Applying for a K3 visa
- File Form DS-160. Form DS-160, Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application is an online form which you as the applicant must fill out and submit with the relevant information.
- Complete medical examination and vaccination. The US has certain medical and vaccination requirements which its citizens and immigrants must fulfill.
- Compile documents file. Complete the file with the documents that the US Embassy/Consulate requires for a K3 visa application.
- Attend interview. The NVC will first make sure that you have submitted all the necessary documents and then will schedule the interview at the US Embassy where you have applied.
- Receive NVC packet and travel to the US. If your K3 visa is approved, the officials at the US Embassy where you applied will give you a packet from the ...
How long does it take to get a K3 visa?
K3 Visa Processing Time. K-3 visa processing, on average, takes about 6–9 months. This is just about as long as it takes USCIS to approve the marriage green card application.Because of this lengthy processing time, most people find that it’s not worth it to apply for a K-3 visa.
How to apply for a K3 visa?
What is the K-3 visa application process?
- File Form I-129F Your first step in the K-3 visa application process is filing Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé. ...
- File Form DS-160 and attend your visa interview Generally, 30 days after USCIS approves your Form I-129F, you should receive a message, usually via email, from the U.S. ...
- Apply for a green card once in the United States
Which visa is much faster K3 or CR1?
Which visa is much faster K3 or CR1? One of the best reasons to pursue a K-1 visa is that the process tends to move more quickly than a K-3 or CR-1 visa. Typically, the fiance visa process takes approximately six months, and obtaining permanent resident status after the fact takes around 10 to 11 months.
How long is K3 visa valid for?
K3 Visa Validity. The K3 visa is valid for only 2 years. It can be renewed in 2 year increments, but will be revoked in case the US Department of State rejects Form I-130, the application for Lawful Permanent Residence, or if the couple gets divorced. ... How Long is the K3 Visa Processing Time?
How do I apply for K3?
The process for the K3 visa application is as follows:File Form DS-160. Form DS-160, Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application is an online form which you as the applicant must fill out and submit with the relevant information. ... Complete medical examination and vaccination. ... Compile documents file.
How long does it take to get a K3 visa application?
about 19 monthsWarning! K-3 visa processing, on average, takes about 19 months. This is just about as long as it takes USCIS to approve the marriage green card application. Because of this lengthy processing time, most people find that it's not worth it to apply for a K-3 visa.
How much does a K3 visa cost?
Currently, the processing fee for the K3 visa is $265. The embassy or consulate where the foreign spouse resides will then schedule an interview with the applicant. It is usually scheduled 4-6 weeks after notification is given to the applicant.
What do I need to file a K3 visa?
To complete the K-3 visa application, you will need to file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, and Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. You will then attend your visa interview. After receiving approval, you can travel to the United States, and once there, apply for your green card.
Is K3 visa faster?
Finally, because K3 Marriage visa applicants are married before they enter the United States and they file their immigration petition prior to or at the same time as the K3 visa petition, they typically obtain permanent residence status (green card status) a few months faster than K-1 fiancé applicants.
Is K1 or K3 visa faster?
K1 Fiance Visas are generally preferred (over the Marriage Visa and K3 Marriage Visa) as the visa of choice for engaged international couples as they are considered the easiest, quickest, and least expensive route.
Which is better K3 or CR1?
The K3 visa holder can only apply for a work permit after entering the US. On the other hand, a CR1 visa is an immigrant visa. CR1 visa applicants need to wait in their home countries for the application for US legal permanent residence to be processed.
How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2022?
Average time -- Five to 14.5 months (as of early 2022) for approval of the Form I-130, and additional time depending on individual circumstances. Summary of the Process -- The U.S. citizen starts the process by filing a Form I-130 with USCIS, either online or by mail.
Can I stay in the US while waiting for I-130?
If your family member or employer has merely started the process off for you, by filing what's known as a petition (typically on USCIS Form I-130 or I-140), that's not enough. A pending or approved petition from a U.S. sponsor gives you no rights to come to or remain in the United States.
How long is k3 visa valid?
two yearsThe K-3 visa is valid for two years. The visa holder may travel and reenter the U.S. multiple times.
Can my wife visit me in the US while I-130 visa is processing?
It is absolutely possible for a foreign spouse to visit their partner in the United States while awaiting their green card application. If you are a foreign spouse, you may apply to enter the United States via a tourist visa if you have a pending I-130 petition, and wish to go back to your home country after the visit.
How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2022?
Average time -- Five to 14.5 months (as of early 2022) for approval of the Form I-130, and additional time depending on individual circumstances. Summary of the Process -- The U.S. citizen starts the process by filing a Form I-130 with USCIS, either online or by mail.
What happens after K3 visa is approved?
After obtaining the K-3 visa, the foreign spouse may enter the United States to await approval of the immigrant visa petition (Form I-130) or adjust status. Most K-3 visa recipients choose to adjust status to a permanent resident once inside the U.S. Eligible children of K-3 visa applicants receive K-4 visas.
