US Spouse Visa Cost. CR-1, IR-1, and K-1 Fees
Bringing a Thai spouse to the United States involves US government fees, medical exams, translations, and often professional legal assistance, typically totalling several thousand US dollars before travel. Exact cost depends on whether you use the K-1 fiancé(e) visa or CR-1/IR-1 immigrant spouse visa after marriage in Thailand.
At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we help couples with Thai marriage registration, document legalisation, and US visa packet preparation, coordinated with US immigration rules. This FAQ breaks down fee categories so you can budget in June 2026.
Government fees, medical, translations, and professional assistance combined.
USCIS petition filing fee per USCIS schedule June 2026. Verify before filing.
DS-260 review and case transfer to embassy.
Separate I-485 filing in the US after K-1 marriage. Budget in addition to visa stage.
Two main pathways, different cost structures
Government fees change, verify current amounts on the USCIS fee schedule and travel.state.gov before filing.
| Pathway | When it applies | US government fees |
|---|---|---|
| K-1 fiancé(e) visa | Engaged, not yet married; marry in US within 90 days | I-129F + NVC/embassy + AOS after marriage |
| CR-1 / IR-1 spouse visa | Legally married, including Thai district office registration | I-130 + NVC + immigrant visa fee |
Short answer: Most couples budget USD 3,000–8,000+ all-in. K-1 adds Adjustment of Status fees in America after marriage. CR-1/IR-1 requires complete Thai marriage registration first but avoids AOS filing. Neither path is cheap, plan for medical, NVC, translations, and possible legal assistance beyond USCIS filing fees alone.
Typical US government fee breakdown
These are US-side official charges paid in USD to USCIS, NVC, or the embassy.Amounts reflect the USCIS fee schedule in effect June 2026: always confirm on uscis.gov/fees before filing:
| Fee item | Approximate amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-130 (spouse petition) | 675 USD | USCIS filing for CR-1/IR-1 |
| Form I-129F (fiancé petition) | 675 USD | USCIS filing for K-1 |
| NVC immigrant visa processing | 325 USD | DS-260 review and case transfer |
| Affidavit of Support (I-864) | 120 USD | NVC financial document review |
| Medical examination | 250–500+ USD | Panel physician in Bangkok, paid separately |
After K-1 entry, Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) in the US adds a separate USCIS filing fee (currently 1,440 USD for most adult applicants) plus biometrics, budget this in addition to the K-1 visa stage, not instead of it.
Third-party costs in Thailand
Budget beyond US government fees:
- Marriage registration at district office plus translations if documents are foreign
- MFA legalisation of Thai documents for US embassy use
- Certified translation of marriage certificate, divorce decrees, name changes
- US visa specification passport photos
- Travel to Bangkok for medical exam and embassy interview
- Courier and document shipping of original civil documents to NVC or USCIS
We do not replace a licensed US attorney for I-130/I-129F filing inside the United States, but we bridge the Thai civil documents gap that delays many petitions.
Hidden costs to plan for
- Income requirement shortfall, joint sponsor needed if petitioner income is low
- Prior divorce documentation, legalised divorce decrees from every prior marriage
- Child derivative visas, separate fees per child
- Re-interview or RFE delays, extra legal time
- Flights and settlement after visa issuance
Common mistakes
- Budgeting only USCIS filing fee, medical, NVC, and translations add significantly
- Marrying in Thailand without legalising the certificate for US immigration
- Choosing K-1 vs CR-1 based on price alone: timeline and where you want to live matter
- Incomplete I-864 financial evidence, delays cost more than filing correctly first time
- Confusing Thailand marriage visa (400,000 THB) rules with US spouse visa process
Related questions
Q:What is the total cost to bring my Thai wife to the US?
A:Most couples budget USD 3,000–8,000+ all-in including government fees, medical, translations, and assistance, highly variable. K-1 paths add AOS fees in America after marriage. CR-1/IR-1 avoids AOS but requires complete Thai marriage registration first.
Q:Does TVC charge the same as US law firms?
A:No. We price Thailand-side services separately. US petition filing may still need a US-licensed attorney. We bridge the Thai civil documents gap that delays many petitions: marriage registration, translation, legalisation, and checklist review quoted per case.
Q:Can my Thai wife work in the US on a CR-1?
A:CR-1 holders enter as permanent residents and may work immediately. K-1 holders need Employment Authorization Document (EAD) after Adjustment of Status filing in the United States. Budget separate AOS and biometrics fees.
Q:Are government fees refundable if denied?
A:USCIS and NVC fees are generally non-refundable regardless of outcome. Re-filing after rejection means paying petition fees again. Filing correctly the first time with complete financial evidence saves more than the cost of professional review.
Q:Do we pay Thai immigration fees too?
A:If she leaves Thailand for the embassy interview, ensure her Thai visa and re-entry permit status is valid, separate from US fees. Overstaying or expired Thai immigration status can complicate departure even when US visa is approved.
Q:Which costs more: K-1 or CR-1/IR-1?
A:Neither path is cheap. K-1 adds AOS filing in America after marriage. CR-1/IR-1 avoids AOS but requires complete Thai marriage registration and legalisation first. Timeline often runs 12–18+ months for K-1 and 12–24+ months for CR-1/IR-1.
Q:What does the medical exam cost in Bangkok?
A:Panel physician medical examinations typically run USD 250–500+ depending on required tests and vaccinations. Paid separately from USCIS and NVC fees. Book only with embassy-approved physicians listed on the US Embassy Bangkok website.
Q:When was this FAQ last reviewed?
A:June 2026. USCIS fee schedules and State Department processing fees change without notice. Verify current amounts on uscis.gov/fees and travel.state.gov before filing.
Official references
Official sources verified June 2026.