• Metanoia@lemmy.world
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            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
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              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
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                  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
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        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.