Australia vs 
United States: family visa
Australia or United States for a family visa? ₹7.74 lakh vs ₹30,821 government fee, processing windows, funds and the verified route pages side by side.
Verdict
- United States is cheaper (₹30,821 vs ₹7.74 lakh government fee)
- Australia: Partner visa, AUD 11,710 main applicant, Often more than a year for the 309; the 100 is assessed from two years after lodgement
- United States: Family immigrant visa, USD 325 per applicant
- Pick on the sponsor's income test and the relationship evidence; the fee is the smaller difference.
Australia vs United States: family visa side by side
| Australia | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Family visa route | Partner visa | Family immigrant visa |
| Government fee | ₹7.74 lakh | ₹30,821 |
| Route page fee (official) | AUD 11,710 main applicant | USD 325 per applicant |
| Processing (route page) | Often more than a year for the 309; the 100 is assessed from two years after lodgement | 3–12 working days after interview |
| Funds, income or salary threshold | None; sponsor must be approved and pass character checks | 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864 |
Which is cheaper?
Australia costs ₹7.74 lakh government fee and United States ₹30,821. United States is cheaper by ₹7.43 lakh per applicant. Government fees are charged at the official rate; the partner's fee is quoted on the destination page.
Which is faster?
Australia: Often more than a year for the 309; the 100 is assessed from two years after lodgement. United States: 3–12 working days after interview. Both windows are the authority's own published figures as read on the route pages; a complete file at submission is the single biggest lever on either.
Which needs less money in the bank?
Australia: None; sponsor must be approved and pass character checks. United States: 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864. Statements must be seasoned and match the plan or the sponsor's declaration.
How the processes differ
Australia: Partner visa, filed with immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. United States: Family immigrant visa, filed with travel.state.gov. Both are decided on the sponsor's or applicant's status and the evidence file rather than at a visa window; the route pages list the steps, the document checklist and the refusal reasons for each.
Which should you pick for a family visa?
Family routes turn on the sponsor's status and income and on relationship evidence, not on the applicant's profile: Australia uses the Partner visa (AUD 11,710 main applicant) and United States the Family immigrant visa (USD 325 per applicant). Processing is the slowest of any visa type, so pick the one whose window and income test fit your household, then build the relationship file to that standard.