A K-1 visa (also known as a “fiancé visa” or “fiancée visa“) is a Non Immigrant Visa that allows the engaged partner of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States, under the condition that the couple will get married no more than 90 days later.

The newly married spouse can then apply for permanent residence (also known as “green card”) based on the marriage.

In short, any partner to a U.S. citizen who intends to marry with him or her within 90 days of the entry into the United States is eligible. However, there are specific requirements that apply. For example:

• Both partners must be able to marry
• Partners must have met in person at least once in the last 2 years
• The U.S. citizen must meet certain income requirements
• The legitimacy of the relationship must be proved with photos, messages, trips taken together, written statements by friends and family etc.

To find out if you are eligible, we recommend taking our free eligibility assessment below:

*Preliminary result in under 2 minutes
*Expert advice in 24 hours

The first step for an eligible couple is for the U.S. citizen fiancé(e) to file Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)”) with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The following documents should be attached:

• Proof of citizenship for the U.S. citizen fiancé(e)
• Copy of the sponsored fiancé’s passport
• One passport-style photo of the U.S. citizen fiancé(e)
• One passport-style photo of the sponsored fiancé(e)
• Proof of the legitimacy of the relationship (photos, correspondence, sworn statements…)
• Proof of in-person meeting at least one time within the last 2 years
• Sworn statements signed by each partner with a brief description of the relationship and the intent to marry within 90 days of the sponsored fiancé’s arrival in the United States.
• A copy of any Form I-94 arrival-departure record previously issued to the sponsored fiancé(e).

The government’s required fee for Form I-129F is $535

The second step is a DS-160 form and Interview.

The sponsored fiancé(e) must complete the State Department’s online DS-160 form. This is the actual K-1 visa application.

The following documents are required:

• For the sponsored fiancé(e):
  • Two passport-style photos
  • Birth certificate
  • Valid, unexpired passport
  • Police clearance
  • Sealed medical exam form
• For the sponsoring fiancé(e) (the U.S. citizen):
  • Affidavit of support (Form I-134)
  • Most recent tax returns
  • Proof of relationship (copy of the approved I-129F package originally filed with USCIS)

The first step in your K-1 Visa journey is finding out if you are eligible.

If you are eligible, the first step is for the U.S. citizen fiancé(e) to file Form
I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)”) with U.S
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

As the second step, the sponsored fiancé(e) must complete the State
Department’s online DS-160 form. This is the actual K-1 visa application.

The third step is Interview which is done at the nearest embassy or
consulate.

To check which documents you need to provide, see What documents are
required for a K-1 Visa.

To find out if you are eligible, we recommend taking our free eligibility
assessment below:

*Preliminary result in under 2 minutes
*Expert advice in 24 hours

On average, K-1 Visa procedure takes 6 to 9 months from start to finish.

• Petition Overview (~4 Hours)
• USCIS NOA 1 (1-3 Weeks)
• USCIS NOA 2 (5-7 Months)
• NVC Phase (2-3 Weeks)
• Embassy Phase (1-3 Months)

There are 5 main phases:

1. Petition Overview
   It is important to make sure nothing is missing. Our expert team will take care of all the details and assemble forms and documents precisely as
   the U.S. government likes to see them, so you don’t have to worry about
   that.
2. USCIS NOA 1
   After the I-129F form is filed, you will receive Notice of Action 1 (NOA1) from the USCIS confirming they have received it.
3. USCIS NOA2
   This is the period between USCIS receipt and approval. This period can
   be unpredictable in case of unpredicted world events like the COVID-10 or
   presidential executive orders. You will be notified via Notice of Action 2
   (NOA 2)
4. NVC Phase
   In this period, the case is moved from USCIS to the National Visa Center (NVC), for further vetting by the Department of State.
5. Embassy Phase
   Once the case is cleared with the NVC, it moves onto the embassy, where the fiancé(e) to the U.S. citizen will have an interview. Before this interview, there is also a medical exam to make sure they don’t have any
   communicable diseases.

The interview is the final step. Hopefully, the outcome is positive!
The K-1 fiancé(e) visa will usually be delivered via courier. It is a self-adhesive decal that is placed in the beneficiary’s passport.

A couple’s total costs in fees are around $1040.
There are 3 main fees when applying for a K-1 Visa:

1. Filing fee for an Alien Fiancé(e) Petition – Form I-129F ($535.00)
2. Visa application processing fee ($265.00)
3. Medical examination fee ($240.00)

Usual additional costs you should think about are necessary translation costs, photocopy costs, potential fees for acquiring official documents (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, divorce decrees etc.).

If you decide to get expert help from K1Pros, you will get a personalized, transparent offer with no hidden costs. Our team will save you both time and money thanks to useful advices, administrative and legal support. See how we help with the K-1 process here.

Are you eligible for K-1 Visa? Take our online assessment here – 100% free, no credit card needed.

Of course! After getting married, the final step is to apply for a marriage-based green card.

The green card will be sponsored by the same partner who originally sponsored the K-1 fiancé(e) visa.

If you wish to apply for a green card, our staff would be happy to help with that as well! Contact us here.