How to Get a Visa for Foreign Fiance
A fiancé or K1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign fiancé to enter the United States and marry an American citizen. Getting a visa for a foreign fiancé is a lengthy process, which requires lots of paperwork and months of waiting. Some petitioners hire an immigration lawyer to assist in the process, while others do it themselves to save on the cost.
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Instructions
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File a "Petition for Alien Fiancé" with a local United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. Send a completed and signed I-129F form, evidence of your U.S. citizenship, two completed and signed Form G-325A (one for the petitioner and one for the foreign fiancé), two passport-size photos of each, proof of termination of prior marriages for both (if any), a cover letter and a filing fee of $455. Click the link in the resources section below to download the forms you'll need for filing.
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Wait to receive a notice regarding the status of your petition. Usually, it takes about four months for an application to be approved. You should receive an approval notice in the mail with instructions what to do next. If you get a notice requesting further evidence (RFE), send the documents right away to avoid further delay.
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Inform your foreign fiancé to prepare for a medical exam and visa interview in the country where he is in after you officially receive the I-797, or "Notice of Approval". Once your petition is approved in the United States, it is your fiancé's turn to prove to the U.S. government that he is in good health and has a genuine relationship with you. Your fiancé will receive instructions from the U.S. embassy in his country regarding what to do to apply for the visa. Dates of the medical exam and interview will also be sent.
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Wait for the outcome of your fiance's medical exam, as well as the interview with a U.S. consul. The final interview will determine whether he will get the visa. Once he is approved, the embassy will issue a K1 visa to him. The visa will allow him to enter the United States and marry you within 90 days of his arrival. On average, it takes about three months after the petition is approved for your foreign fiancé to receive the visa.
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Tips & Warnings
To ensure speedy issuance of a fiancé visa, submit the required documentation completely and accurately.
