IR-1 Government Filing Fees — 2026 Cost Breakdown

What IR-1 Government Filing Fees Cover

The IR-1 visa — the immigrant visa for spouses of U.S. citizens married for two years or more — requires payment to multiple government agencies at different stages of the process. USCIS charges a fee to adjudicate the Form I-130 petition. The Department of State charges fees for immigrant visa processing and the visa application itself. Both agencies post current fee schedules on their websites, and both adjust fees periodically through rulemaking published in the Federal Register.

The distinction matters because many couples budget for one government fee and then discover mid-process that additional payments are due. The I-130 petition starts the case, but it does not cover consular processing, the immigrant visa application, or the biometrics appointment. Each step has its own cost, paid at the time that step begins.

The I-130 Petition Filing Fee

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the document that establishes the qualifying relationship between the U.S. citizen petitioner and the foreign national spouse. USCIS sets the filing fee for this form and publishes it on the USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms. Fees change when USCIS publishes a fee rule in the Federal Register, so confirm the current amount on the official fee schedule before mailing or uploading the petition.

The I-130 filing fee is paid once, at the time of filing. It covers USCIS's adjudication of the petition — verifying the petitioner's citizenship, reviewing the marriage evidence, and determining whether the relationship qualifies under the immediate relative category. It does not cover consular processing or visa issuance; those costs come later and are paid to the Department of State.

Premium processing is not available for Form I-130. Unlike employment-based petitions, family-based petitions proceed at standard processing speed, which varies by service center and workload. USCIS posts current processing times on its website by form type and filing location.

Biometrics Appointment Fee

If USCIS requires biometrics — fingerprinting and photographs — for the I-130 petition, it includes that cost in the petition filing fee for most cases filed after 2020. Earlier fee structures charged biometrics separately. Confirm the current structure on the USCIS fee schedule, as agency policy determines whether biometrics are included or billed as a separate Application Support Center fee.

The biometrics appointment itself is scheduled by USCIS after the petition is received. The petitioner receives a notice with the appointment date, time, and location. Missing the appointment without rescheduling can delay the petition, so treat the notice date as a hard deadline.

Department of State Immigrant Visa Processing Fee

Once USCIS approves the I-130 petition, the case transfers to the National Visa Center, part of the Department of State. The NVC collects documents, reviews them for completeness, and schedules the visa interview at the U.S. consulate in the foreign national spouse's country of residence. The Department of State charges an immigrant visa processing fee to cover this work.

This fee is separate from the I-130 filing fee. It is paid online through the Consular Electronic Application Center after the NVC sends the case number and invoice. The fee amount is posted on the Department of State's Immigrant Visa Fees page at travel.state.gov. Like USCIS fees, DOS fees change by regulation, so verify the current amount before paying.

The immigrant visa processing fee is non-refundable. It covers document review, case preparation, and the visa interview itself. It does not cover the visa issuance fee or any fees charged by third-party vendors for medical exams, translations, or civil documents.

Immigrant Visa Application Fee (Form DS-260)

The foreign national spouse completes Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, online through the Consular Electronic Application Center. There is no separate fee for submitting DS-260 — the immigrant visa processing fee described above covers both the form and the interview. However, the Department of State lists these as distinct steps in its fee guidance, so applicants sometimes expect two separate charges. Confirm the current structure on the DOS fee schedule before budgeting.

Medical Examination and Vaccination Fees

Every IR-1 applicant must undergo a medical examination performed by a panel physician approved by the U.S. consulate. The panel physician is selected by the consulate, not the applicant, and the examination follows a standard protocol set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The exam includes a physical, review of vaccination records, chest X-ray, and blood tests for certain communicable diseases.

The panel physician charges a fee for this exam. That fee is not paid to USCIS or the Department of State — it goes directly to the physician's clinic. Fee amounts vary by country and clinic, so confirm the cost with the specific panel physician assigned to the case. The consulate provides a list of approved physicians during the NVC stage.

Vaccinations required for immigration are listed in the CDC's vaccination requirements for immigration. If the applicant lacks documentation of required vaccines, the panel physician administers them during the exam and charges for each dose. Bringing existing vaccination records from a licensed provider can reduce this cost.

Affidavit of Support Review Fee

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is the financial sponsorship document required for family-based immigrant visas. The U.S. citizen petitioner — and any joint sponsors, if needed — complete this form to demonstrate they can support the immigrant at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. There is no government fee to file Form I-864 with the National Visa Center. The form is submitted as part of the NVC document package, and its review is covered by the immigrant visa processing fee already paid.

However, obtaining the supporting financial documents — tax transcripts from the IRS, employment verification letters, bank statements — may incur third-party costs. IRS tax transcripts are free when ordered online at irs.gov, but expedited transcripts by mail carry a processing fee. Employment verification letters and notarized affidavits may require notary fees, which vary by state.

