What is a K-1 visa for a foreign citizen?
The fiancé(e) K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a United States (U.S.) citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival.
What is a K-1 fiancé (e)?
The K-1 nonimmigrant visa is also known as a fiancé (e) visa. In order to obtain a K-1 fiancé (e) visa, you and your fiancé (e) must intend to marry each other within 90 days of your fiancé (e) entering the U.S as a K-1 nonimmigrant.
Can I extend my K-1 visa if I am married?
K-1 and K-2 nonimmigrant status automatically expires after 90 days and cannot be extended. Generally, your fiancé (e) and his or her children must leave the United States at the end of the 90 days if you do not marry. If they do not depart, they will be in violation of U.S. immigration law.
How much does it cost to adjust status on K-1 visa?
RECOMMENDED: Adjustment of Status Through a K-1 Visa Entry Total K-1 Visa Costs For the purposes of obtaining a K-1 visa, the total fees are approximately $850-$1010 for the petition, visa application and medical exam. When including the costs for adjusting status to permanent resident, the total fees are closer to $2,075-$2,325.
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.
What is DS 160?
Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application is used for US nonimmigrant visas and in this case for the K1 visa too. The form will inquire on your personal information as well as reasons why you are planning to go to the US. When you submit it, you will get a confirmation page and code.
What Is a K1 Visa?
A K1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a U.S. citizen's fiancé to enter the United States for up to 90 days. After marriage to a U.S. citizen, a K1 visa holder can apply for a green card to become a permanent legal resident of the United States.
How long is a K1 visa valid?
There is no firm deadline for applying for a K1 visa, but you should plan to apply several months in advance. Once you file the petition, it is valid for four months. If circumstances prevent its approval during this time, you can apply for an extension.
How long does it take to get a visa for a wedding?
Delaying your marriage. This must take place within 90 days of entering the United States. If your marriage is delayed for any reason, you might need to file for an extension.
How long does it take to get a K1 visa?
A K1 visa allows you to enter the United States once during a six-month period. You and your fiancé must make wedding plans quickly to meet the 90-day deadline this visa grants. You and your children want to move to the U.S. For many K1 visa applicants, permanent residence in the United States is the ultimate goal.
How long do you have to sign a letter to marry on a K1 visa?
Both the petitioner, or the U.S. citizen, and the beneficiary, or the foreign national, should sign this statement. It should confirm that you intend to marry within 90 days of receiving a K1 visa.
Where to schedule an interview for a K1 visa?
Schedule an interview at the U.S. Consulate. The K1 visa applicant must schedule an interview at his or her local consulate. Bring the following items, also known as packet 3, to the interview:
Do minors need a visa?
No, minor children need their own visa applications to enter the U.S . You should include all applicable children on Form I-129F and file a K2 visa application for each child at a later date.
What is a K-1 visa?
The K-1 Fiancee Visa is a special purpose temporary non-immigrant visa. It gives the foreign national Fiancee of a U.S. Citizen the opportunity to enter the United States so that he or she can marry the U.S. Citizen. The wedding must take place no later than 90 days from the date of the foreign citizen Fiancee (e)’s entry into the U.S., after which the foreign citizen spouse may apply for legal permanent residence through the Adjustment of Status process instead of returning home.
What form do I need to file for a K-1 visa?
To begin the K-1 visa process, the U.S. Citizen Fiancee must file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancee, with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).
What is the final step in the K-1 visa process?
In most cases, the final step of the K-1 visa process is the in-person Fiancee visa interview. The foreign national Fiancee will be interviewed by a consular officer who will determine if the couple’s relationship is legitimate. Approval of the petition is at the discretion of the consular officer. He or she may approve the request, ask for additional information or documentation, or deny the K-1 visa outright.
Where is the I-129F forwarded?
If approved, the petition will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for additional processing.
Is an adjustment of status required for a K-1 visa?
While filing an application for Adjustment of Status (AOS) within the 90 day K-1 visa period is strongly recommended, it is not required. It is important to remember, however, that once the 90 day period expires, the K-1 visa holder will be out of status.
Can USCIS approve an initial application?
In some cases, the USCIS is not able to approve the initial application. If this happens, USCIS may request additional documentation or deny the application.
Who Needs The K1 Visa?
The K1 visa is a boon for couples who want to be together before the wedding and who want to host their wedding in the USA . It is also beneficial for couples who cannot get married in the fiancé’s home country. For example, same-sex marriages are not recognized in many countries but it is legal in the USA.
How long does it take to get a K1 visa?
How To Get The K1 Visa. Getting the fiancé visa takes approximately 7 months. The couple then has 90 days to get married. After the wedding, the fiancé may apply for a Green card, and the same is usually issued within 6 months. The steps involved are:
How to get a visa for a married couple?
