United Kingdom vs 
United States: family visa
United Kingdom or United States for a family visa? ₹2.63 lakh vs ₹30,752 government fee, processing windows, funds and the verified route pages side by side.
Verdict
- United States is cheaper (₹30,752 vs ₹2.63 lakh government fee)
- United Kingdom: Spouse and partner visa, £2,064 per applicant, About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days
- 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.
United Kingdom vs United States: family visa side by side
| United Kingdom | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Family visa route | Spouse and partner visa | Family immigrant visa |
| Government fee | ₹2.63 lakh | ₹30,752 |
| Route page fee (official) | £2,064 per applicant | USD 325 per applicant |
| Processing (route page) | About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days | 3–12 working days after interview |
| Funds, income or salary threshold | £29,000 gross a year from the sponsor (and the applicant if already in the UK), or £88,500 in cash savings | 125 percent of the poverty guidelines for the household size on Form I-864 |
Which is cheaper?
United Kingdom costs ₹2.63 lakh government fee and United States ₹30,752. United States is cheaper by ₹2.32 lakh per applicant. Government fees are charged at the official rate; the partner's fee is quoted on the destination page.
Which is faster?
United Kingdom: About 12 weeks; priority about 30 working days. 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?
United Kingdom: £29,000 gross a year from the sponsor (and the applicant if already in the UK), or £88,500 in cash savings. 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
United Kingdom: Spouse and partner visa, filed with gov.uk. 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: United Kingdom uses the Spouse and partner visa (£2,064 per 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.