Civil Document Fees

The IR-1 process requires civil documents to prove identity, marital status, and the qualifying relationship. These typically include the foreign national's birth certificate, the petitioner's proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or birth certificate), the marriage certificate, and proof of termination of any prior marriages (divorce decrees or death certificates). Many of these documents must be obtained from the issuing government agency in the applicant's home country.

Fees for civil documents vary by country and document type. Some countries charge a flat fee per certificate; others charge by page or require courier delivery with added cost. Apostilles — the authentication stamp required for documents issued in countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention — carry separate fees set by the issuing country's designated authority.

Translation fees apply to any document not in English. USCIS and the Department of State require certified translations, meaning the translator signs a statement attesting to their competence and the accuracy of the translation. Translation services charge per page or per word, and rates vary by language pair. Budget for translation of birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and any civil documents issued in a foreign language.

Visa Issuance Fee

After the consular interview, if the visa is approved, the Department of State collects a visa issuance fee before printing the visa and affixing it to the passport. This fee is listed separately from the immigrant visa processing fee on the DOS fee schedule. Not all visa categories charge an issuance fee — some waive it under reciprocity agreements between the U.S. and the applicant's country of nationality. The Department of State publishes a Reciprocity Schedule by country at travel.state.gov showing whether an issuance fee applies and the amount.

For IR-1 visas, confirm whether a reciprocity-based issuance fee applies to the applicant's nationality. If one does, it is paid before the visa is issued, typically within a few days of the approved interview.

What If the Petition Is Denied?

If USCIS denies the I-130 petition, the filing fee is not refunded. USCIS adjudicates the petition based on the evidence submitted, and the fee covers that adjudication whether the outcome is approval or denial. If the petition is denied, the petitioner may file a motion to reopen or reconsider, or file an appeal to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office. Both motions and appeals carry separate filing fees, listed on the USCIS fee schedule.

A new I-130 petition — correcting the deficiency that caused the denial and submitting fresh evidence — requires payment of the full I-130 filing fee again. USCIS does not carry forward fees from denied petitions.

What If the Immigrant Visa Application Is Refused?

If the consular officer refuses the immigrant visa application under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the refusal is typically temporary, pending submission of additional evidence. The immigrant visa processing fee already paid covers re-adjudication once the requested documents are submitted. No additional DOS processing fee is charged for a 221(g) refusal that is later overcome.

However, if the visa is refused under a ground of inadmissibility — such as Section 212(a) for health-related grounds, criminal history, or misrepresentation — and the applicant applies for a waiver (Form I-601 or I-601A), USCIS charges a separate waiver filing fee. That fee is distinct from all IR-1 processing fees and is paid at the time the waiver application is filed.

Here's the Honest Answer

Let's be direct: there is no single IR-1 fee that covers the entire process. The government charges separately at each stage — petition, NVC processing, interview, and issuance — and those amounts change by regulation. Unofficial fee calculators and outdated forum posts are unreliable. The only authoritative sources are the current USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms and the Department of State's immigrant visa fee page at travel.state.gov.

Budgeting for the IR-1 process means accounting for government fees, third-party costs (medical exam, translations, civil documents), and potential contingencies (RFE responses, waiver filings). Families that plan for the full range of costs avoid the stall that comes from discovering mid-process that another payment is due before the next step can begin.

Premium Processing and Expedite Requests

Premium processing does not exist for Form I-130. The only way to potentially accelerate an I-130 petition is to request expedited processing based on severe financial loss, emergency, humanitarian reasons, or U.S. government interests. USCIS evaluates expedite requests case by case and grants them rarely. There is no fee to request an expedite, but the request must include documentation supporting the claimed urgent circumstance.

Consular posts do not offer premium processing for immigrant visa interviews. Interview dates are assigned based on visa availability and consular workload. Applicants with urgent travel needs may contact the consulate to request an earlier interview date, but approval is discretionary and depends on appointment availability.

Legal Disclaimer and Next Steps

This article provides general information about IR-1 government filing fees and the structure of costs in the immigrant visa process. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration fees change by regulation, and individual cases may require waivers, appeals, or additional filings with their own costs. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case, the evidence submitted, and current law and policy.

For accurate cost estimates based on a specific situation, and for guidance on the full IR-1 process from petition through consular processing, consult a licensed immigration attorney. The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu provides consultations for spouses navigating the IR-1 visa process. The consultation fee is $250. Contact the firm at 4615 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111, or call 858-268-8823 to schedule. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu — 4615 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111 · 858-268-8823 · Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM. Consultation fee: $250.