Depending on your situation, immigration fees do change. The best route for a quick immigration process is to hire a professional immigration lawyer in the state you intend to visit. Typically, for the basic forms and fees to get you started, it can cost $300-800. That does not include some of the more expensive applications. You also need to pay for a medical examination, which can cost around $300.

What Other Fees?
You typically hire a immigration lawyer so you can get all the documentation correct. Since immigration law is a complex subject and the US handles it via a process of forms, your best choice is to hire professional counsel to get started.

It should be noted that you can have certain immigration related services waived if you prove that you are unable to pay. If you are without a job and want a better life for you and your family, for example,  you can submit a separate form to the USCIS and ask them to waive the fee.

How Do I Get a Green Card? How Much Does that Cost and How Long Does it Take?
There are a number of different opportunities for getting a green card, but the most common are having immediate family in US and/or being offered a job by an employer in the states. There are many other programs for getting into the US, such as for being a political refuge, and you’ll find more info on that upcoming on this blog.

The green card typically costs around $1,000 if you file all the applications yourself. If you hire an experienced lawyer, that’s an additional fee. If your employer is bringing you over from another country for a special skill, those fees can be paid. In total, it might cost you or your employer, with lawyer and application fees included, $5,000-7,000 to get the green card successfully.

Green cards are not easy to get, as only so many are allowed into the US. and it’s even tough for employers to get them because they must first prove trying to find a skilled worker in the US. However, many do successfully get green cards, but usually you experience the benefits before you actually get the green card. A green card may take 2-3 years to get, in other words, but you can be in the US enjoying all the benefits before that.

Is a Lawyer Worth It?
Definitely, hiring a professional immigration lawyer in the US to get you, your employee, or family member to the US is a wise choice. With the chances of being rejected very high, and all the opportunities new immigrants have, hiring a professional immigration lawyer can actually save you time and money. You just have to choose the right one. Hire someone with experience in the field, who can educate you on the subject, and who’s upfront about fees.