A guide who has been there
Many of our attorneys have navigated immigration themselves. We lead with empathy, because we know what is at stake when it is your family on the line.
Family-Based Immigration
A clear path to building your life together.
We help couples bring loved ones home through marriage-based green cards and fiance visas.
Overview
When you are building a life with someone you love, immigration should not stand in the way. We guide couples through marriage-based green cards, fiancé(e) visas, and the path to permanent residence, with clarity and care from your first question to your approval.
Why Choose Ellis Porter?
One attorney, start to finish
You work with a dedicated attorney who knows your story. No repeating yourself, no conflicting answers, and promptly responds to your questions.
Clarity at every step
No jargon and no guesswork. We explain each step in plain language so you always know where your case stands and what comes next.
Done right the first time
We prepare careful, complete filings so you can avoid the delays and stressful surprises that come from a petition that is missing pieces.
Results that reflect real experience.
- 23+ Years guiding clients through a system that rarely stands still.
- 90k+ Immigration approvals secured for individuals, families, and employers.
- 4.9/5 Average client review rating across hundreds of cases.
Family-Based Immigration
More than one path to permanent status.
Marriage-based immigration takes a few forms, and the right one depends on where you and your spouse or fiancé(e) live now. We help you choose the path that fits your situation and guide you through every form and interview.
K-1 visas for fiance(e)s abroad
If you plan to marry a partner who lives abroad, the K-1 lets them enter the United States so you can marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card.
Green cards for spouses already in the U.S.
If your spouse is already in the United States, Adjustment of Status can move them to permanent residence without leaving the country.
Consular processing for spouses abroad
If your spouse lives abroad, we guide you through the immigrant visa process at a U.S. consulate so they can join you as a permanent resident.
Removing conditions on residence
For marriages under two years at approval, we help you file later to remove conditions and secure a permanent ten-year green card.
Family-Based Immigration
A clear process, start to finish.
You should never wonder where your case stands. We map the right path for your family, prepare strong filings, and prepare you for every interview, so you always know what to expect and what to do next.
Choose the right path
We learn your situation and recommend the K-1, Adjustment of Status, or consular path that fits you best.
Prepare a strong petition
We prepare your petition and supporting evidence, including the documentation that proves a genuine relationship.
File and track
We file with USCIS or the consulate and keep you updated on each step and what comes next.
Prepare for the interview
We help you prepare for the interview so you walk in informed, organized, and confident.
Featured Family Immigration Attorneys
Hundreds of Success Stories
[Our Ellis Porter attorney] handled my husband’s adjustment of status (petition for alien relative) application. We initially consulted three different attorneys, and decided to hire Ellis Porter following our great interaction with the team. The whole process was completely seamless and very simple for us, and they made sure to forward every update on our petition as soon as it came in. We just got the notice that my husband has been granted his conditional green card. Thank you!
[My Ellis Porter attorney] has been absolutely wonderful. She is extremely knowledgeable and has explained every step of the way very well. She did an excellent job with our application and we got our green card approved!!! She is very easy to talk to and very caring!!! I would highly recommend [her] if you have any doubts with the US Immigration process!! Overall i’d like to thank [her] and her team for the wonderful job they had done, they are really changing lives one by one and making this a better world. You are in good hands with [my Ellis Porter attorney] and her team.
[My Ellis Porter attorney] was excellent. She helped us with my wife’s spousal visa, and she was friendly, knowledgable, caring, and efficient. She guided us throughout the entire process smoothly and got things done in record time. My wife was approved for her visa, fortunately, and far earlier than we had anticipated. [My Ellis Porter attorney] and her team went above and beyond our expectations, and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for legal help with immigration needs.
K-1 fiance visa
Working with a K-1 fiance visa attorney
The petition is the easy part; the risks are the hard part
Most people can complete a fiance petition. What they often cannot see are the problems that lead to a Request for Evidence or a denial:
- A relationship that is hard to document as bona fide;
- A prior marriage that is not clearly and properly ended;
- An old immigration or criminal record that surfaces on review;
- The requirement to have met in person, and whether a waiver applies;
- A plan that stops at the visa and ignores the green card step that follows.
An experienced attorney anticipates these before they become denials. That foresight, not form-filling, is what you are paying for.
Plan for both stages from the start
A frequent, expensive mistake is treating the K-1 as the finish line. It is not. After the fiance enters and you marry, the foreign spouse must apply for a green card through adjustment of status, which has its own requirements and fees. A good attorney plans both stages up front, so the evidence you gather for the fiance petition also supports the later green card case. If you are comparing paths, a lawyer can weigh the K-1 against a marriage green card or consular processing for a spouse processed abroad.
When you actually need a lawyer
Be honest with yourself about complexity:
| Situation | Lawyer value |
|---|---|
| Simple case, well documented, no prior issues | Often optional |
| Prior marriage, hard-to-prove relationship | High |
| Past immigration or criminal history | High |
| Meeting-requirement or waiver questions | High |
| Uncertain whether K-1 or marriage green card fits | High |
Many straightforward cases are handled without a lawyer. Complications change that quickly, and the time to find out is early, not after a problem. If you are not sure which column you fall into, that uncertainty is itself a good reason to ask someone once.
