Applying for a fiance visa is nerve-racking as you are already making a big step in life. To make it easier, you need to understand the fiance visa requirements and check if you meet them. So, keep reading our fiance visa USA requirements guide and enjoy our K1 visa checklist to collect all documents!
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Meeting all K1 fiance visa requirements is an essential step on the road to getting a fiance visa. The whole complex of them is made to establish whether fiance and US citizen have a genuine relationship, true intentions to marry, and meet immigration law conditions. Let’s take a look at 10 requirements that you must meet to obtain a fiance visa.
To file for a K1 visa, a petitioner must be able to prove US citizenship. What documents can prove that you are a citizen?
Note that Green Card holders are not eligible for the fiance visa, but they are suitable for a Marriage Green Card.
The US petitioner must convince USCIS and the Consulate that the relationship is genuine, and both partners intend to marry within 90 days of entry. Such a time crunch exists to avoid immigration fraud and marriage solely for Green Cards. To prove intention to marry both people in the couple, submit a Letter of Intent to Marry or/and any other additional evidence of your plans.
To marry in the US during the set time frame, you and your fiance must be legally free to marry. How to prove it?
If you have already married abroad, you cannot apply for a K1 visa but can for a CR-1 or IR-1 spouse visa that has different filing requirements.
The essential requirement for applying for a fiance visa is that you and your fiance must have physically met each other in person at least once within the last 2 years. It doesn’t mean you need to be in a relationship or know each other for two years, but simply have proof that you met in the required timeframe. How to prove?
Note that video meetings through different apps, websites, etc. don’t count as meeting in person. You can request a waiver in unique situations like:
To file for such a waiver, you must have strong evidence to support your claim. It can be medical records, proof of immediate danger, or statements from religious leaders.
Meeting minimum fiance visa income requirements is another important step on the way to getting the K1 visa. To become a ‘sponsor’ of your fiance visa, you must file an Affidavit of Support and have income 100% or 125% of the poverty line, depending on which petition you are filing. To prove that you meet income requirements, you can use bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs.
However, your current income is not enough, and there are two alternatives:
Not meeting income requirements is one of the most common reasons for K1 visa denial. So, make sure to add all proof you can that your financial situation is suitable.
The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) requires K-1 visa petitioners to disclose if they have been convicted of certain crimes (or attempted them). Undergoing a background step is obligatory and petitioners must submit any related court, police, or prison records. The IMBRA act exists to protect future spouses of any forms of abuse from the sponsoring side.
To meet fiance visa medical requirements, you must pass a medical examination performed by the US Embassy-approved physician. Each country has specific requirements for medical tests. Let’s see what they are like in the example of Russia.
When you schedule your appointment online or by phone, you must come on a certain day and time. The applicant will need to bring the following items that a doctor requires to complete the medical forms:
The medical examination will include:
To pass a medical exam, a doctor must state that you don’t have any infectious diseases. After medical examination, the doctor will either provide results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the US Consulate.
Filling in many forms is an unavoidable part of filing for the K1 visa. Here is a handy checklist that will help you meet all the requirements and prepare the documents for applying for a fiance visa.
Preparing a full package requires time and effort. Don’t rush filing and double-check your documents and forms for mistakes and see if you meet all the requirements to avoid receiving requests for additional information and, therefore, longer processing times.
Applying for a K1 visa has quite a number of requirements and nuances that you need to know before starting your immigration journey. You must cover all of them to help your petition succeed. We hope that our explanations of every requirement were useful, and a handy checklist will help you file for a fiance visa like a pro!
[1] – https://travel.state.gov/
[2] – https://www.uscis.gov/ (Form I-864P)
[4] – https://www.uscis.gov/ (Form I-129F)
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