Can fiancé visa be filed online?
You, the foreign-citizen fiancé(e), (and eligible children applying for K-2 visas) will be required to bring the following forms and documents to the visa interview: Completed Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
How do I submit a fiancé visa?
The first step in the application process is for the U.S. citizen fiancé to prepare and file the Form I-129F K-1 visa petition (called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”) with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The purpose of this form is to prove that your relationship is legitimate.
What is the fastest way to get a fiancé visa?
If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the K-1 visa is most likely the fast path. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.
How long does it take to get a 2021 fiancé visa?
approximately 8 to 11 monthsAfter filing Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, it may take approximately 8 to 11 months to obtain a K-1 visa. It may be shorter for some and longer for others. As explained, the K-1 processing time can vary based on the agencies that adjudicate the many steps.
How long does it take for a fiancé visa to be approved 2022?
approximately 9 to 12 monthsHow long does a fiance visa take? As of March 2022, K-1 visa processing took approximately 9 to 12 months (USCIS time to process Form I-129F).
What proof do you need for a fiancé visa?
Step 1: Form I-129F Proof of citizenship for the U.S. citizen fiancé (copy of a passport, certificate of naturalization, or birth certificate) Copy of the sponsored fiancé's passport. Proof of the legitimacy of the relationship (photos, correspondence, sworn statements from friends and colleagues, etc.)
Can my fiancé visit while waiting for K-1 visa?
Can my fiancé visit me in the US while waiting for a K-1 fiancé visa? Yes – your fiancé may visit the US, so long as they have a valid B-1/B-2 visa or ESTA. However, your fiancé should expect more scrutiny at the border.
How much does fiancé visa cost?
Fiancé or K-1 visa cost: $2,025 The U.S. citizen partner completes the appropriate government form (I-129F – “petition for a K-1 Visa”), and mails it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the $535 filing fee.
How much is K-1 visa fee?
The government filing fees for getting a K-1 visa is $800 or $2,025 for the K-1 visa and the “Adjustment of Status” form required to transfer from a K-1 visa to a green card after arriving in the United States. This does not include the typical cost of the required medical examination, which varies by provider.
Can I apply for K-1 visa without meeting?
The INA requires K1 fiance visa applicants meet in person at least once to approve the fiance visa. May be waived if meeting would violate cultural norms, customs or some religious tenet. Extreme hardship waiver is available to the US petitioner.
What percentage of fiancé visas are approved?
In 2015, during the Obama Administration, the USCIS approved about 99 percent of all fiancé(e) visa petitions. By late 2018 this figure had fallen to around 67 percent. The lower the fiancé(e) visa approval rate descends, the more attractive a marriage-based green card application is going to look.
Are K1 visas still being processed 2022?
K1 Fiancé Visa – Processing Time In 2022 Due to several factors, the K1 visa is taking much longer to process. The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with huge backlogs in processing times at USCIS, the length of processing time has extended from 6 months to over 10 months now to process Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé.
How much does fiancé visa cost?
$535Fiancé or K-1 visa cost: $2,025 The U.S. citizen partner completes the appropriate government form (I-129F – “petition for a K-1 Visa”), and mails it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the $535 filing fee.
What is the easiest way to bring a fiancé to USA?
If you are a U.S. citizen who wants to bring your foreign fiancé(e) to the United States in order to get married, you will need to file a Form I-129F, Petition For Alien Fiancé(e). This is the first step to obtaining a K-1 nonimmigrant visa for your fiancé(e).
How much does a K-1 visa cost?
The government filing fees for getting a K-1 visa is $800 or $2,025 for the K-1 visa and the “Adjustment of Status” form required to transfer from a K-1 visa to a green card after arriving in the United States. This does not include the typical cost of the required medical examination, which varies by provider.
How long is the processing time for fiancé visa?
7 monthsThe processing time for a K-1 fiancé visa application currently averages 7 months. Note this does not include the time from when your application is approved to your interview date, which differs based on the country you're applying from.
Where do I submit my I-129F?
The I-129F petition for a fiance visa must be submitted on paper to the USCIS. However, some parts of the remaining K-1 visa process are done online.
Can you scan and email a file?
You cannot upload, scan, or email them anything.
Can I submit I-129F online?
There’s no part of the I-129F submission process that is done online. Everything’s got to be printed out and physically mailed to the Lockbox facility before the USCIS sees it.
Can I apply for citizenship online?
I think it’s great how the USCIS is embracing online processing for various petitions. An example being: the N-400 Application for naturalization. It can be done online if you’re ready to file for US citizenship.
Can I print out my I-129F?
Well, for now, online processing is not available for the I-129F. You must print out your I-129F packet on paper and physically mail it out to the USCIS… just like the good old-fashioned way.
Are any Fiance Visa forms or steps done online?
In general, some of the processes for the US Embassy interview are done online. Meaning, after you submit your I-129F and get approved, some of the remaining steps are done through the internet.
Can I get same sex visa as opposite sex spouse?
Same-sex spouses of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), along with their minor children, are now eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex spouses. Consular officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates will adjudicate their immigrant visa applications upon receipt of an approved I-130 or I-140 petition from USCIS. ...
Can a spouse get a K-3 visa?
Nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) - It is important to note that application for the nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) who married a U.S. citizen must be filed and the visa must be issued in the country where the marriage took place. After the visa process has been completed, and the visa is issued, the spouse can travel to the United States to wait for the processing of the immigrant visa case. Two petitions are required: Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, and Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), Form I-129F. Learn more.
