If you are engaged to be married to a U.S. citizen and are coming to the United States to marry that person, you must apply for a K-1, or fiancé, visa.
Petition for alien fiancé
The first step to apply for a fiancé visa is filing a petition for alien fiancé. This petition should be filed by the U.S. citizen.
Once the petition is approved, you can apply for your fiancé visa. The petition is only valid for four months from the date of approval by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), so it is important to apply for it as soon as you can.
When the petition is approved, you should receive the necessary forms and instructions to apply for your fiancé visa. Since there are many documents you will need, start gathering and organizing them as soon as possible.
The documents you will need include:
- Birth certificate
- Medical examination
- Passport
- Two recent photographs
Your passport should be valid for travel to the United States for 6 months longer than the time you intend to stay.
Additionally, if you were previously married, you must provide a divorce or death certificate of your prior spouse.
Proving your relationship
You must also provide evidence that you and your fiancé have a valid relationship and that you are not marrying your fiancé only to become a U.S. citizen.
There are several types of evidence you can use to prove your relationship, including photos of you and your fiancé, including photos and videos of you together, records of written communication and evidence of time spent together, such as travel itineraries.
A written personal statement is another form of evidence. Your statement should state how you met your fiancé, key events in your relationship and future plans. Your friends and family can submit notarized statements detailing their interactions with both of you.
The fiancé visa process can be complex and take time. Following the proper steps and submitting strong evidence increases the chance of visa approval within a reasonable time.
