K-1 Visa (Fiance Visa)

K-1 Visa: Overseas Fiancés of US Citizens

For those who may be overseas but are engaged to be married to U.S. citizens a K-1 Visa would be  the appropriate visa that would enable you to come to the United States and get married to your U.S. citizen fiancé. The K-1 Visa is also known as the Fiancé Visa. To be eligible for this visa:

  1. You must be legally able to marry;
  2. The marriage must be a bona fide marriage with good intent;
  3. You must be willing to marry within 90 days of the fiancé entering the United States;  and
  4. You must have met within two years of filing for the visa.

Children of the foreign fiancé that are under the age of 21 and unmarried may be able to accompany them to the United States and apply for green cards. The fiancé should remain overseas until all appropriate visa arrangements for the children have been made. Don’t plan on leaving the United States until after marriage, especially if you are trying to make the U.S. your permanent home. Your K-1 visa is valid for only one entry into the United States. Therefore, reentering with it is not possible. You also cannot renew your K-1 fiancé visa.

Steps

The U.S. citizen should first file a Petition for Alien Fiance(e) with the USCIS. Once the petition is approved, the USCIS will forward the approved petition to the appropriate American consulate to interview the beneficiary. Once the beneficiary attends the consular interview and is approved for the visa, they may travel to the United States to marry thier U.S. citizen fiancé.  A petition for K-1 status is valid for a four months from the date of USCIS action, and may only be revalidated by the consular officer.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for the K-1 Visa:

1. A passport, valid for travel to the United States for a duration more than the intended period of stay by at least six months.
2. A birth certificate.
3. A divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse.
4. Police certification of all the places you have lived since the age of 16.
5. A medical examination.
6. Evidence of support.
7. Evidence of a valid relationship with your fiance(e).
8. Two recent photographs 1 & 1/2 inches square (37mm x 37mm) , with the entire face visible.
9. The picture should be taken before a light background and without head covering.

For more information, contact us online or call us at (240) 390-0600.