Talk To A Chicago Immigration Attorney
312-332-2550
Steps to Take Before Applying for a K1 Visa
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
Getting a visa to come to the United States is no walk in the park. Besides meeting stringent requirements for the various nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visas available, one must navigate the complex immigration system to get approved for any of the visas. One of the nonimmigrant visas available for those who qualify is the K1 or “fiancé” visa.
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we have experienced immigration lawyers who assist clients in the Chicago area to apply for and obtain both a K1 visa and a green card when they come to the U.S.
A K1 visa allows a fiancé of a U.S. citizen to come to the U.S. and apply for an immigrant visa (green card). However, both the fiancé and U.S. citizen must satisfy various requirements and take the steps necessary to complete the process of obtaining the K1 visa and the green card after they arrive in the U.S.
Below are the steps one must take before applying for a K1 visa:
Determine K1 Visa Eligibility. To be eligible for a K1 visa, the following requirements must be satisfied:
- The foreigner must be engaged to a U.S. citizen filing the petition.
- Both the foreigner and U.S. citizen must be free to legally marry. This means if either or both the foreign fiancé and U.S. citizen were previously married, the marriage must be terminated, and you must have proof of the termination (divorce decree) before submitting your application.
- Both the U.S. citizen and foreign fiancé must have met each other in person within the last two years.
- Both the foreign fiancé and U.S. citizen must have intent to get married within 90 days of the foreign fiancé entering the U.S.
Filing the Petition. If the above requirements are met, the U.S. citizen will file a Form I-129F with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and pay the applicable fee.
Foreign Fiancé Files Form DS-160. Once the U.S. citizen fiancé’s petition (Form I-129F) is approved by USCIS, the foreign fiancé will file Form DS-160 online. The form is electronically transmitted to the Department of State.
Police Clearance and Medical Examination. The foreign fiancé will next undergo a medical examination by a doctor approved by the U.S. Embassy where the foreign fiancé lives. The foreign fiancé must also obtain a police clearance from every country they have lived in for the previous six years.
K1 Interview. The foreign fiancé will next be given an appointment for an interview with a visa officer at the U.S. consulate, as indicated on Form I-129F.
Admission to the U.S. If the interview is successful and the K1 visa is approved, the foreign fiancé will have the K1 visa stamped in their passport. The foreign fiancé will then use the K1 visa to enter the U.S.
Marriage. The foreign fiancé and U.S. citizen petitioner must get married within 90 days of the foreign fiancé being admitted into the U.S.
Adjustment of Status. The foreign fiancé will start the adjustment process for the green card after getting married.
Meet with an Illinois Immigration Lawyer About Your Options
Kriezelman Burton & Associates helps clients with a wide range of immigration matters. If you need help with applying for a K1 visa, contact our office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about how we can help you.
Lo que dicen nuestras clientas
Calificación de 5 estrellas | Basado en 200+ reseñas de clientes satisfechos en Google
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
¡Programe una consulta!
Publicidad de abogados. Esta información está diseñada solo para información general. La información presentada no debe interpretarse como asesoramiento legal formal ni como la formación de una relación abogado/cliente. Los resultados y testimonios anteriores no son garantía ni predicción del resultado de su caso, y no deben interpretarse como tales. Los resultados pasados no pueden garantizar el rendimiento futuro. Cualquier resultado en un solo caso no pretende crear una expectativa de resultados similares en asuntos futuros porque cada caso involucra muchos factores diferentes, por lo tanto, los resultados diferirán caso por caso. Al proporcionar información de contacto, los usuarios reconocen y dan su consentimiento explícito para ser contactados a través de los métodos de comunicación proporcionados, incluido SMS. Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos. La frecuencia de los mensajes puede variar. Responda STOP para optar por no participar.
NUVEW | Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy