K-1 fiancé visa cost calculator
Bringing your fiancé(e) to the US on a K-1 visa means a chain of government fees — the petition, the visa, the medical exam, and then the green card after you marry. The numbers are scattered across three agencies. This adds up the real government cost for 2026, and flags what's genuinely free (the work permit and travel document, when you file them right).
Your K-1 path
Fee breakdown
Worked examples
US citizen bringing Mexican fiancée all the way to residency
Estimated total cost: $2,710
Your K-1 through the green card comes to about $2,710 — $2,330 in government fees plus your $380 medical exam.
✓ These are US government fees only. The work permit, travel document, and affidavit of support are free when filed with the green-card application — a real saving many people don't realize.
Fee breakdown
- Form I-129F (petition): $625 (online)
- K-visa application (DS-160 / MRV): $265
- Form I-485 (green card, biometrics included): $1,440 (ages 14–78)
- Form I-765 work permit + I-131 travel doc: $0 — free filed with I-485
- Form I-864 Affidavit of Support: $0 — no fee on adjustment
- Government fees subtotal: $2,330
- Medical exam (varies by country): $380
Budgeting only the K-1 visa step, paper filing
Estimated total cost: $1,465
Your K-1 visa step comes to about $1,465 — $940 in government fees plus your $525 medical exam.
✓ These are US government fees only. The work permit, travel document, and affidavit of support are free when filed with the green-card application — a real saving many people don't realize.
Fee breakdown
- Form I-129F (petition): $675 (paper)
- K-visa application (DS-160 / MRV): $265
- Green-card step (I-485): Not included — add later for the full path
- Government fees subtotal: $940
- Medical exam (varies by country): $525
Fiancée's 11-year-old child adjusting status too
Estimated total cost: $1,840
Your K-1 through the green card comes to about $1,840 — $1,840 in government fees plus the medical exam (varies by country).
✓ These are US government fees only. The work permit, travel document, and affidavit of support are free when filed with the green-card application — a real saving many people don't realize.
Fee breakdown
- Form I-129F (petition): $625 (online)
- K-visa application (DS-160 / MRV): $265
- Form I-485 (green card, biometrics included): $950 (under 14)
- Form I-765 work permit + I-131 travel doc: $0 — free filed with I-485
- Form I-864 Affidavit of Support: $0 — no fee on adjustment
- Government fees subtotal: $1,840
- Medical exam (varies by country): Not entered — commonly $200–$500+
Examples are recomputed whenever the underlying rates or data change; the date above is the last recompute.
What the K-1 process costs & data sources
The K-1 path has three government fees and one variable cost. Form I-129F (the petition you file first) is $675 on paper, or $625 if you file online where available. The K-visa application fee (the MRV paid at the consulate with the DS-160) is $265. The medical exam by an authorized panel physician has no fixed government fee — it varies by country, commonly a few hundred dollars. After you marry (within 90 days), the fiancé(e) files Form I-485 to get the green card: $1,440 for ages 14–78 (or $950 under 14), and the old $85 biometrics fee is now included, not separate.
What's free is worth knowing: when filed together with the I-485, the I-765 work permit and I-131 travel document carry no extra fee, and the I-864 Affidavit of Support has no fee on an adjustment-of-status case. So the core government total for the full path is about $2,380, and with a typical medical exam roughly $2,580–$2,900. Attorney fees (optional) and incidental costs (photos, translations, shipping, travel) are separate and not included.
Sources: USCIS — Fee schedule (G-1055) · USCIS — I-485 (free concurrent I-765/I-131) · US State Dept — Visa fees ($265)
Frequently asked questions
Is $2,380 really the whole government cost?
For the standard adult path, yes — I-129F ($675) + K-visa ($265) + I-485 ($1,440). The medical exam is the main add-on and it varies by country. Attorney fees, if you hire one, are separate ($1,500–$4,000+ typically).
Do I pay the $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee?
No — that fee is for people who get an immigrant visa abroad and enter the US on it. A K-1 fiancé enters on the K-1 and then adjusts status with I-485 inside the US, so the Immigrant Fee doesn't apply.
Can my fiancé(e) work while waiting for the green card?
Yes — filing the I-765 work permit with the I-485 costs nothing extra, and once approved it authorizes work while the green card is pending.
What if we don't marry within 90 days?
The K-1 requires marriage within 90 days of entry. If that doesn't happen, the fiancé(e) must leave the US — a different and costlier situation. Plan the timeline before filing.