The cost map
Budgeting for a family immigration matter
Create a family budget by person and stage, rather than multiplying one applicant’s total by the number of relatives.
Add your verified government fees, written legal quote and supporting expenses. All starting amounts are illustrative.
Replace every starting amount with your own information. The defaults are an illustrative arithmetic example, not current USCIS fees, an attorney price range or a recommendation for how much to save. Add the government fees for the forms and applicants you actually need, enter the legal fee from a written scope, then add translations, delivery, travel and other supporting expenses. Use zero for a reserve if you want a simple exact sum.
The formula is total = government fees + (government fees × reserve percentage ÷ 100) + attorney quote + other expenses. With the illustrative defaults, $1,000 + $100 + $2,000 + $300 = $3,400. The first result combines the legal quote and reserve because both are added to the government-fee subtotal; it does not mean the reserve is paid to the attorney. A reserve does not change a fee or create eligibility. Recheck official fees before filing and avoid counting the same expense twice. No input leaves your browser.
The cost map
Create a family budget by person and stage, rather than multiplying one applicant’s total by the number of relatives.
The cost map
A government fee pays for an agency application or service; an attorney fee pays for the professional work described in an agreement.
The cost map
A useful immigration budget separates government charges, professional services and supporting expenses.
The cost map
Before budgeting for premium processing, check whether the specific petition or application is eligible and what the current USCIS instructions promise.
The cost map
For study-related immigration planning, separate government payments from school charges, travel and any optional legal help.
The cost map
Supporting expenses belong in an immigration budget even when they are not paid to a lawyer or government agency.