The K-1 lets a US citizen bring a foreign fiancé(e) to the US to marry within 90 days, then adjust to a green card. The costs come in stages across three agencies, which makes them hard to add up. Here's the full 2026 picture — and the parts that are genuinely free if you file them the right way.
Step 1 — the petition: Form I-129F ($675)
The US-citizen partner starts by filing Form I-129F with USCIS to petition for the fiancé(e). It's $675 on paper, or $625 if you file online where that's offered. This is what opens the case.
Step 2 — the visa: DS-160 / K-visa fee ($265)
Once the petition is approved and sent to the consulate, the fiancé(e) applies for the actual K-1 visa. The consular application fee (the MRV, paid with the DS-160) for a K visa is $265.
Step 3 — the medical exam (varies)
Every K-1 applicant needs a medical exam by an authorized panel physician in their country. There's no fixed government fee — it's set by the clinic and varies widely by country, commonly a few hundred dollars, sometimes more with required vaccines. Budget for it but expect it to differ from anyone else's number.
Step 4 — the green card: Form I-485 ($1,440)
After the wedding (within 90 days of entry), the fiancé(e) files Form I-485 to adjust status to permanent resident. It's $1,440 for applicants aged 14–78 ($950 under 14). Importantly, the old $85 biometrics fee is now bundled in — there's no separate biometrics charge under the current fee rule.
The free part most people miss: when you file the I-765 work permit and I-131 travel document together with the I-485, they cost nothing extra. The I-864 Affidavit of Support also has no fee on an adjustment case. Filed separately, the I-765 and I-131 would run hundreds of dollars each — so file them concurrently.
The total
Adding the core government fees: $675 + $265 + $1,440 = $2,380. With a typical medical exam, most couples land around $2,580–$2,900 all-in. Two things to keep separate: the $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee does not apply to K-1 (that's for people entering on an immigrant visa, not adjusting inside the US), and attorney fees — if you use a lawyer — are extra, typically $1,500–$4,000+.
Calculate your K-1 cost →
Free calculator: pick your options and get the itemized government total, with the free items flagged.
Frequently asked questions
Is the K-1 cheaper than a marriage (CR-1) visa?
They're close on government fees, but the paths differ: K-1 marries in the US then adjusts (I-485); CR-1 marries abroad and enters with the green card. Costs and timelines vary — compare both if you have the choice.
Why is the medical exam not a fixed number?
It's charged by the panel physician, not the government, and prices differ by country and by which vaccines you need. Ask the specific clinic for their current fee.
Do fees change?
Yes — USCIS fees change under fee rules (the current amounts date to the 2024 rule). Always re-check the USCIS fee schedule right before you file.
Sources
Based on the USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055): I-129F $675 (or $625 online), I-485 $1,440 for ages 14–78 with biometrics included; the USCIS I-485 page (no additional fee for concurrently filed I-765 and I-131); and the US State Department visa-fee schedule (K-visa MRV $265; medical exam varies by post). Attorney fees and the K-1-inapplicable $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee are excluded.
✅ Verified as of July 19, 2026 — USCIS G-1055; uscis.gov/i-485; travel.state.gov visa fees. Re-verify before filing · Educational, not legal advice.
Sources: USCIS — Fee schedule · USCIS — I-485 · US State Dept — Visa fees