K-1 visa???

Question

What is the K-1 visa process? What are the forms and documents that you need to submit? What happens after your petition is approved, as far as the extra documents you need to send to the foreign consulate before the interview? What is the interview like?

I want to know exactly what to do so that no delays or problems will occur. Also what are the potential issues that cause delays/denials? And if that does happen, can you reapply? Additionally, what is the time frame for this whole process?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I went through the visa process with my wife who came here back in January 2005, so I have experience. The following steps are important, but above all you will need proof of a valid relationship (i.e.) proof of visits, pictures of the two you together, letters and other similar items.

You might register with the following forum WWW.visajourney.com It is a forum that is dedicated to people who are getting a fiance/spousal visa. It is a good place to ask questions and get current information

This is what you need to do:

Your U.S. citizen fiance must file the K1 fiance visa petition on your behalf with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the following forms and documents:

1. USCIS Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance (If you have unmarried children who are under 21, they are eligible to accompany you, but only if they are listed on this form)

2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship - Evidence can include original U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship

3. Two Form G-325A Biographic Data Sheets (one for you and one for your fiance)

4. One color photo of you and one of your fiance taken within 30 days of filing

5. Copies of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment decrees if either you or your fiance have been previously married (If documents are printed in a foreign language (i.e.) Spanish, Japanese, Russian, et al... it will need to be translated to English with a statement from translator they are fluent in this language and English)

6. Proof of permission to marry if you or your fiance are subject to any age restrictions



B. Applying for the K1 Visa at an American Consulate

Once the USCIS approves of the petition, it forwards it to the American Consulate where you will be applying for the K1 visa. The petition is valid for a period of four months from the date of USCIS action, and may be revalidated by the consular officer.

The consular officer will notify you when the approved petition is received and provide you the necessary forms and instructions to apply for a K1 visa. You may have to submit the following documents as a part of your K1 fiance visa application at the American Consulate:

1. Valid passport

2. Copy of your birth certificate

3. Copies of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment decrees if either of you have been previously married

4. Police certificate from all places where you have lived since age 16

5. Medical examination

6. Evidence that your fiance will support you

7. Evidence of valid relationship with your fiance

8. Two photographs 1 and 1/2 inches square (37x37mm), showing full face, against a light background

There is always the possibility of delays during the name and background check. As far as any possible denials it all depends on the Visa Officer (VO) who conducts the interview. Each one has something they look for. Some denials I am familiar with are where the VO does not believe there is a valid relationship, missing necessary documentation or the person is not prepared.

If you are denied they will let you know the reason why and will be given the chance to submit overcome documents. The best thing you can do is to have all your documentation, pictures of the two of you together and anything else you can think of.

Time frame varies from country to country. Some are faster and some are slower, but anywhere from 8 to 12 months seem to be the norm.

Hope it helps

Answer 2

Casey did a pretty good job of answering about K1 visas.
So, please don't vote for my information as "best answer"

I just wanted to add a few more considerations to think about.

In the Good Old Days (tm) it used to be that K1 apps were processed much quicker than K3 apps (2-5 months faster) But, after the DHS took over from INS and lengthy FBI checks became the norm, K1 and K3 applications are, more often than not, taking exactly the same amount of time to process by the foreign consulates.

Therefore, If you are already planning on doing two weddings (one in the US and the other in the spouse's home country), you might as well marry in your spouse's foreign country first and then file K3, and save yourself the $170 of filing fees. This is so, because you would still have to file the full AOS (adjustment of status) packet once you married in the US after you arrived on a K1. With a K3 you get it all done at once and when your foreign spouse arrives in the US, he/she does so with a green card in hand.

Answer 3

Look you are getting ready to apply for a visa that gets rejected at least 60% of the time because of incomplete paperwork, incorrect documentation or documents not in order. I remember being at an American Embassy in a foreign country and I remember seeing a tremendous amount of ladies coming out crying because their application got rejected. There is an outstanding immigration attorney in La Jolla California by the name of Holmes and Lolly. These people are outstanding in this field of k-1 visas. They have a web site. Here it is http://www.fianceevisas.com/
Go there and read the information about K-1 visas and read the testimonials. After you have read it then call these people. The phone call is free. Whatever you do, and I mean this, do not try to take any shortcuts, or do not have any kind of fraud in mind at all. Trying to take shortcuts will get you nothing but a lot of heartache and drama. I promise if you let these people handle this for you, you will be so glad and happy, and things will go so much smoother and easier for you.