The K-1 visa nonimmigrant Fiancé Visa is designed for a foreign fiancé of a U.S. citizen.
The K-1 visa allows the foreign citizen fiancé to travel to the United States and marry their sponsor within 90 days after their arrival to the United States.
The foreign fiancé will then apply for Adjustment of Status to become a U.S. permanent resident/green card holder. Both the fiancé visa and the Adjustment of Status are filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For more information, see the Adjustment of Status section.
Because the K-1 visa allows the foreign fiancé to travel to the United States and marry a U.S. citizen after he or she arrives in the United States, the foreign fiancé should meet the requirements of an immigrant visa. Eligible children of K-1 visa applicants may be eligible to receive a K-2 visa.
The U.S. citizen sponsor must file Form I-129F, Petition for an Alien Fiancé, with the USCIS office in the area where they live. The approval process for this first step takes anywhere from 7-13 months.
Once the I-129F is approved, the case is transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC).
The NVC will give you a case number. Once the DS-160 is completed and an interview is scheduled, NVC will forward your petition to the United States Embassy or Consulate where the foreign fiancé lives. The NVC will send you a letter or email when your fiancé’s case is sent to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once this letter is received, make sure all original documents are in order and prepare for the interview.