K-1 Fiance Visa - An Overview of Bringing Your Foreign Fiance To the US

Becoming engaged is one of the most important things a person can do. While making wedding arrangements is enough work in and of itself, obtaining a visa to allow your foreign fianc?o come to the US to marry can seem like a daunting task. The K-1 visa, also known as a fianc?isa, allows your non-US fianc?o travel to the US for up to 90 days in order to marry you. Here's what you should know about getting one:

1. You must be a US citizen in order to petition for a K-1 visa on behalf of your foreign fianc?US permanent residents cannot petition for a K-1 visa.

2. Both you and your fianc?ust be able to get married. Essentially this means that you must both be of
legal age and any previous marriages must be over.

3. You and your fianc?ust have met with each other in person at least once within the previous two years before filing the petition. Since your fianc?n most cases does not already have permission to enter the US, this means you must have traveled to see her at least once in the last two years.

4. You, or someone willing to sponsor your fianc?must be above the poverty line. In most cases this will require you to show that you meet minimum income requirements.

5. Your fianc?ill need to undergo a medical exam, as well as an interview at the US embassy closest to where she resides.

The process of obtaining the K-1 visa is twofold. First, you must file a petition with USCIS on behalf of your fianc?Once the petition is approved, USCIS will send it to the American embassy closest to where your fianc?s located. The embassy will then contact your fianc?o schedule a medical exam and interview. Your fianc?will also be asked to submit certain documents.

You may accompany your fianc?o the interview. Some petitioners have reported that this increases the chances of approval. The embassy officer will ask you and your fianc? series of questions to determine whether the relationship is real and non-fraudulent.

When your request for the K-1 visa for your fianc?s approved, she will have 6 months to travel to the US. She may only enter the US once with the visa and she will have 90 days to marry you. There are no possible extensions. If the marriage does not take place, she will have to leave the country. If the marriage takes place within 90 days, your fianc?an obtain conditional permanent residency and can stay in the US to live with you.
After 2 years, your spouse will be eligible to petition to remove the conditional status and gain permanent residency.

A licensed attorney can help you through the process of obtaining a K-1 visa for your fianc?/p>

Erik Morales is an attorney who runs a website offering info about the K-1 Visa process. He also offers assistance with obtaining the K-1 Fiance Visa. You may reach his website at http://www.getak1visa.com