What documents do I need for a K-1 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.
Can a K-1 visa holder enter the US?
Only the DHS immigration official should open this packet when you enter the United States. As the K-1 visa holder, you must enter the United States either before or at the same time as any qualifying children holding K-2 visas.
When to apply for a K-1 fiance visa after marriage?
After You Receive a K-1 Fiancé (e) Visa. With your visa, you can apply for a single admission at a U.S. port-of-entry within the validity of the visa, which will be a maximum of 6 months from the date of issuance. You must marry your U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of your entry into the United States.
What forms do I need to adjust my K-1 status?
Forms Required for K-1 Fiance Entrant Adjusting Status The USCIS forms that you'll need to download from the USCIS website (for free) and fill out include: Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
What happens after my K-1 visa is approved?
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 is the next step after K-1 visa?
If the K-1 Fiancé did not bring their children with them, they can send for their children to enter the United States under an approved K-2 visa. The K-2 children will enter the United States and their status is conditioned on the K-1 parent maintaining their legal status.
What happens after your visa is approved and issued?
Once you have received your immigrant visa, you must enter the United States within the visa validity period to obtain an alien registration receipt or “green” card (Form I-151 or I-551) that will allow you to live and work in the United States. You will receive your passport from the courier service.
Do you know what you need to do after being approved a K-1 fiancé visa?
After being admitted to the U.S. on a K-1 nonimmigrant visa, your fiancé(e) may immediately apply for evidence of work authorization by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. In this case, your fiancé(e)'s work authorization is valid for only 90 days after his or her entry into the U.S.
How long after K-1 visa do you get green card?
In total, getting a Green Card via a K1 Visa usually takes 13-18 months, but the immigrant fiance will be able to enter the U.S. as soon as they have their visa. It usually takes 9-12 months to get a K1 Visa and an additional 4-6 months to adjust status to a Green Card after the immigrant enters the US.
How soon can you work after K-1 visa?
We are often asked the question “How long after getting my K-1 visa can I work?” The answer is as soon as you are issued your employment authorization document. The USCIS will issue your EAD. Though EAD timelines may vary, the typical wait time for your EAD will most likely be between two to three months.
How will you respond when your visa is approved?
I am thankful to you and your team and looking ahead for further processing of my petition. To be very true with you now i am not at all worried as I know I have you. Thank you once again , God bless you.
How many days it will take to get passport after US visa stamping?
It takes around 2-3 calendar days after the interview to get the passport and visa delivered.
Does visa issued means approved?
If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed back within two business days. This status includes: The visa issuance process (visa has been approved but not yet printed) Pending for additional documents/information.
Can you travel on a K-1 visa?
In regards to domestic travel or travel within the United States, you can travel throughout the United States with your K1 visa. There's nothing that prevents you from being able to travel domestically within the United States. Do not leave the United States once you enter on your K1 fiancé visa.
How many K1 visas are approved each year?
In 2015 and 2016, an average of 49,000 I-129F petitions were approved. In 2017 and 2018 an average of 34,000 petitions were approved.
How long does it take after visa is issued?
It takes about 10 business days to receive the visa after an "issued" status. If you don't see your visa in that amount of time, you can contact the embassy or consulate where the application was submitted to get more information.
Do you get an email when your visa is approved?
Approved – You have met all the qualifications and are approved to receive a visa. After being approved, you will receive an email during the next 5-10 business days indicating that your passport is ready to pick up at the selected location in your profile.
How do I know if my visa is ready for pickup?
Check the Status of Your Visa https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx.
How long does it take for U.S. visa to be delivered?
Visa processing takes approximately 21 workdays from the date on which the application is received by the Embassy. A further 2-3 workdays should be allowed for the return of your passport.
Major Steps in Adjusting Status After K-1 Fiance Visa Entry
In order to adjust your status in the U.S., you’ll need to 1. prepare various U.S. government forms 2. gather various documents, such as your marri...
Forms Required For K-1 Fiance Entrant Adjusting Status
The USCIS forms that you’ll need to download from the USCIS website (for free!) and fill out include: 1. Form I-485, Application to Register Perman...
Documents Required For K-1 Fiancé Entrant Adjusting Status
Along with the various forms, you will need to include the following in your adjustment of status packet: 1. Long form birth certificate. This will...
Mailing Your Adjustment of Status Packet
You can't submit the adjustment of status application to USCIS in person. Instead, it must be sent to a particular USCIS office, called a “Lockbox....
Attending Your USCIS Interview
At the interview, a USCIS officer will review your application, ask questions to make sure that your marriage is the real thing (bona fide, not a s...
What form do I need to get a K-1 visa?
Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Not all fiances need to have this done, since you already had a medical exam in order to qualify for your K-1 visa. But if the one done for the consulate is over a year old, or it revealed a Class A medical condition for which you didn't get a waiver, you'll need to go to a U.S. civil surgeon for a new exam. And even if your exam is still good, you may need to visit a civil surgeon if the overseas doctor didn't include a complete vaccination record (DS-3025).
Where do you go for an interview with USCIS?
A while (probably many months) after your initial filing, you'll be called in for the interview, which will take place at a USCIS office in a city near you.
What to expect at a USCIS interview?
At the interview, a USCIS officer will review your application and documents you brought with you to prove a bona fide marriage, ask questions to make sure that your marriage is the real thing (bona fide, not a scam or fraud to get you a green card) and hopefully approve you for conditional residence.
