A Surprising Roadblock in US Family Immigration: Cost
Imagine being unable to see your children just because you can’t afford to. For many, this is reality because the cost of immigration is a deciding factor of when families get to reunite in the US.
A long-time reader once reached out and shared her story with me. She was a fiance visa applicant hoping to marry her romantic partner in the US. She revealed a disheartening story of how she’s forced to leave her 2 children behind in the Philippines because they can’t afford the filing fees, traveling, and legal expenses. Looking at the bright side, she said she’ll make the best of it with her partner in the US, explore her new home, and save money while she desperately waits for her children to arrive.
Most immigrants, like this woman applying for a fiance visa, pay upwards of $5,000 per person just to step foot in the US. These fixed expenses include everything from the cost of filing government paperwork, getting legal aid, all the way to paying airfare, among others.
Shockingly, costs can run so high that some people are forced into desperate situations. Spouses are separated from each other, children from parents, and family from friends. But why exactly does it cost so much and what does it mean for those who can’t afford it?
Families pay Thousands of Dollars per Person to Reunite
Well, among the multitude of visas the US offers, petitions are available for spouses, children, fiances, parents, siblings, and so on — categorized under immediate relatives, or family-based “immigrants”.
Every category has a different procedure and price tag but in general, they cost thousands of dollars per person. As an example, let’s look at the fiance visa process as it can be especially burdensome and often requires careful decision making.
The Fiance K visa is a “90-day visa” where a foreign fiance comes to the US and marries his or her US citizen partner. What most couples don’t realize when they begin their journey is that costs range from $3,000 to $5,000 USD per person, start to finish… and if the foreigner has children (K-2 visa), costs skyrocket even higher. This nearly always catches folks by surprise, and for those on a tight budget, it can be especially worrisome.
But what’s behind these high costs in the first place?
Why does it cost so much?
Well, it’s a combination of application fees, visa fees, expenses for documents, mandatory medical exams, police clearance certificates, traveling, and so on… all of which pile up one by one.
For example, to begin the process, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) charges $535 for the I-129F petition for a fiance. Once approved, a couple and any children must gather additional documents and undergo compulsory procedures such as medical exams, get police certificates, and pay additional visa fees, amounting to nearly $1,000 per person.
Since in many parts of the world there may be only one US Embassy per country, applicants may travel far to appear for interviews, further adding to the costly expenditures.
If that wasn’t enough, couples usually underestimate the costs of legal fees, if they choose to hire a lawyer, which can easily add another $2,000 to $4,000 per family.
In the end, an average applicant spends nearly $3,000 to $5,000 USD just to get the visa and enter the US. But it doesn’t stop there.
After entry, families applying for a Green Card dish out another $1,500 — $2,000 per person for filing fees and related expenses. And if they hire legal help, costs stack up even higher.
Clearly, couples in the fiance visa process get strapped for cash quickly: they pay enormous upfront fees for immigration petitions, pay for a wedding (within 90 days), and pay for the Green Card process soon after. This pinch often leads couples into debt or to making sacrifices.
When Families Can’t Afford the Costs
The Department of State indicates that out of the 35,000 to 45,000 fiance visa couples who apply every year, the US Embassies reject up to 20% — often because the sponsor doesn’t have enough income to financially support the incoming immigrants.
Combine the stagnant median American household income with the high costs of immigration, and you’ll understand why many are beginning to feel powerless. They’re resorting to taking loans from family, friends, or… in the case of the woman who left her children behind — being forced to separate.
In fact, there are also many long distance couples who wait years before starting the visa process because they just can’t afford to do it right now.
Add the COST of immigration to the national debate
So let’s add the cost of immigration to the discussion, because when most people think about immigration, they only consider impersonal struggles: is it good or bad for the economy? Is there too much or not enough immigration? Is it helpful or harmful?
But the question about the cost of immigration and how it is a real roadblock for families doesn’t get enough attention. This conversation needs to be added because for those patiently waiting in the process, being split apart is a real struggle.
And the timing couldn’t be better. With the economic downturn of 2020 and rising prices of government services, it’s an especially testing time for families. It may get even worse. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), government filing fees account for 90%+ of the income to fund the agency. They need this money to keep running as they are not funded by tax money and they must pass these expenses to families who may be already stretched thin.
So if we don’t do anything about this right now, we will hear more heartbreaking stories like parents who leave children behind because they couldn’t afford the costs.
