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K-1 fiancé visa: bringing your fiancé to marry in the U.S.
For U.S. citizens who want to marry a foreign national partner and begin the green card process from inside the United States.
Consultations by phone, Zoom or WhatsApp, in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Short answer
If your future spouse is a foreign national living abroad, you probably have questions about green cards, visas, and how to build a life together in the United States. A K-1 fiancé visa lets a foreign national engaged to a U.S. citizen enter the country to marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card. We help you understand your legal options and handle the government communication so you can focus on your wedding.
Marry in the U.S. within 90 days of arrival, then adjust status to lawful permanent resident.
Does my loved one need a fiancé visa?
A fiancé visa, also called a K-1 visa, allows a foreign national who is currently engaged to a U.S. citizen to enter and reside in the United States before the actual wedding. However, not every engaged couple needs to apply for a fiancé visa.
Under these circumstances, your fiancé may have the option to apply for permanent residency after your wedding using a different process. However, if your future spouse lives outside the United States, does not have a valid visa, and wants to apply for legal permanent residence, the first step in their immigration journey is a fiancé visa. We can help you understand the full spectrum of immigration options available to you.
- Your fiancé does not need a K-1 visa if they do not plan on living in the U.S. after your marriage.
- Your fiancé does not need a K-1 visa if you are not planning on getting married in the United States.
- Your fiancé does not need a K-1 visa if they already have a valid green card or visa and can legally reside in the U.S.
Who qualifies for a fiancé visa?
The eligibility requirements for a K-1 visa are relatively broad, but it is always a good idea to consult with an immigration lawyer before you apply. This is especially true if your future spouse has ever been charged or convicted of a crime abroad or in the U.S., or committed a U.S. immigration violation. U.S. immigration law is very complicated, and even something like petty theft or a DUI can change the way it is applied to you or a family member. An immigration lawyer can help you avoid missteps that could cost your fiancé their visa or green card.
You are a U.S. Citizen
The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen. Green card holders, DACA recipients, and most other visa holders cannot request a K-1 visa for a loved one.
You and your fiancé plan on marrying within 90 days
The K-1 visa requires that the marriage take place within 90 days of your fiancé's entry into the United States. This deadline is strict and cannot be extended.
You met in person within the past two years
In the past two years, the two of you must have physically met each other. Limited waivers exist for cultural or hardship reasons.
You both can legally marry in the U.S.
You must both be legally free to marry. Any prior marriages must be legally ended and documented.
Any of your fiancé's children who are under the age of 21 can also receive K-2 derivative status visas if they intend to move to the U.S. along with your fiancé.
Ready to file a visa petition for your fiancé? Let's schedule your Legal Strategy and Planning Session today.
Who qualifies?
The petitioner is a U.S. citizen
Green card holders and most other non-citizens cannot file a K-1 petition.
You have met in person in the last two years
Limited waivers exist for cultural or hardship reasons.
Both of you are free to marry
Prior marriages must be legally ended and documented.
You intend to marry within 90 days of arrival
That deadline is strict and cannot be extended.
Schedule a case evaluation
Tell us your situation. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case.
Schedule Free Case EvaluationWe reply within 1 business day, in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Do you qualify? A four-question check
Do you qualify? A four-question check
Four questions. Nothing you answer is stored or sent to us.
What does the process look like?
File the I-129F petition
2 to 3 weeks
Relationship evidence, proof you met, and the intent to marry.
USCIS decision
6 to 11 months
The petition is approved and sent to the National Visa Center.
Consular interview abroad
3 to 6 months
Medical exam, police certificates and the interview.
Marry and adjust status
10 to 16 months after entry
Marriage within 90 days, then the green card application.
How long does it take?
Expect 12 to 18 months from filing to your fiancé's arrival, and another 10 to 16 months for the green card after marriage. A spousal visa often reaches permanent residence sooner overall.
What does it cost?
Flat fee, quoted in two stages.
We quote the petition and the consular stage as a flat fee, and the adjustment of status after marriage separately, so you are never paying for a stage you have not reached.
Government filing fees are set by the agencies and are not part of our fee.
Frequently asked questions
Rarely. The fiancé arrives sooner, but permanent residence usually comes later. We show you both timelines before you choose.
Contact
Tell us about your case
Send us the basics and we'll reply within one business day in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- We reply within one business day, in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- Consultations by phone, Zoom or WhatsApp.
- Attorney input is part of our case evaluation process from the start. The information you share is carefully reviewed with an attorney.
Take the Next Step Today
Whether you need help with a visa, a green card, or deportation defense, we're ready to help.
Reach out to our trusted immigration law attorneys in Coral Springs and South Florida.