Photo by Agus Dietrich on Unsplash

(Photo : Agus Dietrich on Unsplash)

Getting a visa for your loved ones is a task that you should get done ages before you plan on getting married. The process is long, and if you are not prepared for it, you will find yourself very stressed out. However, if you follow these steps, the process will be much easier for you and your family.

This article will lay out the whole process of getting a K1 visa for family members and some background information on the requirements and what a K1 visa can do for you and your family.

K1 Visa Explained

A K1 visa is a type of visa that allows you to bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to get married. Once your fiancé(e) enters the United States, you have 90 days to marry them. If you do not marry within those 90 days, your fiancé(e) will have to return to their home country.

Your fiance(e) needs a K1 visa to enter the United States. Getting a K1 visa can be long, but it is worth it in the end.

Complete Process of Getting a K1 Visa

The first step in getting a K1 visa is to file a petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You will need to fill out form I-129F and submit it to the USCIS.

You will need to include the following information in your petition:

  • Your name and contact information

  • Your fiance(e)'s name and contact information

  • The relationship between you and your fiance(e)

  • Proof that you have met each other in person within the last two years

  • Proof that you intend to marry each other within 90 days of your fiance(e) entering the United States

  • Your fiance(e)'s birth certificate

  • Your fiance(e)'s passport information

  • Your fiance(e)'s police record (if any)

  • Your fiance(e)'s medical exam results

  • Your fiance(e)'s travel itinerary

  • Your marriage license

  • Your divorce decree (if applicable)

You might need immigration lawyer advice on the best way to go about this.

After you have filed your petition with the USCIS, they will review it and decide whether or not to approve it. If your petition is approved, it will be sent to the US Department of State.

The US Department of State will then send your fiance(e) an interview notice. This notice will tell your fiance(e) when and where to go for their visa interview.

Your fiance(e) will need to bring the following documents to the interview:

  • Passport

  • Birth certificate

  • Police record (if any)

  • Medical exam results

  • Proof of relationship to you

  • Proof of travel plans

  • Divorce decree (if applicable)

After the interview, the US Department of State will decide whether or not to approve your fiance(e)'s visa. If the visa is approved, your fiance(e) will be able to come to the United States.

Once your fiance(e) is in the United States, you will have 90 days to marry. If you do not get married within those 90 days, your fiance(e) will have to return to their home country.

After you are married, your spouse can apply for a green card. Once your spouse has a green card, they will be able to live and work permanently in the United States.

Things to Remember

One thing you need to remember in filing an application for a K1 visa is to work on collecting the requirements way earlier than the intended travel date. It would be best to have all the requirements 6 months before the travel date, this way, you will not be stressing yourself if something pops up.

There will be no problems when your fiancé enters the United States. Another thing to remember is that a K1 visa is only good for approximately 4 months, so timing is key in applying for one. You need to ensure that everything is in order before the intended travel date.

You also need to remember that the processing takes about 6 to 8 months, so you need to start the process as soon as possible. It will be a hassle for you to start preparing for the requirements quite later than the recommended time frame.

Lastly, it is important to remember that you will need to get married within 90 days of your fiancé entering the United States. If you do not, your fiancé will have to return to their home country.

It is important to secure the K1 visa for your partner so that you can start your life together in the United States. The process may be long, but it is worth it.

Conclusion

Getting a K1 visa can be long, but it is worth it in the end. By following these steps, you will be one step closer to being reunited with your fiancé.