K1 Visa (Fiance or Fiancee of U.S. Citizens) Fiancee Visa Basics
A Fiancee Visa (also known as a K1 Visa) is a travel document that allows a foreign Fiancee of a U.S. Citizen to enter the United States
for the sole purpose of getting married. Fiancee Visas are generally considered the quickest vehicle to legally bring a foreign fiancée to the U.S. with the intentions of marriage and immigration.
What are the necessary steps to obtain a Fiancee Visa?
There are two major steps to the Fiancee Visa process: The first step involves the filing of a Petition for the Alien Fiancee by the U.S. Citizen (also known as the "Petitioner").
This Petition is filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and must be sent to the appropriate USCIS Service Center, which is based upon the geographic
residency of the U.S. Citizen.
Once the Petition has been approved by the USCIS, the second step involves the filing of the foreign fiancee visa application, including several
forms and affidavits of support, the Foreign Fiancee's interview and the eventual issuance of the Fiancee Visa at his/her country's U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Once the Fiancee Visa is issued, how does it work?
The Fiancee is free to enter the United States once a valid Fiancee Visa is issued. Once the Fiancee enters the U.S., the marriage between the Petitioner and the Fiancee must take place within 90
days of the Fiancee's entry. If the Fiancee does not marry the Petitioner within 90 days, or if the Fiancee marries someone other than the Petitioner, the Fiancee must leave the United States after 90 days.
Who is eligible to file a Petition for a Fiancee Visa?
U.S. Citizens who intend to marry a foreign national in the United States may file a Petition. The U.S. Citizen and foreign Fiancee must be free to marry. This means that they are both unmarried, or that any previous mariages
have ended in divorce, death, or annulment. The couple must also have met in person (at least once) within the last two years prior to the filing of the Petition.
Are Fiancee visas ever issued to couples who have not met in person?
There are extraordinary and extremely limited circumstances in which fiancee visas have been issued to couples who have never met. For example,
fiancee visas may be issued under rare instances where a couple have not met in person due to certain religious or other extreme hardship cases.
Can Fiancee Visas be extended or renewed after the initial 90 days of entry if there is no marriage?
No. The Fiancee must leave the country if he/she does not marry within the 90 day period after U.S. entry. They may not re-enter the U.S. again under the same us fiancee Visa.
They may, however, re-enter the U.S. after approval of a completely new Fiancee Visa/K1 Visa by starting the entire process again with the same Petitioner or a new Petitioner.