Getting the fiancé visa takes approximately 7 months. The couple then has 90 days to get married. After the wedding, the fiancé may apply for a Green card, and the same is usually issued within 6 months. The steps involved are: 1 The sponsoring partner must submit the I-129F petition for a K1 visa to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 2 Once the petition is approved, a case number will be issued and the paperwork will be forwarded to the US consulate or embassy closest to where the fiancé lives. 3 The fiancé must submit a DS-160 visa application at the local consulate and submit the following documents:#N#2 passport sized photographs#N#Copy of their birth certificate#N#Valid passport#N#Police clearance from any country they may have resided in for more than 6 months since the age of 16 years#N#Sealed medical exam form 4 The fiancé will need to attend an in-person interview at the US consulate. 5 The visa is issued and stamped on the fiancé’s passport. This visa is valid for 6 months.
How much does it cost to file a 1 129F?
At the time of filing the 1-129F petition, the sponsoring partner must pay a filing fee of $535 to the USCIS. Similarly, the fiancé abroad must pay a $265 visa fee.
How long is a marriage visa valid for?
The fiancé will need to attend an in-person interview at the US consulate. The visa is issued and stamped on the fiancé’s passport. This visa is valid for 6 months. Once the fiancé arrives in the USA, the couple must be legally wed within 90 days.
Is a K1 visa more expensive than a marriage visa?
A marriage visa may take longer to be approved than the K1 visa. The K1 visa costs are much higher than the marriage visa costs. Based on your need you can choose a visa and apply for it.
Can a K1 visa be converted to a green card?
It allows them to enter the USA and makes them eligible for a Green Card as long as they get married to the sponsoring fiancé within 90 days of entering the country. The visa cannot be converted to any other kind of visa.
Who will review my visa?
If you work with an immigration attorney, or a fiancé visa agency , they will carefully review your situation to verify that you meet all of the requirements.
Do all K-1 visas meet the requirements?
Not everyone will meet the K-1 visa requirements. Check your eligibility with our K-1 visa eligibility calculator. Note that USCIS and consular officers are different and some countries may have additional requirements.
Who is eligible for the K-1 visa?
A U.S. citizen can sponsor a foreign- born individual they want to marry by bringing them to the United States on the K-1 fiancé visa. The basic K-1 visa requirements to be eligible for the visa are:
What are some K1 visa questions I may be asked?
Here are some sample questions the foreign fiancé may be asked during the K-1 visa interview with the consular officer:
Can I get the K-1 visa if I’m thinking about getting married but not sure?
You really should be serious and have a strong intention to get married to your partner with the K-1 visa. If you’re on the fence, it may be better to hold off until your more sure about the relationship .
What is the minimum K-1 visa income requirement?
The minimum K-1 visa income requirement is based on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2021 poverty guidelines. The guideline is used to qualify the affidavit of support and demonstrate that the visa sponsor is capable of petitioning for their foreign fiancé and supporting any children the sponsor has, past immigrant (s) sponsored, and the K-1 spouse’s dependents.
Can my kids come with me if I have a K-1 visa?
The good news is that under a K-1 visa, the foreign-born partner’s children can obtain K-2 visas to come to the United States. The children need to be unmarried and under 21 years old to qualify. They’ll also be able to apply for green cards after the couple gets married.
How can I prepare for the K-1 visa interview?
What USCIS is looking for are illegitimate relationships or those that are just interested in getting a green card for the United States. All foreign-born K-1 applicants will need to undergo the interview so a consular officer can evaluate their intentions. You’ll be asked questions about how you met your fiancé, what sort of wedding plans are established, your fiancé’s interests and hobbies, and more. Don’t try to answer the questions with what you think is the correct answer, but instead, always be honest and truthful. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t lie. Say, “I don’t know” instead. In total, the interview should last about 20 minutes. The U.S. citizen partner is not required to be at the interview. You should arrive at your interview dressed appropriately and at least 15 minutes early.
Should my kids come to the K-1 visa interview?
If the foreign-born partner has children that will also come to the United States on the K-2 visa, then they should also be present at the interview.
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.
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.
Can I file a K-1 visa after it has expired?
Generally, if DOS returns a Form I-129F to us after it has expired, we will allow it to remain expired. However, you may choose to file a new Form I‑129F.
How much does a K-1 visa cost?
Visa applicants must use a U.S. government-approved physician. Costs can vary significantly based on the country and doctor but run $50 to $300 in most countries.
How much does it cost to file an I-485 for a child?
However, a child applicant who is under age 14 and filing with the I-485 application of the parent receives a reduce fee of $750.