What forms do I need to get a green card?
The USCIS forms that you'll need to download from the USCIS website (for free) and fill out include: Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This is filled out by the immigrant, and is the primary application used in requesting a green card from within the U.S.
What is the form I-131?
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The immigrant should fill this out and submit it if there's any chance that he or she will want to leave the U.S. before the interview. Without receiving "Advance Parole," which this form is used to request, leaving the U.S. will result in USCIS cancelling the application, on grounds that it was abandoned.
How long does it take for a green card to arrive?
The actual green card will arrive some weeks later, bearing a two-year expiration date. Keep track of that date carefully. Within 90 days of its arrival, you'll want to apply for permanent residence on Form I-751.
Where can I get a copy of my I-94?
Copy of U.S. entry documents. Include both a copy of the biographical information and U.S. visa/entry page of your passport and your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. This is available online from the Department of Homeland Security, if you didn't receive a paper card from the Customs and Border Protection officer when you arrived.
How long does it take to get a K visa?
and the beneficiary (the person the U.S. Citizen will marry) is outside the U.S., the U.S. citizen can file an application for a fiancé (e) visa with USCIS. This is known as the K visa. This takes around 7-10 months to be approved (premium processing is not available, ...
How many times can you extend a K visa?
There is no limit to the number of times you can extend the approval, however, if you extend for too many times for reasons other than slow processing by the Consulate, the officer can question your intention to marry and not approve the extension. If the extension is denied, the K visa approval is no longer valid.
How long is a visa valid for?
You will notice on the approval notice that there is a valid from and to date, usually for a period of four month. This does mean that your approval is only valid for 4 months, however, this validity can be extended. If the application process or interview have not been completed before the end of the validity date, the applicant can contact the Consulate through email and request an extension.
How long does it take to get a visa back after an interview?
The Consulate will process the visa and you will receive the passport back with the visa in around 7 to 10 business days. The visa is usually issued for 6 months and the applicant is required to enter the United States before the visa expires.
How long does it take for an I-129F to be processed?
According to the I-129F receipt, NVC takes around 2 to 4 weeks after it’s received to process the application.
How long do you have to get married after getting a visa?
After you enter the country on the visa, you have 90 days to get married and apply for adjustment of status. If you do not get married within the 90 days , you will have to leave the country. If the applicant gets married after the 90 days, the U.S. citizen can still apply for a marriage based green card for the applicant, ...
Can you open a sealed passport packet?
The consular officer will also give you a pack of sealed documents. Do not open this packet. You have to give this packet of documents to the border patrol officer the first time you enter. Only they can open this packet. If you open it before that time, your visa will be invalid.
How long do you have to marry a foreigner on a K-1 visa?
So, let’s wrap up the discussion. Remember, after entry with a K-1 or K-2 visa, you must marry within 90 days. If you two decide not to marry, the foreign fiance can’t stay in the US and must depart before the entry expires.
What is the first step to get a visa to enter the US?
The first step is to enter the US with a K-1 or K-2 visa. This is a subtle, yet important, point because you may not be able to adjust status unless you enter with the correct visa.
What is the interview process for a green card?
This green card interview is held in a formal manner: you and your spouse sit across the table from a USCIS officer who interviews you both, verifies the information on your application, and assesses your bona fide marriage. Typical questions include:
How long does it take to get an I-485?
The average timeline for this is normally 12 months after you submit your application.
How long does it take for an I-551 to show up in the mail?
This I-551 card shows up in the mail 2-4 weeks later. With it, you continue to live in the US and carry on with your married life — starting a family, working, traveling abroad, and even applying for US citizenship in the future.
When to apply for I-485?
If you marry, your priority is to quickly apply for the I-485 Adjustment of Status for permanent Residency as soon as you have all documents ( e.g. marriage certificate).
Can I get an I-485 if I'm married?
As a rule of thumb, as soon as you marry, waste no time preparing the I-485 application (although there’s no official deadline for fiance visa applicants to be “out of status”).
Where is the visa affixed?
Your visa will be affixed inside your passport. Please verify the information contained both on the visa and on the letter stapled of the package to ensure that the information is correct. If not, please contact us.
How long does it take to get an alien card?
It normally takes several months for DHS to process and send the alien registration card to you. In the interim, the passport stamp permits employment and travel until the card arrives. You may depart and return to the US before you receive the alien registration receipt card, as long as the DHS stamp in you passport has not expired. Should you wish to leave the US and your stamp has expired and you have not yet received your alien card, you should contact DHS in the US BEFORE departure to ensure permission to return to the US. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board the plane to return to the US.
What is the form I-151?
Once you have received your immigrant visa, you must enter the United States within the visa validity period to obtain an alien registration receipt or “green” card (Form I-151 or I-551) that will allow you to live and work in the United States. You will receive your visa and a sealed packet from the courier service.
What happens if you don't file a petition to remove conditional basis?
If a petition to remove the conditional basis of your status is not filed within this period, your conditional permanent status will be terminated automatically, and you will be subject to deportation from the United States.
How long can you stay in the US without a reentry permit?
Without a re-entry permit, any absence from the US of 12 months or longer, or any residence established outside the US, is considered grounds for loss of permanent resident status. Please review the rights and responsibilities of being a Legal Permanent Resident in the United States.
Do you have to open a sealed visa packet?
Do not open the sealed visa packet, you must carry it unopened to an immigration officer at a port-of-entry.