How to choose a K-1 attorney
Practical things to look for:
- Genuine experience with fiance and marriage-based cases.
- A candid assessment of your specific facts, not just optimism.
- A plan that covers both stages, the visa and the later green card.
- Transparent fees, including whether a Request for Evidence is covered.
- No guarantees. No lawyer can ethically promise an approval.
What a K-1 fiance visa actually costs
The government fees, by stage
| Stage | Cost |
|---|---|
| Petition | Form I-129F fiance petition fee |
| Consular | Nonimmigrant visa application fee |
| Medical | Medical exam by a panel physician abroad |
| After marriage | Adjustment of status (Form I-485 and related) fees |
The point people miss: the K-1 fee is only the beginning. After the fiance enters and you marry, the foreign spouse applies for a green card through adjustment of status, which has its own fees.
Attorney fees are separate and optional
Using a lawyer is optional. Many straightforward K-1 cases are handled without one. An attorney is more valuable if there are complications, prior immigration or criminal issues, a hard-to-document prior marriage, or a meeting-requirement waiver.
If you do hire a lawyer, the fee is separate from government fees and varies by firm and complexity. Ask for a clear, written explanation of what the fee covers, for example, whether it includes the later adjustment-of-status stage or responding to a Request for Evidence, so you can compare offers accurately. Keep government fees and legal fees distinct when comparing.
Why the total surprises people
There is no shame in being surprised here; almost everyone is, because the process is spread out over time. The most common budgeting mistake is planning only for the fiance visa and being surprised by the later adjustment costs. A realistic total includes:
- The fiance-visa stage (I-129F, consular, medical);
- The adjustment-of-status stage after marriage;
- Translations, photos, and travel; and
- Attorney fees, if any (separate).
K-1 vs marrying abroad
The K-1 is not necessarily cheaper than a spousal immigrant visa (CR-1/IR-1) processed abroad. The K-1 has the fiance-visa costs plus a separate adjustment stage; the CR-1/IR-1 has its own fee structure and brings the spouse in already as a resident without a separate adjustment. Which is more economical depends on current fees and your situation, and cost is usually not the main factor in choosing.
Because fees change and the K-1 spans two stages, confirm current amounts for your path. You do not have to map all of this out alone. A licensed Ellis Porter attorney can give you a clear picture of the full cost, with government and legal fees separated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we use a K-1 visa or marry first?
It depends on where you live and your timeline. A K-1 fits couples who will marry in the United States. Marrying first abroad may point to consular processing. We help you choose.
Can my spouse get a green card from inside the U.S.?
Often yes. If your spouse is already in the United States and eligible, Adjustment of Status can move them to permanent residence without leaving the country.
How do we prove our marriage is genuine?
Through documentation such as shared finances, a shared home, and photos. We help you assemble a clear, organized record.
What is a conditional green card?
If you’ve been married for less than two years when your green card is approved, your green card will be conditional, meaning it will be valid for two years.
How long does the whole process take?
Timelines vary by path and by USCIS and consular processing times. We give you a realistic estimate up front and keep you updated throughout.
Do I need a lawyer for a K-1 fiance visa?
You are not legally required to use a lawyer for a K-1 fiance visa, and many straightforward cases are handled without one. An attorney becomes valuable when there are complications, such as a prior marriage that is hard to document, a past immigration or criminal issue, or difficulty meeting the requirement to have met in person. If your case is simple and well documented, you may be fine on your own, but a consultation early can confirm that.
What does a K-1 fiance visa attorney do?
A K-1 attorney assesses whether you qualify, prepares the fiance petition and supporting evidence, and helps you document a bona fide relationship in the way adjudicators expect. Just as important, they anticipate the green card step that follows the marriage, so the whole path is planned, not just the first filing. A good attorney also spots red flags early, such as a meeting-requirement problem or a prior immigration history, before they become denials.
How much does a K-1 fiance visa attorney cost?
Attorney fees for a K-1 vary by firm and case complexity and are separate from the government filing fees. A simple case generally costs less than one with complications like a prior marriage or a past record. Ask any lawyer for a clear, written explanation of what the fee covers, for example whether it includes the later adjustment-of-status stage or responding to a Request for Evidence, so you can compare offers accurately.
What government fees does the K-1 involve?
Generally a fee for Form I-129F (the fiance petition), a consular nonimmigrant visa application fee, and the cost of the required medical exam by a panel physician abroad. After entering and marrying, the adjustment-of-status stage (Form I-485 and related) has its own fees. The exact amounts and how they are bundled change under fee rules, so verify current figures before budgeting.
Why is the total K-1 cost higher than expected?
Because the K-1 is not the end; it is followed by a separate green card process (adjustment of status) after the marriage, with its own fees. People often budget only for the fiance visa and are surprised by the later adjustment costs. Budgeting for both stages, plus the medical exam, translations, and travel, gives a realistic total.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees change; verify current amounts with USCIS and the Department of State. Consult a licensed immigration attorney about your case.
Request a Consultation Today
Tell us about your relationship and where you each live now. We will help you understand the right path to bring your family together and what to expect along the way.