Lima, Peru Embassy fees for K1 AFTER Feb. 1, 2013

[LoboMarino30 1]

Hi Everyone,

Could someone who has had a K1 fiance interview at the embassy in Lima, Peru after Feb. 1, 2013 confirm whether or not there's a visa fee charged? I've been seeing a lot of conflicting information. The consulate page here on VJ says there is a fee, due at the time of the interview, but the US embassy in Lima (http://lima.usembassy.gov/iv.html) gives the following information:

"Effective February 1, 2013 all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a US$165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for USCIS, if there are further questions: www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee."

I can't tell from the information provided if this is a completely new fee in addition to the old one, or if this one has replaced the old one, and K visas are thus exempt (I'm hoping for the latter). It looks like this one is now due (online) after the interview and approval, but before entering the U.S. (except not for K1 visas from Peru).

Any help from those who have gone through the process since February would be much appreciated. Thanks, and best of luck and love to you all!

[Hypnos 6,578]

Since a K visa is a nonimmigrant visa then that specific $165 fee does not apply, but there are other fees you have to pay.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Since a K visa is a nonimmigrant visa then that specific $165 fee does not apply, but there are other fees you have to pay.

Exactly. A K-1 applicant does not pay the $165 immigrant fee. When applying for a K-1, you must pay a $240 visa processing fee.

[LoboMarino30 1]

Dang. Ah well, worth it (and could be worse)! Thank you both!

[James y Sonia 1]

I had also read somewhere there is no fee due at the embassy interview for processing. I would be interested in knowing your experience with the interview process and actual timing of receipt of visa documents. Are you attending the interview with your fiance? Good luck to you!

[LoboMarino30 1]

I'll let you all know soon! I'm still wavering on attending. I'd love to be there, but the plane ticket... As for the visa, I think he'll be fine without me there, but at the same time, I'd hate for him not to get the visa and kick myself for the next 70 years for not going. And I know he's nervous, so I think it would be a huge comfort for him and a good experience for us to share. This will also be his first trip to the U.S., as well as his first flight (plus connections in Miami, so that won't be fun alone). But the cost... we're both just starting up financially, so the cost is a big deal. We'll see. I asked the embassy in an email and they said it's not required (and didn't even seem like it would make much difference). What about you?

[d3adc0d3 186]

I had also read somewhere there is no fee due at the embassy interview for processing. I would be interested in knowing your experience with the interview process and actual timing of receipt of visa documents. Are you attending the interview with your fiance? Good luck to you!

This entirely depends on the embassy/consulate. Some require you to pay there, some require you to pay before the interview. Best bet is to look up the reviews and facts via your embassy/consulate portal, you can do so by clicking the country flag below your avatar icon in each post.

[d3adc0d3 186]

I'll let you all know soon! I'm still wavering on attending. I'd love to be there, but the plane ticket... As for the visa, I think he'll be fine without me there, but at the same time, I'd hate for him not to get the visa and kick myself for the next 70 years for not going. And I know he's nervous, so I think it would be a huge comfort for him and a good experience for us to share. This will also be his first trip to the U.S., as well as his first flight (plus connections in Miami, so that won't be fun alone). But the cost... we're both just starting up financially, so the cost is a big deal. We'll see. I asked the embassy in an email and they said it's not required (and didn't even seem like it would make much difference). What about you?

It can help a lot when applying for a visa to be present, some countries and consulates "unofficially require" the petitioner to be present. I would recommend looking up the reviews for your consulate.

Also, in my personal opinion to save yourself the emotional stress and being able to be present and a support for your future husband while going through a very life changing step, I would say it's well worth the money. If you can scrape together the finances to attend, I would say do it.

[LoboMarino30 1]

Yes, this is why I asked specifically for Peru. The consulate page just says visa fee is due day of the interview, but doesn't give the amount. Old reviews say $350, some newer ones say $240, and that it can be cash, but they prefer by credit card. No easy answers, apparently.

Thanks for your thoughts on the interview! I'd definitely rather be there, but not sure we can afford it at the moment (it's a time of lots of big expenses, all in a row). I'd much rather be there though. Old Peru reviews also said that it was never an "official" requirement, but that people were turned away for the interview if their USC wasn't present (though more recent reviews have said their Peruvian fiance(e) was fine alone). I completely agree with the moral support aspect though.

[d3adc0d3 186]

Visa fee is currently $240. This is universal and not embassy/country based -- it's determined by the US government. The K1 is a non-immigrant visa, so you won't have to pay the additional fee as others stated. Just the $240 for the visa.

Do keep in mind though that there are medical fees, sometimes fees to acquire paperwork, like birth certificates and police records, as well as cost of shipping the petitions birth/divorce/etc certificates as well as anything else that needs to get mailed to them. This is more paperwork fees that would cost you to get anyways though.

Edited July 26, 2013 by d3adc0d3

[LoboMarino30 1]

Yep, just got that confirmed by the embassy in Peru, too... thanks! The Peruvian embassy (US in Peru, rather) also said due day of the interview, at the embassy, for anyone else going through there. Thanks, everyone!

Also, for anyone else going through Peru: my fiance's packet appears to have gotten lost in the mail, but I've had really fast responses from sending emails to the embassy. I just sent them an email last night saying I think the packet is missing, and today I got an email with attachments for the letter he'll need day of the interview and his instructions. Really fast responses so far. The letter also mentions that you should choose the DHL office where you want to receive your visa and passport before the interview, and bring confirmation of that to the interview (there's a link for this in the information they send out to the Peruvian fiance(e). Also: according to the letter, there's no cost for that service (the visa and passport sent to a DHL office).

Thanks, and good luck everyone!