What Does Someone Need to Marry a Foreign Bride?

The requirements for marrying a foreign bride or groom differ from country to country. In the United States, the rules are also different depending on where the marriage is going to take place. The good news is that thousands of Americans do successfully complete the process each year and end up marrying a foreign spouse. Just be prepared for the paperwork and to pay some hefty fees.

Less Desirable Visa Options

Several choices are available if you want to marry a foreign bride. However, some take longer and are more risky than others. For example, you could invite your foreign fiancée to visit the United States as a tourist, which requires the B-2 visa. Once she arrives, you can get married and request a status change. Another choice is to marry your bride in her home country, then bring her to the United States where she can live as your immediate relative on an immigrant visa. With the first option, your bride could be refused entrance to the United States and with the second option the entire option could take up to 16 months.

The K Visa Options

An immigration lawyer is most likely going to recommend one of the two K visa options. With the K-3 choice, you'll most likely want to marry abroad and return home to file the appropriate paperwork (the I-130 form known as the immediate relative petition). The entire process may take five to 10 months. With the K-1 visa choice, your bride-to-be can enter the country without the risk of complications. The only stipulation is that the marriage must take place within 90 days.

Other Reasons to Use the K Visa Options

Both of the K visa choices allow your future spouse to bring over any dependent children from previous relationships as well. There are different visas required for the children, but they are permitted to come along. With the other two options, the children may have to stay in the foreign country until your spouse's paperwork has been processed. With both of the K visa options, your spouse will also be eligible for an employment visa.

Requirements for the K-1 Visa

Before you can choose the K-1 visa option, however, you do need to meet a few requirements. You will need proof that you met your spouse two years before you applied for the visa. This is to prevent people from getting married just to obtain citizenship. Additionally, both of you will have to produce divorce papers, if applicable. The U.S. immigration department also wants to see evidence that you are intending to get married.

Requirements for the K-3 Visa

One benefit of the K-3 option is the stringent requirements. Because the marriage takes place abroad, you do not have to produce proof of the intent to marry or produce evidence that you have been a couple for a specific length of time. However, you will need evidence of the marriage and your spouse must want to live in the United States.