What are the requirements for a K-1 Visa?
- The petitioner must be a US citizen of 21 years of age or older.
- The couple must intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s entry into the United States.
- Both parties must be legally free to marry
- The couple is required to have met in person in the last 2 years.
- The couple must provide proof that they have met physically in person at least once in the last 2 years. Skype does not count.
- The sponsor must meet income requirements, which is 125% of the Federal Poverty Index, regardless of their current occupation.
- Both parties must disclose if they have met through a marriage agent. In such case, they must provide the written and signed consent form, which the IMB obtained from the beneficiary, authorizing the disclosure of their personal contact information.
- You may not qualify if you have been convicted of certain crimes (or attempted to commit them)
- The children of the fiancé(e) can come to the United States with the fiancé(e) with the K-2 visa. You do not have to apply for them separately as they are mentioned on the applicant's form.
The above list contains the general requirements and may vary according to each individual case, there may be other requirements than those mentioned above.
What documents are required?
- Form I-129F petition
- Biographic Information
- A photocopy of your current marital status document; evidence of your and/or your fiancé’s previous marriage(s) termination
- Color passport photographs on white background, 2x2 inches
- The Sponsor’s U.S. birth or naturalization certificate or U.S. passport proving their status of a U.S. citizen
- Police clearance from every country in which the applicant lived for six months and longer, after the age of 16.
- Form DS-160
- Proof or evidence that the couple has physically met in person at least once in the recent 2 years. Skype does not count.
- Proof of intent to get married (announcements, vendor and ceremony organizer communications, etc.)
The list may vary depending on each individual case, you may be requested additional documents other than listed above.
How much does it cost?
U.S. government fees are mandatory and nonrefundable:
- Fiancé petition (I-129F): $535
- Online immigrant visa application (DS-160 visa): $160
The total cost can vary depending on each individual case. The figures above do not include attorney fees, professional assistance and translation fees, travel costs, securing needed documents, postage, etc. Government fees may change by the decision of the government.
Application advisory fee charged by Immigrate.tech: $399
How long does it take?
K-1 Visa (Fiancé Visa) application process usually takes from 6 to 9 months.
- The Sponsor files Form I-129F, the USCIS confirms the receipt within 1-3 weeks.
- The applicant is notified whether the petition was approved or denied 5-7 months later.
- The case is reviewed by the National Visa Center in 2-3 weeks.
- The case is reviewed by the local U.S. embassy in 1-3 months.
- The fiancé attends an Embassy interview.
- The visa is issued 2-10 days later.
This information is approximate and does not guarantee that the actual timeline of your application will be the same.
Application tips:
- Submit your valid and up-to-date official documents
- Do not provide false, misleading or fraudulent information or documents
- Answer all of the questions honestly
- Avoid spelling mistakes
- Provide as much information as you can