According to costhelper.com, "Attorney's fees for preparing a full visa packet average $2,000-$3,000, but can run $4,000-$12,000 or more, depending on the nature and complexity of the case, the location, and the attorney's level of experience."

 

First, if your fiance/spouse is currently in the US, please contact me to discuss in country adjustment of status procedures and benefits. 

 

For those people who have not aleady made the mistake of illegally marrying on a tourist visa, don't be fooled. There are no shortcuts and there is no way of rushing "K-3 visa" / "Marriage Visa" or "K-1 visa" / "Fiance visa" petitions. If you really care about your fiance, you should be willing to wait 6-8 months to get married.

People often make the mistake of applying for "tourist visas", "work visas", or other "immigration visas" to bring thier fiances here more quickly. This is a huge mistake. First, the visa petition will probably be rejected. If you are lucky enough to have an apporved petition, your fiance could be sent home at the US border. Often, this doesn't happen before your fiance boards the plain to come here. It often happens once they have flown all of the way here. This will not only humiliate your fiance, but it will cause you unneeded delays and expenses.

If your fiance is able to enter the country and you marry, you are committing "visa fraud". By using the visa for a purpose other than the one for which it was issued, will be commiting a fraud on the government. At the very least, you will probably incur thousands of additional dollars in legal fees and possible fines. Your fiance could also be deported and forced to remain outside of the country for years.

The fastest, easiest, and more reliable way to marry a foreign citizen is through the "K-1 Visa" / "fiance visa" process. If you prefer to marry outside of the US, then you should select the "K-3 visa" or "marriage visa" as your fastest option.

Also, the Department of State, as a result of the Adam Walsh Child Protection law will no longer process spouse visa petition for US citizens traveling abroad.  These petitions will be processed, once new rules are put into place for those citizens living abroad.  You will not be able to go overseas, marry, and file at the US Consulate in your fiance's home country.  You must file here in the US.  

 

Another thing to consider in taking short cuts is fraud. While everyone wants to believe that thier fiance truly cares about them, "marriage visa" fraad does happen. Both petitioning U.S. citizens and foreign fiances can fall victim to "marriage visa" fraud schemes.

 

If you have already married while your fiance was in the US, there are procedures for adjusting status while in the US.  As long as your spouse is not currently in removal/exclusion/deportation proceedings, you may be eligible to apply for his/her green card. 

 

 

A Sample of My Cases Involving This Issue

 

Problem: Marriage to Illegal Immigrant

Solution: Carefully document relationship, proof of joint assets and liabilities, proof of communal residence, affidavits showing veracity of relationship, etc.

 

Problem: Marriage while in US on Tourist Visa

Solution: Carefully document relationship, proof of joint assets and liabilities, proof of communal residence, affidavits showing veracity of relationship, etc.  Thorough preparation of in-person interviews.