how to file a k1 visa

K1 Visa Application Process.

• Complete Form DS-160.
• Schedule the US Fiance visa interview.
• Complete medical examinations.
• Compile your document file.
• Attend visa interview.

Full Answer

How to apply for a K1 visa?

Ultimate guide: K1 visa process step by step

1. Filing I-129F petition to USCIS. The process of bringing your foreign fiance to the US starts with filing I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé (e) with the United States ...
2. Receiving NOA1. After sending I-129F Form, you will receive a notice of action (NOA1). ...
3. Receiving NOA2. ...
4. NVC Processing. ...
5. Embassy stage. ...
6. Gather Embassy Documents. ...
7. Prepare for the interview. ...

More items...

What happens after K1 visa approved?

After You Receive a K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa. If you are issued a K-1 visa, the Consular Officer will give you your passport containing the K-1 visa and a sealed packet containing the civil documents you provided, plus other documents prepared by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is important that you do not open the sealed packet. Only the DHS immigration official should open this packet when you enter the United States.

What is the difference between the K-1 and K-2 visa?

The K-1 visa is also known as the fiancé visa and is awarded to those who are entering the U.S. to legally marry a U.S. citizen. The K-2 visa is for children of the K-1 visa holders who wish to accompany their parent to the United States. The K-1 visa holder must legally marry a U.S. citizen within 90 days of their arrival in the U.S.

Are K1 visas being processed?

They are processing K1 Fiance Visas! Its not back to normal yet, but cases are being processed and happy couples are getting their visas. As best as I can tell at this time, the Embassy is prioritizing interviews based on the following criteria: K1/K2 cases where the K2 child will age out (turn 21 years of age) before December 31, 2021.

How long does it take for a K-1 visa to be approved?

The processing time for a K-1 visa application currently averages 7 months. This does not include the time from when the government approves your application to your interview date, which differs based on the country you're applying from.

Can you file K-1 visa online?

All K visa applicants are required to complete the online paperless DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application). K visa petitioners will continue to use the I-129F (PDF 484KB) petition form.

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.

Can I do my own K1 visa?

If you plan to prepare and submit your own K1 Fiance Visa application without the help of an experienced professional, you will need to start by identifying which forms to use. You can find a copy of the forms that you will need along with their instructions at www.uscis.gov.

How long does fiancé visa take 2022?

approximately 9 to 12 monthsAs of March 2022, K-1 visa processing took approximately 9 to 12 months (USCIS time to process Form I-129F). Click here to see exact ranges based on your service center. In addition to that, it takes between three to four weeks to receive notice from the National Visa Center with further instructions.

What is the income requirement for K-1 visa 2022?

Overall, your stable earnings need to be at least $16,910 per year in order to support a household with two people. On the other hand, when the fiancé becomes a permanent resident, you would have to earn at least $21,137 every year. These are the minimum requirements.

Is a K-1 visa hard to get?

So Is it Difficult to Apply for a K1 visa? The approval of the K1 visa may vary from case to case according to circumstances, and in most cases can be denied or delayed simply because of the applicant's fault for not being able to provide the correct information or follow instructions.

Can a fiancé visa be denied?

There are various reasons why a consular may deny a K1 visa petition, including but not limited to: The petitioner does not meet the necessary requirements. The foreign national does not meet the necessary requirements. The relationship seems suspicious or fraudulent.

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.

What is the easiest way to bring a fiancé to USA?

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry and live here, with a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e) (K-1). An I-129F fiancé(e) petition is required.

Do you need a sponsor for K-1 visa?

As the sponsor, you are not required to attend the K-1 visa interview. All that is required of you is to sponsor the visa and prove your eligibility and ability to support your fiancé(e) financially. The visa interview is for your foreign national fiancé(e) who is the beneficiary of the petition.

How much does a 90 day fiance visa cost?

All About the K-1 Visa | Fiance Visa | 90 Day Visa It costs $535. The medical examination, which costs around $200, but the price may change depending on the medical service center. The actual K-1 visa application. It costs $265.

Which is faster spouse or fiance visa?

