• Metanoia@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          14
          ·
          11 months ago

          If you don’t use a lawyer, pro se can cost between 2k and 3k for the fees. Going through the process for my mother in law currently.

          • KumaLumaJuma@feddit.uk
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            11 months ago

            So much cheaper than the UK.

            It’s something like £2k ($2,500) for the fees (for 2.5-3years, depending on visa type), plus a buy in for NHS services, approximately £1k/year ($1,300 x 2.5-3) for the length of your visa.

            6 years to become a citizen, if you’re not married to a Brit, or 5 if you are.

            It is in excess of £10k over the 5-6 years to get to the point of permanent residence (£2,300) which you can then follow up with citizenship (£1,580).

              • KumaLumaJuma@feddit.uk
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                11 months ago

                True, although paying in upfront doesn’t exempt immigrants from also paying the relevant taxes that cover healthcare, no double taxation protections here.

    • LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      11 months ago

      Correct. Also, I read somewhere that if someone is here illegally and even if they marry a citizen they have to stay out of USA for between 3 - 10 years to be eligible for permanent residency via marriage.