How long does Form I-130 take to process?
between 7.5-13.5 monthsHow long does the I-130 petition process take? For immediate relatives (spouse, unmarried child under 21 or parent) of a U.S. citizen living abroad, the wait times for Form I-130 are currently between 7.5-13.5 months.
Which is better K3 or CR1?
The K3 visa holder can only apply for a work permit after entering the US. On the other hand, a CR1 visa is an immigrant visa. CR1 visa applicants need to wait in their home countries for the application for US legal permanent residence to be processed.
What is a K-3 visa?
The K-3 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen spouse of a United States (U.S.) citizen. This visa category is intended to shorten the physical separation between the foreign-citizen and U.S. citizen spouses by having the option to obtain a nonimmigrant K-3 visa overseas and enter the United States to await approval of the immigrant visa petition. K-3 visa recipients subsequently apply to adjust status to a permanent resident (LPR) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) upon approval of the petition. Because the spouse of a U.S. citizen applying for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa must have a immigrant visa petition filed on his or her behalf by his or her U.S. citizen spouse and pending approval, a K-3 applicant must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa. It should be noted that under U.S. immigration law, a foreign citizen who marries a U.S. citizen outside the U.S. must apply for the K-3 visa in the country where the marriage took place. Learn more in the Applying for a Visa section below.
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 the 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 spouse is able to provide support.
How to apply for a visa for a foreigner spouse?
Embassy or Consulate where you, the foreign-citizen spouse, will apply will provide you with specific instructions, including, where to go for the required medical examination. During your interview, ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken. Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Where to send I-129F?
NVC will then send the I-129F petition to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where the marriage took place. If the marriage took place in the United States, the NVC will send the petition to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that issues visas in the foreign-citizen spouse’s country of nationality. If the marriage took place in ...
What is an I-134 form?
Evidence of financial support ( Form I-134, Affidavit of Support may be requested)
Can a spouse file for a K-3 visa?
citizen applying for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa must have a immigrant visa petition filed on his or her behalf by his or her U.S. citizen spouse and pending approval , a K-3 applicant must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa. It should be noted that under U.S.
How to get a K3 visa?
To fulfill the requirements for the K3 visa, the US citizen must first have filed the Form I-130 to USCIS for their spouse. If after getting the K3 visa, the spouse from a foreign country wants to change status to a CR-1 or IR-1 visa, they can use the same petition for them and there will be no need for a new one. When the form is filed, the US citizen spouse will get Form I-797, Notice of Action from USCIS, which they can use as proof that the Form I-130 is in processing.
Where do I file a K3 visa?
The spouse from a foreign country must apply for a K3 visa at a US Embassy in the country of residence.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for the K3 Visa?
There are a few criteria for the spouse from a foreign country to qualify for the K3 visa. The K3 visa applicant must fulfill them, as follows:
What are the K3 visa fees?
The K3 visa fees that your US citizen spouse and you will incur are as follows:
How Long is the K3 Visa Processing Time?
On average USCIS takes 3-5 months to process and the US Embassy in your home country may take 2-3 months. Additionally, the US Embassies in different countries have different working times, which then might speed up or delay the processing of your K3 visa.
How to become a Lawful Permanent Resident after getting a K3 visa?
The next step after you have gotten your K3 visa is to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the US by getting a Marriage Green Card. To change your status from your immigrant visa to an LPR, you must first have an approved petition from USCIS and the visa, as well as live in the US.
How long is a K3 visa valid?
The K3 visa is valid for only 2 years. It can be renewed in 2 year increments, but will be revoked in case the US Department of State rejects Form I-130, the application for Lawful Permanent Residence, or if the couple gets divorced.
What is a K-3 Visa?
The K-3 visa is a temporary (non-immigrant) visa for the foreign-citizen spouse of a U.S. citizen. A U.S. citizen may request the use of the K-3 visa process to shorten the physical separation with his or her foreign-citizen spouse.
How long is a K-3 visa valid?
You may also obtain employment authorization if you file a Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization. The K-3 visa is valid for two years.
What form do I need to file for an alien fiance?
As explained above, the U.S. citizen must first file Form I-130 and receive the receipt letter before he or she can file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), on behalf of the foreign spouse. After USCIS approves the petition, they will send it to the National Visa Center (NVC) for additional processing.
What is the form DS-160?
Completed Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. The applicant (and any eligible children applying for K-4 visas) must: (1) complete Form DS-160 and (2) print the DS-160 confirmation page to bring to the K-3 interview.
Can a K-3 visa be used for a K-4 visa?
Both K-3 and the K-4 visa recipients may stay in the United States while immigrant visa petitions are pending approval by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In fact, the K-3 visa for spouses is similar to the K-1 visa for fiancés. That’s why the two use the same petition.
Can couples get a K-3 visa?
The K-3 visa process may sound like a great solution for your situation. Unfortunately, most couples are unlikely to obtain a K-3 visa. Consider the statistics. In fiscal year 2018, the U.S. Department of State issued only 6 K-3 visas as compared to 108,958 immigrant (IR1/CR1) visas for the spouses of U.S. citizens.
