New fees- ouch!

[DougM 0]

The higher consulate fees are really going to hurt because my fiancee has 3 three children coming with her also. The cost of this process (K1) for us just got higher by $876. I've been looking all morning but can't find an answer to my question. Did other fees go up as well? Specifically I'm wondering about the fees to adjust status once she's here and we are married. For us, any increase is multiplied times 4!!! We may end up broke after all of this but at least we'll finally be together!

[Indy90 21]

The higher consulate fees are really going to hurt because my fiancee has 3 three children coming with her also. The cost of this process (K1) for us just got higher by $876. I've been looking all morning but can't find an answer to my question. Did other fees go up as well? Specifically I'm wondering about the fees to adjust status once she's here and we are married. For us, any increase is multiplied times 4!!! We may end up broke after all of this but at least we'll finally be together!

Are the fees in anyway based on how much it actually costs to process things or just randomly set with the idea to make as much money as possible?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Values (for VJ-related forms only):

• I-129F $455 (unless K-3)
• I-130 $355
• I-131 $385 (incl biometrics $80)
• I-485 $930
• I-751 $465
• I-765 $340

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b1ae408b1c4b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b1ae408b1c4b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

Are the fees in anyway based on how much it actually costs to process things or just randomly set with the idea to make as much money as possible?

Answer: it is a "safe" revenue-raiser for budget-planning (but the fees are NOT randomly raised, nor does it actually have to do with actual costs--other than those foisted on payER).

[Sprailenes 47]

BUT...

the look on their face when you say "I do"... priceless.

[Arabella 4]

Values (for VJ-related forms only):

• I-129F $455 (unless K-3)
• I-130 $355
• I-131 $385 (incl biometrics $80)
• I-485 $930
• I-751 $465
• I-765 $340

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b1ae408b1c4b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b1ae408b1c4b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

Answer: it is a "safe" revenue-raiser for budget-planning (but the fees are NOT randomly raised, nor does it actually have to do with actual costs--other than those foisted on payER).

AOS is really a total $1010 because you file for the I-131, I-485 and I-765 together for $1010 (also includes biometrics). The separate fees are only if you file each application separately (I think).

[lilacvioletiris 11]

The higher consulate fees are really going to hurt because my fiancee has 3 three children coming with her also. The cost of this process (K1) for us just got higher by $876. I've been looking all morning but can't find an answer to my question. Did other fees go up as well? Specifically I'm wondering about the fees to adjust status once she's here and we are married. For us, any increase is multiplied times 4!!! We may end up broke after all of this but at least we'll finally be together!

The Machine Readable Visa fee for K-1 is going up to $350 on June 4. The other visa application fees (paid to the Department of Homeland Security) that were listed above I believe have not changed.

Check out the link for MRV fee increases and border crossing card fee increases.

I don't believe AOS fees have changed but $1010 is still a chunk of change. Fee for a child under 14 filing with a parent is $600. Check out this USCIS link for more information.

So I guess the age of the children involved will determine if you pay upto $4040 to adjust the status of your family (once they get here with 4 times $350 for the machine readable visa for K-1 and K-2).

[ashenflowers 5]

From what I've seen, adjusting status will not change. Only the initial visas. I'm sorry they went up so much.

[DougM 0]

A big "thank you" to each of you who responded. I have read SO much about this process and have saved SO many links that I just couldn't seem to remember where to find the info I was looking for.

Add me the the list of people who feel this process is excessively complicated and ridiculously expensive (times 4).

[Saddle Bronc 124]

AOS is really a total $1010 because you file for the I-131, I-485 and I-765 together for $1010 (also includes biometrics). The separate fees are only if you file each application separately (I think).

True enough--filing as packet-deal has been known to be cheaper since 2007 (as not filing I-131 and I-765--although we wound up not needing AP or EAD, I still filed these as "better safe than sorry"--does not reduce the I-485 fee).

[Saddle Bronc 124]

A big "thank you" to each of you who responded. I have read SO much about this process and have saved SO many links that I just couldn't seem to remember where to find the info I was looking for.

Add me the the list of people who feel this process is excessively complicated and ridiculously expensive (times 4).

Eh, it's a lot LESS complicated than trying to get a GC from a TN-1 (which I did--and not via marriage to USC, which I didn't consider as viable), especially when the TN-1 holder's birth country is one of those on "clobber-list" (exactly the case for this India-born erstwhile Canuck).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There are two 'parties' of the Government involved in this process - USCIS and Department of State (DOS). USCIS raised their fees 2 or 3 years ago while the DOS fees remained the same. DOS is in charge of the Consulates, so fees paid to the Consulates for Visas, etc. are going on this time as DOS increases its fees. USCIS fees are remaining the same.

The 'explanation' for the increase is that the money is needed to cover the actual costs involved in issuing the visa. Certain visas are considered more labour-intensive - including the K-1 visas - and thus are being raised substantially higher.

The 'explanation' for the USCIS increases several years ago was virtually the same - except we found out that money was being diverted from immigrant application processing to ICE activities and programs as well .

This is where the fee increases hit the hardest- when you have a ready made family who is coming to the US. It is expensive enough for one, but for more it does become very pricey.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

There are two 'parties' of the Government involved in this process - USCIS and Department of State (DOS).

Which cannot even coordinate INTERNALLY (as I found out in 1999) let-alone with each other.

USCIS raised their fees 2 or 3 years ago while the DOS fees remained the same. DOS is in charge of the Consulates, so fees paid to the Consulates for Visas, etc. are going on this time as DOS increases its fees. USCIS fees are remaining the same.

The 'explanation' for the increase is that the money is needed to cover the actual costs involved in issuing the visa. Certain visas are considered more labour-intensive - including the K-1 visas - and thus are being raised substantially higher.

The 'explanation' for the USCIS increases several years ago was virtually the same - except we found out that money was being diverted from immigrant application processing to ICE activities and programs as well .

This is where the fee increases hit the hardest- when you have a ready made family who is coming to the US. It is expensive enough for one, but for more it does become very pricey.