K-1 Visa Cost in 2026: Every Fee, Itemized

One visa, three sets of bills

The K-1 fiancé(e) visa looks like a single application, but financially it is three separate events spread over two years or more: the petition you file with USCIS, the visa stage at a U.S. consulate abroad, and — because a K-1 is a temporary visa, not a green card — the adjustment-of-status package you file after the wedding. Couples who budget only for stage one are the ones who get surprised. So let us walk the whole road, with every government fee that applies as of July 2026.

One reminder before the numbers: only a U.S. citizen can file a K-1 petition, you must have met your fiancé(e) in person within the past two years, and once your partner enters, you must marry within 90 days. The fees below assume a case that follows that script.

Stage 1 — the I-129F petition: $675

Everything starts with Form I-129F, filed by the U.S. citizen with USCIS. The filing fee is $675, and as of July 2026 the petition is taking about 11.5 months to process. That long runway matters for budgeting: the bills in stages two and three will not arrive for roughly a year, which gives you time to save — if you know they are coming.

If your fiancé(e) has children under 21, list them on the same I-129F. They can follow on K-2 visas without a separate petition, though each child pays their own visa-stage fees later.

Stage 2 — the consulate: $265, plus $250, plus the medical

Once the petition is approved and the case reaches the U.S. embassy or consulate in your fiancé(e)'s country, three costs appear:

The DS-160 application fee (MRV): $265. This is the nonimmigrant visa application fee, paid before the interview. The DS-160 itself now asks for five years of social media handles, and since March 30, 2026, K applicants are expected to set those accounts to public during vetting — no fee attached, but real preparation time.

The $250 visa integrity fee. Created by a 2025 law, this fee is collected when the visa is issued. Collection procedures are still settling in around the world, so confirm the exact payment step with your consulate. Budget for it either way.

The medical exam. Every K-1 applicant sees a panel physician abroad, and the price varies widely by country and clinic — there is no single figure to quote. Check the panel-physician instructions for your post on travel.state.gov and call the clinic for its current price list, including vaccinations.

Stage 3 — after the wedding: the ≈$2,330 green card package

The K-1 is single entry and expires fast: your partner enters, you marry within 90 days, and then they apply for the green card from inside the United States. That is the adjustment of status after a K-1, and it is the biggest bill of the whole journey:

1. Form I-485, the green card application: $1,440. The core filing. Good news hides here — after a K-1, there is no new I-130 petition to file or pay for. The approved I-129F does that job.
2. Form I-765, the work permit: $260. Technically optional, practically essential. A K-1 entrant cannot work until employment authorization arrives, so most couples file the I-765 in the same envelope.
3. Form I-131, advance parole: $630. Also optional on paper. But a K-1 entrant who leaves the country before receiving advance parole or the green card can wreck the case. If any trip abroad is even possible, file it.

All three together: about $2,330, filed as one package after the wedding. Add a second medical-exam cost only if your civil surgeon needs to redo or update anything — plan a cushion rather than a number.

The full bill, itemized

How the K-1 total compares to the CR-1

The consular spouse-visa route runs about $1,355 in government fees — a gap of roughly $2,165 against the K-1's ≈$3,520. Why would anyone pay more? Because the two paths buy different things: the K-1 typically gets your partner to the United States sooner, while the CR-1 delivers a green card, work authorization, and travel freedom on day one. If you are engaged and weighing both, our K-1 vs. CR-1 comparison walks through the trade-off in full.

The costs no fee schedule shows

Beyond government fees, expect a handful of real-world costs that vary too much to quote honestly: the medical exam abroad, certified English translations of civil documents, passport photos, and travel to the consulate city — many applicants must fly to the capital and stay overnight for the interview. Then there is the quiet one: after entry, your partner cannot work until the EAD arrives, so a K-1 budget should assume months on one income. None of these have fixed prices; all of them belong on your spreadsheet.

How you actually pay

USCIS has accepted electronic payment only since October 28, 2025 — no more personal checks or money orders. Filing fees for the I-129F and the adjustment package are paid online; current amounts are always at uscis.gov. Consular fees follow your post's own payment instructions. Attorney fees are separate — ours are flat and listed on the pricing page, so the government numbers above are the only variables.

Common questions

Current as of July 30, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Written for Visa4Love by the attorneys of Usher Law Group, P.C.