Application Process and Timeline for Fiancé(e) and Spousal Visa. If your main goal is to get to the U.S. as quickly as possible, then the K-1 fiancé(e) visa is likely the fastest option. But if your goal is to get an actual green card as soon as possible, then a marriage-based visa will be quicker.

What percentage of fiance 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.

What is the minimum income requirement for a fiance visa?

In dollars and cents, this means that you must have stable earnings of at least $16,910 per year for a two-person household (in 2019) to qualify as financial sponsor for a fiancé(e) visa petition, and you must have stable earnings of at least $21,137 per year for a two-person household to qualify as financial sponsor ...

How to get a K1 visa?

Initially, you must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by filing Form I-765 to USCIS. If approved, you are allowed to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) and even work for the period of time that your K1 visa is valid.

How to Apply for the K1 Visa?

The fiancé visa application has a few steps that both fiances must follow. It must be first initiated by the US citizen. The US citizen must obtain permission from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bring and sponsor their foreign citizen fiancé to the US.

What Are the Documents Required for a K1 Visa Application?

Here are the documents that you should submit when applying for a K1 visa:

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a K1 Visa?

It costs $265 to apply for a K1 visa. The amounts vary by year as well as by country due to different relationships that the US has with other countries, but the main categories for which you will be asked to pay fees are as follows:

What is the Visa K1 Processing Time?

The K1 visa processing time may vary from weeks to months. It does not have a definite length of processing time. It is most likely that it will take a few months, so plan ahead for any delays if you are planning the wedding in the US.

How Long is the K1 Visa Valid?

The K1 visa is valid for 4 months but you can extend for up to 6 months. Despite the fact that the K1 visa might be valid for this length, the couple is expected to be married within 90 days of the foreign citizen’s entrance in the US.

How long does it take to get married on a K1 visa?

If the foreign citizen obtains a K1 visa and the couple gets married in the US within 90 days, then the process to adjust status to a permanent one begins. This means that the foreign citizen will become a Legal Permanent Resident of the US by getting a spouse visa. This process begins by filing Form I-485.

Who determines if a fiancé qualifies for a K-1 visa?

The DOS consular officer determines whether your fiancé (e) qualifies for the K-1 nonimmigrant visa.

Who notifies you when the visa interview for your fiancé (e) is scheduled?

The U.S. Embassy or consulate notifies you when the visa interview for your fiancé (e) is scheduled.

What is the form for alien fiancé?

You file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé (e) according to the form instructions. This form asks USCIS to recognize the relationship between you and your fiancé (e).

What form do I need to get married?

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). The K-1 nonimmigrant visa is also known as a fiancé (e) visa.

How long is a fiancé's work authorization valid?

In this case, your fiancé (e)’s work authorization is valid for only 90 days after his or her entry into the U.S. Your fiancé (e) may also apply for work authorization at the same time he or she applies for a Green Card. In this case, your fiancé (e) can file Form I-765 together with the Form I-485.

Where to send I-129F?

The NVC forwards the approved Form I-129F to the U.S. Embassy or consulate where your fiancé (e) will apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa. This is generally the U.S. Embassy or consulate where your fiancé (e) lives. The U.S. Embassy or consulate notifies you when the visa interview for your fiancé (e) is scheduled.

How long does it take to get a green card if you are married?

If your fiancé (e) marries you within 90 days of being admitted to the United States as a K-1 nonimmigrant, he or she may apply for lawful permanent resident status in the United States (a Green Card). If you have already married, plan to marry outside the United States, or your fiancé (e) is already residing legally in the United States, ...

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.

What is the form for a K1 visa?

The Form I-129F is the initial form that is filed by the U.S. citizen petitioner. This form is filed with USCIS is called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé (e).” Along with this form, it is important to include several documents proving that you satisfy the K1 visa requirements (that the petitioner is a U.S. citizen, that the parties intend to get married within 90 days of the K1 visa beneficiary’s entry to the U.S., that the parties have met in person within the last 2 years, and that both parties are free to marry). You can learn more about the Form I-129f here.

What is the I-765?

