Fiancé Visa USA

Fiancé Visa USA

U.S. citizens who wish to sponsor their fiancé’s green card may do so by applying for a fiancé visa, also known as a K-1 visa. Sponsors can start the process by filing form I-129f with USCIS and paying a $535 fee.

Fiancé Visa Requirements

Applicants who wish to bring their fiancé to the U.S. must provide documentation showing that the relationship is authentic, such as photos together with their fiancé, plane ticket receipts showing that they have visited one another, money order remittances, and proof of trips taken together (Airbnb, hotel receipts). The U.S. citizen sponsor and the fiancé must both write and notarize letters indicating that they both intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé immigrating to the U.S.

The U.S. citizen sponsor should also include a passport-style photo (2 inches x 2 inches) of both parties. If either was married previously, USCIS will require the divorce certificate(s).

Fiancé Visa Interview

Once USCIS approves the fiancé visa application, they will send the approved case to the U.S. embassy in the fiancé’s home country. The U.S. citizen sponsor will then be invited to upload various documents to the Department of State website through the National Visa Center (NVC), such as the fiancé’s birth certificate, passport biographic page, police clearance, and two passport-style photos. The fiancé will also need to fill out the online form DS-160 (application for a fiancé visa) and complete a undergo a medical exam.

Once these documents are uploaded, the Department of State will schedule an interview, in which the fiancé confirms the authenticity of their relationship and verifies their identity. If all goes well, they will receive a K-1 fiancé visa stamp in their passport. They must then travel to the U.S. within six months.  

90-Day Fiancé

Upon immigrating to the U.S., the U.S. citizen and fiancé have 90 days to get married, after which they must file the adjustment of status, or marriage green card application. In other words, the fiancé is not yet a permanent resident; they may be required to attend one more interview together with their spouse at a local USCIS office. During this time, the green card applicant spouse may apply for a work authorization card and a travel permit (called advance parole) while they wait for USCIS to approve their green card.

Fiancé Visa vs. Marriage Visa

As you can see, the fiancé visa process is long and complicated. It’s generally faster and easier for applicants to marry first, either in the U.S. or abroad, and apply for a marriage green card directly.

Fiancé Visa Lawyer New York

Determining how to proceed with your marriage green card process can be confusing. If you need help applying for a K-1 visa or anything else, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney. Please contact us today: +1 845-288-2435 / beaconimmigrationlawyer@gmail.com.

 

 

Beacon Immigration PLLC is a law firm located in the Hudson Valley of New York at 6 Eliza Street, Suite 5, Beacon, NY 12508 (Dutchess County).