| Congratulations on your engagement to be married! | | | | There are three steps with this process and three |
| First comes love and then comes the visa to bring | | | | government entities involved: |
| your loved one to the US. Many who are planning their | | | | Step 1 Citizenship and Immigration Services |
| marriage in the US to a US citizen, have important | | | | - A petition is signed by the US Citizen sponsor and is |
| questions and concerns they would like addressed | | | | filed along with the correct evidence and supporting |
| such as: | | | | documentation, with the US Citizenship & |
| What do I need to do to prepare and consider for a | | | | Immigration Services (USCIS). |
| successful outcome for our case? | | | | - The petition is approved and moves forward to the |
| - You must have personally met within the last 2 years | | | | National Visa Center. |
| and you must show substantial evidence of this. Save | | | | Step 2 The National Visa Center |
| your boarding passes, hotel receipts, events, phone bills, | | | | - The approved fiance petition has been forwarded to |
| emails, chats, cards, letters, photos and as much | | | | the National Visa Center (NVC). The National Visa |
| evidence as possible to demonstrate you have met, | | | | Center assigns the case a consular number and may |
| and are carrying on your relationship. | | | | begin preparation for the consular interview. This |
| - The petitioner must be a US Citizen. | | | | depends on the consulate. |
| - Neither party can be married at the time of filing the | | | | - The case is forwarded to the consulate for a |
| K1 fiance visa case. | | | | scheduled interview appointment. |
| - You must have final divorce decrees signed by the | | | | Step 3 Consular Processing |
| judge or the court if you were married previously. | | | | - The applicant attends the interview with a well |
| - Tentatively plan your wedding, shop for rings and get | | | | prepared updated file and new evidence submitted. |
| appraisals, look at wedding reception halls, talk to your | | | | The applicant knows the file and is prepared for the |
| church and get documentation of this. Find a wedding | | | | interview. |
| planner, etc., but DON'T set a concrete date for the | | | | - The fiance visa holder has 6 months to enter the US |
| wedding otherwise you will be depending on the | | | | and once in the US has 90 days to marry their US |
| government to process your case in time for the | | | | Citizen fiance. Your foreign national fiance should then |
| wedding ! That could pose as a problem if the visa | | | | begin to adjust their status for residency in the US |
| doesn't arrive on time! The best course of action is to | | | | after being married. |
| tentatively plan on a wedding to take place within a | | | | How long does the process take? |
| year. You will need as much of this evidence as | | | | - The government wait times are generally 8 months |
| possible to demonstrate you are truly planning a | | | | but this depends on the regional center in the US |
| wedding in the US. | | | | where the petition will be filed and the consulate |
| - Be sure you can support your fiance in the US | | | | abroad. Each regional center and consulate have |
| through the affidavit of support agreement you will | | | | different wait times but generally the most you will wait |
| sign. This is a document the US Citizen signs telling the | | | | is 8 months. |
| government that your fiance will not become a ward | | | | How much does it cost? |
| of the state, i.e, your foreign national fiance cannot | | | | - The filing fees change periodically regarding the |
| obtain US government assistance. Therefore, you | | | | petition. You should check the USCIS website for |
| must demonstrate you can support your fiance | | | | current filing fees. As of January, 2009 the fiance filing |
| through work verification letters, tax returns, bank | | | | fees are $455.00 The consulate fees will vary |
| statements, assets etc. If you cannot demonstrate this | | | | depending on the consulate, police clearances, medical |
| you will need to find a joint sponsor to join your | | | | exams and consular forms will need to be obtained |
| affidavit to demonstrate the support will be available if | | | | and filed which all have fees. Generally, the fees are |
| needed. | | | | $300 to $500 at the consulate. |
| - Your fiance cannot wait in the US for the visa they | | | | It is an important step to take when deciding to get |
| must wait abroad in the country they reside in. It is | | | | married, and even more importantly to make sure your |
| highly suggested they do not come on a tourist visa or | | | | foreign national fiance can come to the US without |
| visa waiver to wait for the fiance visa and then return | | | | any delays or denials. This article serves to give you |
| home. The US consulate abroad could deny the case | | | | some useful information but is not a guarantee for a |
| if this takes place. | | | | 100% successful outcome. This should be a jubilant |
| - If you, or your fiance has any arrest records or court | | | | time when planning to be married! Be sure you plan |
| convictions this could pose as a problem for a | | | | accordingly for your wedding celebration and |
| successful outcome on obtaining the K1 fiance visa. | | | | remember first comes love, then comes the fiance |
| You should seek immigration counsel to determine | | | | visa. |
| whether your record will affect filing the case. | | | | If you would like to have any other questions or |
| - The consulate will ask you a series of questions | | | | concerns answered by our law firm, please check out |
| about your relationship and you must be prepared to | | | | our K1K3 website and send us an email for a free |
| discuss your relationship with the consulate. Always tell | | | | consultation. We answer all emails with detail and |
| the truth. If you have overstayed on a visa in the US | | | | prompt replies. We aim to please and our firm charges |
| or have filed for any other visa previously and were | | | | fair legal fees so that you can afford professional legal |
| denied or you have ever entered the US illegally, you | | | | service with expertise and efficiency. We dedicate |
| must be prepared to discuss this with the consulate. | | | | ourselves and take pride and pleasure in representing |
| You should seek immigration counsel to discuss these | | | | you to unite with your loved one in the USA. We look |
| matters if any of these situations apply to you, before | | | | forward to hearing from you at your convenience! |
| you file for any visa. | | | | Congratulations once again on your engagement to be |
| How does the process work? | | | | married! |