How to Apply for a K1 Visa to America

The K-1 visa, also known as the "fiance visa," allows foreign nationals who intend to marry a U.S. citizens to reside permanently in the U.S. To be eligible for the K-1 visa, you must meet three requirements: you and your fiance can legally wed under the laws of both the U.S. and your country; you and your fiance intend to marry within 90 days after you enter the U.S; and you met your fiance within two years before filing for the visa (this requirement can be waived under certain circumstances). A U.S. citizen must petition for this visa on their fiance's behalf.

Instructions

1. File a Petition for an Alien Fiance (Form I-129-F) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. Provide a detailed biographical background, copies of any divorce decrees, death certificates or annulments and proof of U.S. citizenship.

2. Wait for the petition to be approved. This generally takes two to three months. Once approved, the USCIS will send the petition to the National Visa Center. The application will then be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Consulate. You will receive a packet of forms to complete for a K-1 visa.

3. Apply for the K-1 visa. You must apply within four months of receiving the forms from the National Visa Center. Submit a valid passport, your birth certificate, a non-immigrant visa application, police certification from all the places you have lived since age 16, evidence that your fiance can support you and proof that you have a valid relationship with your fiance.

4. Attend the K-1 visa interview around three to six months after applying. Complete the medical interview as well.

5. Wait for your K-1 petition to be approved (one to two weeks). Once the petition is granted, you have six months to enter the U.S. After you enter the U.S., you must marry within 90 days, or the visa will expire.

Tips & Warnings

• After you are married, apply for an Adjustment of Status (AOS) as soon as possible. With an AOS, you will be considered a conditional resident of the U.S., and will receive a two-year residency card. Your children can enter the U.S. with you on a K-2 visa, as long as they are named in the K-1 petition.

• Do not miss any filing deadlines, as this may result in you having to restart the entire process.

Resources

• U.S. State Department's Q& A for the K-1 process
• Flow Chart for K-1 process