How to File for a K1 Visa for Your Fiancé

The K1 visa allows entry into the United States to foreign citizens who plan to marry American citizens and live in the United States permanently. If you want to apply for a K1 visa for your fiancé, the following tips should give you some guidance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Prepare a Petition for K1 Visa. The American fiancé must file for the K1 visa on behalf of the foreign citizen with the U.S. Immigration Services. Start by filing a Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé. The appropriate forms can be downloaded from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website.
2. Provide evidence of U.S. citizenship. This can include a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
3. Complete two G325-A Biographical Data forms. One must be submitted for both you and your fiancé.
4. Include a color photograph of you and your fiancé. The photo must have been taken within 30 days of filing the petition for K1 visa.
5. Attach any other necessary documentation. You must attach copies of any divorce decrees, annulment papers or death certificates if either you or your fiancé have been previously married. You must also submit proof of permission to marry if you or your fiancé are underage.
6. Apply for the K1 visa at a U.S. Consulate. When the petition for K1 visa is approved, you must then apply for the K1 visa itself, usually within four months from the date the petition is accepted. To apply for the K1 visa, submit the following documents to the U.S. Consulate: birth certificate, photographs, any documents relating to a previous marriage, information on all places of residence since you were 16, medical examination, proof of financial stability and evidence of a valid relationship between you and your fiancé.

Tips & Warnings

• Couples are eligible for the K1 visa only if they are legally eligible to marry under the laws of the foreign country and the United States. They must plan to marry within 90 days of entering the United States, have met within two years before filing for the K1 visa. You can seek entry under this visa only for the purpose of the marriage.
• Filing for a K1 visa for a fiancé can be complicated. You should consult with an experienced immigration attorney if you have any questions regarding the process.