VisaCoach Video Guide
Spouse Visa Costs 2026: CR1 and IR1 Fees Explained
Watch Fred Wahl explain the major government, medical, and optional VisaCoach service costs involved in bringing a husband or wife to the United States on a CR1 or IR1 spouse visa.
Watch the Video
What This Video Covers
The spouse visa process does not require every fee to be paid at once. Payments are generally spread across the USCIS petition stage, the National Visa Center stage, and the final medical exam and immigrant-fee stage.
- The $675 USCIS petition filing fee
- The $325 immigrant visa fee and $120 Affidavit of Support fee paid at the NVC stage
- Typical medical examination costs of approximately $350 to $450
- The $235 USCIS immigrant fee for production and delivery of the Green Card
- Optional VisaCoach service fees for assistance through the USCIS, NVC, and consular stages
For a more detailed written explanation, visit the companion guide to CR1 and IR1 spouse visa costs.
Spouse Visa Cost Breakdown
| Stage | Fee | Typical Amount |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS petition | Form I-130 filing fee | $675 |
| National Visa Center | Immigrant Visa Application fee | $325 |
| National Visa Center | Affidavit of Support review fee | $120 |
| Before the interview | Required medical examination | Approximately $350–$450 |
| After visa approval | USCIS immigrant fee | $235 |
Estimated government and medical total: approximately $1,700 to $1,800, depending primarily on the medical clinic and country.
Optional VisaCoach Service Fees
Couples who choose personal assistance from VisaCoach may pay:
- $1,095 at the USCIS stage for preparation of the Front Loaded Petition, forms, document review, evidence organization, filing guidance, and USCIS-stage support.
- $550 after USCIS approval for guidance through the NVC and consular stages, including Affidavit of Support preparation, document requirements, and interview preparation.
Total optional VisaCoach service fees shown in this video: $1,645.
Learn how Fred supports couples throughout the process in the guide to his 12-step spouse visa support process.
Planning Your Spouse Visa Journey
Understanding the timing of each payment can make the process easier to budget. The initial USCIS fee is paid first, the NVC fees follow after petition approval, and the medical and immigrant fees come later as the interview and U.S. entry approach.
Spouse Visa Overview
Review the CR1 and IR1 process from petition filing through entry to the United States.
How to Apply
Follow the main filing, document, NVC, and consular interview stages.
Processing Times
See how long the major spouse visa stages may take and where delays can occur.
Would You Like Help With Your Spouse Visa?
VisaCoach can help organize your petition, relationship evidence, financial documents, NVC submissions, and interview preparation from start to finish.
Read the Video Transcript
Editorial note: The spoken transcript states that $1,095 plus $550 equals $1,345. The correct total is $1,645.
Hello, I’m Fred Wahl, the VisaCoach.
If you’re planning to bring your husband or wife to the United States on a CR1 or IR1 Spouse Visa, one of the most common questions is: “How much does the process cost?”
The good news is that the fees are spread out over the course of the application process, so you don’t have to pay everything at once. There are generally three stages where payments are made.
Stage 1: USCIS Filing
The first payment is made when you submit your petition to USCIS. The current USCIS filing fee is $675. This fee is paid when you file the spouse visa petition.
Stage 2: National Visa Center Fees
Several months later, after USCIS approves the petition, your case moves to the National Visa Center, also known as the NVC.
At this stage, there are two fees: a $325 Immigrant Visa Fee and a $120 Affidavit of Support Fee. Together, that’s $445 paid to the National Visa Center.
Stage 3: Medical Exam and Green Card Fee
As your spouse gets closer to the visa interview, there are two final costs.
First is the required medical examination. The medical exam is typically performed by a clinic authorized by the U.S. consulate in your spouse’s country. The cost is usually between $350 and $450. This is often paid directly to the clinic about two weeks before the interview.
After the visa is approved, there is one final USCIS fee: a $235 Immigrant Fee. This fee is used to produce and mail your spouse’s Green Card after arrival in the United States.
Total Government Fees
When you add everything together, the total government and medical costs for a CR1 or IR1 Spouse Visa are approximately $1,700 to $1,800.
Keep in mind that costs can vary slightly depending on the country where your spouse lives and the medical clinic used.
How VisaCoach Helps
Many couples are surprised to learn that preparing the initial petition is only the beginning of the spouse visa journey.
At VisaCoach, we stay with you throughout the entire process.
We begin by preparing your Front Loaded Petition, carefully organizing your forms, relationship evidence, and supporting documents to maximize the chances of approval.
Once your petition is filed, we continue to guide you through the USCIS stage, helping you understand what to expect and assisting if additional information is requested.
After USCIS approval, we help you prepare the Affidavit of Support and guide you through the National Visa Center, or NVC, stage, including document collection, financial evidence, and submission requirements.
As the interview approaches, we help you prepare for the medical exam and visa interview, so you know what to expect and can attend with confidence.
And our support doesn’t end when the visa is approved.
We also provide guidance on the important next steps after arrival in the United States, including permanent resident procedures, Green Card processing, and Social Security registration.
Our goal is to make the entire process simpler, less stressful, and easier to understand from start to finish.
VisaCoach Service Fees
If you would like VisaCoach to personally assist you through the process, our service fees are currently $1,095 at the USCIS stage.
This covers preparation of your Front Loaded Petition package, forms preparation, document review, evidence organization, filing guidance, and ongoing support during the USCIS phase.
Then, after USCIS approval, the fee is $550 at the State Department NVC and Consulate stage.
This covers guidance through the National Visa Center process, Affidavit of Support preparation, document submission requirements, interview preparation, and support through the final visa interview stage.
So for many couples, the complete spouse visa journey consists of approximately $1,700 to $1,800 in government and medical fees, plus $1,345 in optional VisaCoach service fees if you choose professional assistance throughout the process.
Final Thoughts
Understanding both the government fees and any professional assistance costs before you begin can help you budget properly and avoid surprises.
If you’d like experienced guidance from start to finish, visit VisaCoach.com to learn more about our spouse visa services.
I’m Fred Wahl, the VisaCoach. Thank you for watching, and I wish you success with your spouse visa journey.