Can I get a K-3 visa if I am approved?
If the I-130 is approved, there’s no reason to issue a K-3 visa, and the application can be administratively closed. You may apply for the K-3 visa, but you should also understand the likelihood of receiving one. It’s extraordinarily low.
Where to apply for K3 visa?
As an applicant, this spouse should apply at a US Embassy or Consulate in their country following all the instructions sent by NVC as part of the package.
What Are the Requirements for the K-3 Visa?
An applicant must be able to pass or acquire the below requirements to be qualified for a K3 visa:
What is the K-3 Visa Fees?
The U.S citizen and his or her spouse from another country will be incurred with K3 visa fees as follows:
How Long Is the K-3 Visa Processing Time?
The K-3 processing time varies case by case. The U.S Embassies in different countries typically have different working times, which then meant to might speed up or delay the processing of an applicant’s K-3 visa. In addition to that, the workloads of USCIS and other US institutions responsible for processing the documents might affect the completion time of the visa.
How to Become a Lawful Permanent Resident After Getting a K-3 Visa?
To change their status from their immigrant visa to an LPR, that person must first have an approved petition from USCIS and the visa, as well as living in the U.S.
What is the visa for an immediate family member?
One of the common visas for an immediate member of the family is the spouse visa.
How long does it take for a CR-1 to expire?
In accordance with the above restrictions, it is an advantage for the couple to continue obtaining a CR-1 after the Form I-130 is approved and upgrade the status to an IR-1 visa after two years. Even though the CR-1 does not expire, it sets a condition on the marriage of the couple, unlike the IR-1.
What is a K3 Visa Application?
The K nonimmigrant visa classification enables fiancé (e)s or spouses of U.S citizens coming from abroad to enter the United States and marry their sponsor in 90 days after entry so they can adjust status to permanent resident (green card holder).
How to apply for a k3 visa?
The Visa K-Visa application is generally submitted to US Embassy in person on your own by filing I-129F petition package with necessary documentation.
How long does it take to apply for a K Visa (K3-Visa)?
The processing time varies depending on your case, but generally takes around three months from filing until an interview at the U.S Embassy/Consulate is scheduled and approved by both governments involved in this process.
How to Apply for a K3 Visa?
Want to file a K3 visa application for your foreign spouse, but not sure what the procedure is? Don’t worry, we have compiled a step-by-step guide on the K3 visa application process. All you need to do is follow the steps outlined below.
What is a K3 visa?
The K3 visa is intended for the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is legally married in a foreign country. It is available to those individuals who meet the following eligibility criteria. The applicant must be legally married to a U.S. citizen. The applicant must reside in a foreign country and hold a valid foreign passport.
How to file an I-130?
Form I-130 refers to the Petition for Alien Relative. It has to be duly filled in and submitted to the USCIS Service Center along with the following set of documentation: 1 Evidence of U.S. citizenship (copy of U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship). 2 Biographic Data Sheet, Form G-325A, one each for the U.S. citizen and the foreign spouse. 3 Passport copy of the foreign spouse. 4 Foreign spouse birth certificate. 5 Marriage certificate and relevant documents confirming the relationship. 6 Colored passport size photograph of both the spouses. 7 Copy of any divorce decree, death certificate, or marriage annulment if either the U.S. citizen or the foreign spouse have been previously married.
How long does it take for a USCIS form to be approved?
It usually takes around 30 days for the USCIS to issue the receipt notice for Form I-129F, indicating that the petition has been received and is being processed. The processing time varies depending on the availability of staff and workload, but on average, it takes around 6-9 months to get approved.
What is the form for a spouse to file for USCIS?
The spouse who is a U.S. citizen must file two petitions on behalf of his/her foreign spouse with the USCIS—first, Form I-130 and then Form I-129F. Form I-130 refers to the Petition for Alien Relative. It has to be duly filled in and submitted to the USCIS Service Center along with the following set of documentation:
How much does it cost to get a K3 visa?
You can pay the visa processing fee online or decide to pay later during the interview. Currently, the processing fee for the K3 visa is $265. The embassy or consulate where the foreign spouse resides will then schedule an interview with the applicant.
Where is the I-130 pending?
Form I-130 must be currently pending with the USCIS and the applicant must have the receipt notice. Petition for Alien Fiancé, Form I-129F in approved status, has been forwarded to the U.S. consulate abroad where the spouse of the U.S. citizen wishes to apply for the K3 visa.
What is the K-3 visa?
The K-3 nonimmigrant visa is for foreign spouses of U.S. citizens. This visa category helps spouses unite with their partners in the United States sooner because it allows foreign citizens to enter while waiting for their immigrant visa petition's approval. K-3 visa recipients can adjust their status to become permanent residents or green cardholders.
Do children of a K-3 visa holder also get status?
Yes, your unmarried children under 21 can receive K-4 visas based on your Form I-129F. However, you must include your children as dependents on your petition. You will also have to submit separate visa applications and K-4 visa fees for each child.