filing fees, and takes 2 to 3 years to process.
Unlike the average citizen with no experience, an immigration lawyer will know exactly which forms to file and when. Also, the level of advice you'll receive is often invaluable, especially when you need to prepare for an interview or court date.
Attorney fees for filing a K-1 Visa Petition for the fiance of a U.S. Citizen is around $725 with the USCIS fees costing $535. Typical processing time is 7 to 10 months.
The K-1 fiancé (e) visa is a nonimmigrant classification of marriage-based visa that is designed for the foreign-born fiancé (e)s of U.S. citizens. It gives those foreign fiancé (e)s the opportunity to come to the U.S. with the intention of marrying their U.S. citizen fiancé (e)s who are sponsoring their visas.
Definition of a Fiancé (e) According to the regulations set by United States immigration law, the official definition of a fiancé (e) is anyone who receives an I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé (e) that has been approved.
citizen lives. It is important to note that the I-129F cannot be submitted to a U.S. embassy, consulate, or overseas USCIS office.
The foreign fiancé (e) ’s birth certificate. Divorce and/or death certificates from any prior marriages for both the foreign citizen fiancé (e) and the sponsoring U.S. citizen. The police certificate from the country in which the foreign-born fiancé (e) currently resides.
K-1 (foreign fiancé (e)s) holders should adjust their statuses as soon as they marry their U.S. citizen fiancé (e). K-2 holders (children of foreign fiancé (e)s) should adjust their statuses at the same time as their K-1 parent. K-3 holders (foreign spouses) can adjust their statuses as soon as they enter the U.S.
Here’s the process: Take your marriage certificate with you to the SS office to prove your new married name. If you happen to be making a name change after the marriage is finalized, go to the SS office with your marriage certificate to file for a name change.
Thanks to the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act (or LIFE Act), nonimmigrants from all four K visas can apply to have their statuses adjusted to green card status.
Immigration cases are complex. There are layers of complicated rules, laws, and regulations you need to navigate to get a successful outcome. Some cases are simple and don’t need special assistance.
There are a lot of resources and information on immigration available online. So, it might seem unnecessary to pay a high price for an immigration lawyer when all these resources are free. The reality is, however, the immigration process is complex, and there is usually a lot at stake.
There is a whole host of factors that will influence the cost of an immigration lawyer. Generally, however, the following factors will affect the price you are charged:
As we’ve explained above, there is a whole range of factors that will influence the actual cost of an immigration lawyer. What we can do, however, is look at what the average costs are for different types of visas.
Now you no longer have to wonder how much does an immigration lawyer cost. These legal fees can seem very expensive. But it may save you time and money in the long run. It could also be the difference between a successful application and a possible denial (or worse – deportation!).
Our estimate of the total fiance visa cost is $2,025. Below you can find a detailed breakdown of the various fiance visa fees and additional expenses that add up to the final fiance visa USA cost.
When you are applying for a fiance visa, you will have to submit several forms, each of which comes with a fiance visa fee. For additional information regarding the purpose and contents of these forms, as well as the documents you have to submit for a fiance visa, please refer to our fiance visa process guide and our fiance visa documents guide.
Most of the fiance visa application cost comes from the fiance visa fees that you will have to pay at various stages of your application. There are, however, some additional fiance visa applications costs that we have broken down for you below.
Each child will have to file Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, along with the filing fee of $265, and will have to undergo a medical exam. The I-485 fee for children is reduced to $750.
The total fiance visa cost comes up to around $2,000, compared to the cost of a marriage-based fiance visa, which is roughly around $1,400. One of the main differences between the cost of a fiance visa and that of a marriage-based immigrant visa is the cost of the fiance visa fee paid when applying for adjustment of status.
Are you a US citizen who would like to sponsor your foreign national fiance for a US visa? Are you a foreign national engaged to a US citizen who needs help applying for a K-1 visa?
Disclaimer: This blog article is provided by Pandev Law, LLC for general educational and informational purposes only. Although this article discusses general legal issues, it does not constitute legal advice nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship.
The top 4 questions we all have regarding hiring lawyers, filing services or an expert:
I have to admit: lawyers are good. They’re professionals who know a thing or two about immigration. They oversee your case and help if you have questions. And they’re allowed to do almost everything on your behalf in your fiance K-1 visa process, such as…
Even if lawyers effectively “replace you” in paperwork, there’s still a huge list of things that they can’t do. Here are a few….
If you decide to go with an attorney make sure he/she is experienced and willing to work with you. Here’s how to spot a good versus not-so-good lawyer…
It depends. If you have the right mix of the following things, you may need one:
Immigration lawyers typically charge between $100 and $250 for a detailed consultation and many credit this to legal fees should you choose to hire them. Many also offer introductory calls at no cost – these are not meant to be detailed consultations, but an opportunity to share some context, get to know the lawyer and decide if you want to work with them. You’ll find many lawyers that specialize in removal / deportation cases do not charge any consultation fees at all.
However, a lawyer in California may have more exposure to the immigration issue you are facing. It is important to balance cost and experience.
If you are here unlawfully, an attorney can help you figure out if there is a path to legal status. If you’ve had any brush ups with the law, even if you weren’t convicted, you might be at risk for deportation. These are just a few scenarios in which the advice of an immigration lawyer is crucial.
Note: If you come across a “notario” or immigration “consultant”, they are not lawyers and are not licensed to practice immigration law. Be very careful who you trust with your immigration needs. Navigating U.S. immigration is incredibly time consuming and complex.
Government filing fees are not optional (unless you qualify for a fee waiver. Whether you work with an attorney or file your paperwork yourself, you will incur these costs and they can be quite steep. Thousands of people immigrate to the U.S. each year without the help of an immigration lawyer.