What Is a “Fiancé (e)”?
Under U.S. immigration law, a foreign-citizen fiancé (e) of a U.S. citizen is the recipient of an approved Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), Form I-129F, who has been issued a nonimmigrant K-1 visa for travel to the United States in order to marry his or her U.S. citizen fiancé (e). Both the U.S. citizen and the K-1 visa applicant must have been legally free to marry at the time the petition was filed and must have remained so thereafter. The marriage must be legally possible according to laws of the U.S. state in which the marriage will take place.
How long do you have to meet a foreign citizen?
In general, the foreign-citizen fiancé (e) and U.S. citizen sponsor must have met in person within the past two years. USCIS may grant an exception to this requirement, based on extreme hardship for the U.S. citizen sponsor to personally meet the foreign-citizen fiancé (e), or, for example, if it is contrary in the U.S. citizen sponsor’s or foreign-citizen fiancé (e)’s culture for a man and woman to meet before marriage.
How Long Will It Take to Get My K Visa?
For Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), you can visit the USCIS website for the status of your petition.
What do you need to present to a consular officer for a visa interview?
During the visa interview, applicants will be required to present evidence to the consular officer that they are not likely to become a public charge in the United States. You may present evidence that you are able to financially support yourself or that your U.S. citizen fiancé (e) is able to provide support.
What should I know before applying for a K-1 visa?
You should read the Rights and Protections pamphlet before your visa interview to learn about your rights in the United States relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse and protection available to you . The consular officer will verbally summarize the pamphlet to you during your interview. Additionally, K-1 visa applicants will be provided with any existing criminal background information on their U.S. citizen fiancé (e)s that USCIS received from other government agencies during processing of their Form I-129F petitions.
Where to file I-129F?
Note: Form I-129F cannot be filed at a U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or USCIS office abroad. After USCIS approves the petition, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will give you a case number and send your petition to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your fiancé (e) lives.
What are some examples of ineligibilities for a visa?
Examples of these ineligibilities include: drug trafficking; overstaying a previous visa; and submitting fraudulent documents.
How to obtain the fiancé visa?
The process and subsequent obtaining of the K-1 visa for the United States includes the following requirements:
What is the K-1 fiancé visa?
The K-1 visa is used by the fiancé (e) to enter the USA to marry a U.S. citizen. The period of time established by law to carry out the marriage is 90 days maximum.
How to notify USCIS of a K-1 visa?
If the applicant is moving it is important that they notify USCIS by phone 1-800-375-5283 or by email.
What questions are asked in a K1 visa interview?
Some of the most frequently asked questions in the K1 visa interview are whether you have been married before and where you live. Also if the applicant has been convicted or prosecuted for a crime.
How to verify a K-1 visa?
The processing time of the fiancé K-1 visa can be verified in the letter that the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) sends to the applicant. That is after the agency receives the request and reports having received the documents sent by the embassy.
What is a K-1 visa?
The K-1 visa is one of the most requested types of American non-immigrant visas.
How much is the K1 visa fee?
Complete and file Form I-129F and pay the filing fee of $ 535. The K1 visa application form can be paid by check or money order made out to: Department of Homeland Security. If you do it by credit card, you must fill out form G-1450.
How to get a foreign fiance to accept my background?
Obtain a consent form. Your foreign fiance must review and accept your background information before beginning a conversation with you. This can be in “electronic signature” or an actual consent form. . Now you see, it’s actually a lot of work for an IMB to facilitate communication.
What is the form I-129F?
Form I-129F instructions (Part 2, Questions 55 to 61) ask if you began to contact your fiance with the help of an IMB. You must input the name, website, address and telephone number of the service. You must also provide a written and signed consent form showing that your foreign fiance knows of any criminal background.
What to do if you didn't meet with IMB?
It’s strange, even if you didn’t meet via an IMB, you should support your claim. Send supporting documents that the website you used isn’t an IMB. Before the USCIS has a chance to suspect it is. Otherwise, you might see a Request For Evidence (RFE) for more evidence. Or possibly even rejection of your I-129F.
Is USCIS aware of IMB?
Sometimes USCIS is unaware of a service is an IMB or not. They may ask for IMB proof through an RFE.
What to do if I respond to I-129F?
The I-129F instructions read that if you respond “yes”, then give the proper details of the website/service. Then attach a copy of the consent form. Remember to have it translated if necessary.
Is connecting online an IMB?
Simply connecting online doesn’t necessarily mean it was through an IMB. Specific criteria determine which websites or services are considered IMB and which aren’t. It’s the I-129F petitioner’s responsibility to figure this out and comply.
Is USCIS an IMB?
Sometimes USCIS is unaware of a service is an IMB or not. They may ask for IMB proof through an RFE. In order to avoid delays from RFE, You must draft up a response and submit good evidence that the website/service doesn’t qualify as an IMB and therefore doesn’t need to follow IMBRA protocols.
How to apply for a K-1 Fiancé Visa
If you and your fiancé are eligible for a K-1 fiancé visa, you can apply by following this four-step K-1 visa process.
K-1 Fiancé Visa FAQs
No. But it will be much harder to prove that your relationship is legitimate if you are not engaged before you apply.
Conclusion
Filing for a K-1 fiancé visa can be complicated, but working with a good immigration attorney can make it easier. If you can't afford the attorney fees for your K-1 visa application, we may be able to help. If you are eligible, our free web app will walk you through the process and help you prepare and file your application with the U.S.
