K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa: Bringing Your Foreign Fiancé(e) to the United States
If you’re a U.S. citizen who wants to bring your foreign fiancé(e) to the United States to get married, the K-1 visa lets your fiancé(e) enter the country before the wedding. Santana Residency Law helps couples throughout Miami and across the U.S. file Form I-129F, prepare for the consular interview, and move on to a Green Card after marriage.
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Call Santana Residency Law at 305-916-4800 to talk through your specific timeline and options.
Who Qualifies for a K-1 Visa?
The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen — lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) do not qualify to petition for a K-1.
Both partners must have met in person at least once within the two years before filing (limited exceptions exist for religious, cultural, or hardship reasons).
You must marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s arrival in the U.S. — if you don’t marry within that window, your fiancé(e) must leave the country.
U.S. immigration law treats same-sex and opposite-sex engagements equally — same-sex couples are fully eligible for the K-1 visa.
Eligible unmarried children under 21 may generally be included through K-2 visas, traveling with the K-1 parent or following later, but they must enter the U.S. before the K-1 visa expires.
How the K-1 Visa Process Works
File Form I-129F with USCIS — the first step in petitioning for your fiancé(e).
USCIS approves the petition and forwards the case to the National Visa Center, then to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your fiancé(e)’s country.
Your fiancé(e) files Form DS-160 and attends a visa interview at the embassy or consulate.
If approved, your fiancé(e) travels to the U.S. and you must marry within 90 days.
After marriage, your spouse can apply to adjust status and receive a Green Card.
Recent update: guidance effective August 5, 2026 reportedly allows USCIS to deny certain I-129F petitions without first issuing a Request for Evidence — making it more important than ever to file a complete, well-documented petition the first time.
Required Documentation
Initial Petition (Form I-129F):
- Signed Form I-129F
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate)
- Proof you've met in person within the last two years (photos, flight tickets, hotel receipts)
- Signed statements of intent to marry within 90 days
- Divorce papers or death certificates if either partner was previously married
- Passport-style photo for each partner
Interview Documents (Foreign Fiancé(e)):
- Form DS-160 confirmation page
- Valid passport (valid at least 6 months past planned entry)
- Original birth certificate
- Police certificates from your home country and anywhere you've lived 6+ months since age 16
- Completed medical exam from an approved physician
- Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, with tax returns
Documents not in English (or the official language of the country where you’re applying) require certified translations.
K-1 Visa Fees
Form I-129F Petition
- Amount: $675 ($625 if filed online)
- Paid To: USCIS
Form DS-160 Visa Application
- Amount: $265
- Paid To: U.S. Department of State
Medical Examination
- Amount: ~$200–$500
- Paid To: Approved panel physician
Form I-485 Adjustment of Status (after marriage)
- Amount: $1,440
- Paid To: USCIS
Additional costs: translations, police certificates, passport photos, and travel to the embassy interview. Fees change periodically — confirm current amounts on the official USCIS fee.
K-1 Visa vs. Spousal Green Card: Which Is Faster?
It depends on your situation:
- K-1 visa: your fiancé(e) enters the U.S. before marriage, but a full adjustment-of-status process follows the wedding.
- Spousal Green Card (CR-1/IR-1): processed entirely abroad. Entry into the U.S. is delayed, but your spouse arrives with permanent resident status already in hand.
Do you have questions about your immigration case?
(305) 916-4800
Our team is here to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your next steps.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
How Santana Residency Law Can Help
An experienced family immigration attorney can help you decide whether a K-1 visa or a marriage-based visa (CR-1/IR-1) fits your situation better, build a strong evidence file, and guide you from the initial petition through adjustment of status and eventually naturalization.
Most K-1 visas take approximately 10 to 13 months from filing to visa issuance, depending on USCIS backlogs, requests for additional evidence, and embassy workload. The Adjustment of Status process after marriage has its own separate timeline.
K-1 visas require two document sets: petition documents for Form I-129F (proof of citizenship, proof you've met in person, intent-to-marry statements) and interview documents for your fiancé(e) (Form DS-160, passport, police certificates, medical exam, and Form I-134 affidavit of support).
Government fees start around $940 through visa issuance (Form I-129F at $675, or $625 online, plus the $265 DS-160 fee), plus the medical exam and later the $1,440 Adjustment of Status fee after marriage. Translations, police certificates, and travel add further cost.
It depends on your priorities. A K-1 visa lets your fiancé(e) enter the U.S. sooner, before marriage, but requires a full adjustment-of-status process afterward. A spousal Green Card delays entry but arrives with permanent resident status already granted.
Yes. U.S. immigration law treats same-sex and opposite-sex engagements equally, and same-sex couples are fully eligible for the K-1 fiancé(e) visa.
Eligible unmarried children under 21 may generally be included through K-2 visas. They can travel with the K-1 parent or follow later, but must enter the U.S. before the K-1 visa expires.
Let’s talk about your immigration case
Our team can help you understand your options and the next steps based on your situation.