The Form I-765 is the Application for Employment Authorization. As a K1 visa beneficiary, you are eligible to apply for work authorization upon your arrival to the United States. You are also eligible to apply for work authorization after marrying your U.S. citizen fiancé and applying for your adjustment of status. To apply for work authorization, you file the form I-765 with USCIS. You can learn more about the Form I-765 here.

What is a K-1 visa?

The K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant classification issued to a foreign national to travel to the U.S. for the purpose of getting married to his or her U.S. citizen fiancé (e). The K-1 visa application is filed by the U.S. citizen on behalf of the foreign national.

What is an I-134 form?

The I-134 Affidavit of Support is the first income form that must be submitted as part of the initial process to bring a beneficiary fiancé (e) from a foreign country into the United States . The I-134 is used by every nonimmigrant sponsor for a K-1 visa.

What if I Can’t Meet the Minimum Income Requirements?

If you can’t meet the income requirements, there are two options available to you. These include using the cash value of your assets and having a joint sponsor.

What is an I-864?

However, this will require another form entirely: the I-864. This affidavit is to show that you have the financial ability to support your alien fiancé (e) after they become a lawful permanent resident. The threshold is a little higher than that of the I-134. For the I-864, you must show that your income is at least 25% higher than the HHS poverty guideline for that year.

How long does a visa last for a foreigner?

The visa, if granted, has a 90-day validity period within which the U.S. citizen and the foreign national must get married. As the petitioning fiancé (e), there are several requirements that are needed to prove that you are eligible to sponsor the visa. One of them is to demonstrate that you have sufficient income to support your fiancé (e) when he or she gets into the U.S.

How long does it take to get married on an I-864?

I-864, Affidavit of Support. Now that your fiancé (e) is already in the U.S., you will be expected to get married within 90 days of his or her arrival. For your fiancé (e) to continue living in the U.S. lawfully, he or she will need to file for adjustment of status.

Does Immi USA have a K-1 visa?

At Immi- USA, we have a team of experienced K-1 visa attorneys who have successfully helped countless people file their K-1 application, show proof of the K-1 income requirement, and acquire their green cards. To get in touch with our office, you can schedule an appointment with us today by filling out this contact form.

Who files the K1 visa?

It is also important to remember that the U.S. citizen partner (the petitioner) files the K1 visa application on behalf of the foreign fiancé (the visa beneficiary).

What is a K1 visa?

A K1 visa is sometimes also referred to as a fiancé (e) visa. This visa specifically grants a fiancé (e) of a U.S. citizen the privilege of living in the U.S. for 90 days after their entry through a U.S. border crossing. If you enter the U.S. on this visa, you and your future spouse are required to get married within the 90-day validity period of the visa. If the marriage does not take place within the 90-day validity period, the foreign fiancé will need to leave the U.S. The visa will also lose its validity if the engagement is broken before the marriage.

How Much Does a K1 Visa Cost?

The Form 129F has a filing fee of $535. At your visa interview, you’ll also need to pay the visa fee of $265. So the official filing fees require a total of $800. This does not, however, take into account the medical examination costs or any other expenses you need to cover in pursuit of your K1 visa.

How long does it take for USCIS to notify you of a case?

After about 30 days the USCIS will notify you that they have received the case. Keep those notifications for future reference. They may also send you a Request for Evidence (RFE) if they require more information. Please provide any additional requested information as fast as possible to minimize the processing time on your case.

How many meetings do you need to get a visa?

The couple must prove at least one personal meeting in the two years leading up to the visa application. This requirement may be waived if the foreign spouse could not do so due to extreme hardship as a result of religious, cultural, or social norms.

Is a K1 visa different from a K1 visa?

The U.S. government determines these regulations and the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) ensures it is enforced. A K1 visa is no different and it also only allows a specific group of people entry into the U.S.

When will the officer decide on a K1 visa?

The officer presiding over the case will either decide on the same day of the interview or the day after whether your application is successful. So make sure you have all the required proof and supporting documents at your interview and prepare well for the interview by studying some of the possible K1 visa interview questions.