The U.S K-1 fiancé visa is issued to foreign citizens who wish to marry American citizens and are looking forward to permanently settle in the U.S. This visa is mostly used by the citizens of the U.S. who want to bring their prospective wife or husband to the U.S for getting married. The U.S. citizen can file petition to USCIS on behalf of their fiancée, which are issued at the U.S. embassy or at the abroad consulate. The marriage should be organized within the 90 days of the fiancé reaching the U.S. Minor children of the fiancée can also accompany them with the K-2 visa.
Benefits of the U.S. K-1 Fiancé Visa
Some of the benefits of the K-1 fiancé visa are listed below
• The waiting period for the K1 fiancé visa is comparatively shorter than the marriage based immigration visa.
• The visa also provides work permit in the U.S.
• Children of the fiancé can accompany them to the U.S. with the K-2 dependent visa if they have their name included in the K-1 fiancée visa.
Eligibility Criteria
A person is eligible for the K1 fiancé visa under the following circumstances:
• The K-1 fiancé visa is issued if an individual and his/her fiancé are legally eligible for the marriage according to the laws of the U.S. and the laws of the country of the fiancé.
• The marriage should take place within 90 days of the fiancé entering the U.S.
• The fiancé should enter the U.S. with an intention of marriage with the U.S. citizen.
• Before filing petition for the K-1 fiancé visa, the applicant must have met the U.S. fiancée in the last two years. However, this requirement can be ignored in the case, if personal meeting with fiancé would violate long-established customs, or would create extreme problem for the applicant.
• The applicant has to meet certain minimum income requirements.
• The applicant of the K-1 visa should not have been involved in any criminal activities.
• Applicant should not violate certain U.S. immigration laws.
How long can the Fiancé Enjoy the Status?
A fiancé coming to the U.S with K-1 visa must marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days and once their marriage has taken place he or she can apply for the permanent resident status. Initially, one receives two years conditional residence and can later file additional paperwork for the removal of the residence conditions.
Children of the K1 US fiancé visa
Minor and unmarried children of the fiancé can derive K-2 nonimmigrant visa as long as they are included in the petition of K1 fiancé visa. The children do not require a separate petition if they follow the US fiancé visa holder within a period of one year. After one year they require a separate immigrant petition and during their stay in the U.S they are eligible to take employment.
Causes of Refusal of K-1 fiancée visa
K-1 fiancée visas may not be issued in to everyone even though the applicant and his fiancée may meet the required criteria. Thousands of K-1 fiancée visa petitions are filed with the USCIS every year and approximately 60% K-1 fiancée visa is issued by the Embassies. The rest 40% are denied either because of the fiancée having problems with the USCIS or with the Embassy that delays the process. It is essential to avail the K-1 fiancée visa service from a reliable and trust worthy visa service provide.
