Steps to Get a K-1 Fiancé Visa
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The fiancé or K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that is issued to the fiancé of a U.S. citizen to enter the U.S. and get married. If the fiancé who obtains and travels to the US with the visa so wishes, they can apply to get lawful permanent residence status (a green card) after they get married by going through what is known as the “adjustment of status” process. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we have experienced K-1 visa immigration lawyers who routinely help clients obtain this K1 visa.
Below is a step-by-step overview of the process one must go through to apply for and obtain a K-visa. This overview assumes you have already checked and know or believe you or your fiancé qualifies for the visa.
Step One: Fiancés’ Personal Meeting
The law requires that the couple engaged to be married must have met in person within two years of the application for the K-1 visa being filed. You should therefore make sure this has happened before you start the K-1 visa application process. Most engaged couples find it easier and more convenient for the U.S. citizen to simply travel and meet the fiancé at a place they find convenient, usually the fiancé’s home country.
However, it may be possible to avoid this physical meeting requirement within two years for cases of religious traditions or extreme hardship to the U.S. citizen but proving this is no easy walk in the park as most cases where the exception is sought are denied.
Step Two: Filing of I-129 Fiancé Petition by U.S. Citizen
The U.S. citizen must then file a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is accomplished by mail, using Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé. The person filing is referred to as the “petitioner.”
Step Three: Non-Citizen Fiancé Applies to U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Once the fiancé petition is filed, the U.S. embassy or consulate indicated on the petition will contact the non-citizen fiancé and inform them about what is required to complete the process of obtaining a K-1 visa. The non-citizen fiancé will then have to appear before a consular officer for a scheduled interview.
Step Four: Travel to the United States on K-1 Visa
The non-citizen fiancé will then travel to the US and present the K-1 visa at a U.S. border, airport, or another point of entry. It is important for the K-1 visa holder to know admission is not guaranteed until after inspection at the point of entry to the US.
Step Five: Get Married in the United States
The K-1 visa is only valid for 90 days after entry to the United States; therefore, it is best for the couple to get married as soon as possible after the non-citizen’s entry to the United States. If this happens, the non-citizen can apply for a green card and have it processed in the U.S. Otherwise, the individual must leave the US to complete the green card process if they wish to obtain a green card.
If you wish to obtain a K-1 fiancé visa and are in the Chicago area, contact us today and schedule a consultation. We are based in Chicago but also offer our services in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We handle all types of immigration cases.
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Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
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We are incredibly grateful for the help and support we received from this office. From the very beginning, they understood the urgency of our situation and treated our case with real care, professionalism, and speed. They were extremely responsive, clear, and compassionate throughout the entire process. They moved quickly when timing was critical, kept us informed, and helped us navigate a very stressful immigration situation with confidence. Thanks to their…
Kevin Raica and his team handled my immigration application and i can other recommend them enough. They made a stressful process very easy. They are very knowledgeable in this area and helped us at every stage from beginning to end.
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Hay momentos en la vida en los que una familia siente que el mundo se detiene. Nosotros vivimos uno de esos momentos y, en medio de la incertidumbre y el miedo, tuvimos la fortuna de encontrar a la abogada Sheila McNulty y al paralegal Rafael Rodríguez . Nos escucharon con empatía, nos guiaron con paciencia y defendieron nuestro caso con un profesionalismo, una dedicación y una calidad humana realmente excepcionales.…
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