Getting to the US to marry your Fiance

Marrying the one you love is a big and life-changing moment for both you and your partner. It’s a time of excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and can be stressful. Whether you or your partner lives in the US, to have your dream wedding in the United States, you will need to obtain the K-1 Fiancé visa. 

In this blog, we cover the first steps in the process of bringing your fiancé into the U.S. and taking one thing off your mind as you prepare for your big day. 

Understanding the K1 Fiancé Visa 

The K1 fiancé visa lets a foreign national enter the US to marry a US citizen on a non-immigrant visa. This means it does not offer permanent residency to those on the visa, and there is a 90-day timescale for which you and your partner must get married.

Am I eligible for the K1 Visa? 

There are a few eligibility criteria that need to be met before you are granted the K1 visa. 

These include: 

• The sponsoring partner must be a U.S. citizen, and not a non-U.S. permanent resident or green card holder. 
• Both partners must be at least 18 years old.
• Both partners must be legally free to marry, meaning any previous marriages should have legally ended.
• The couple must have plans to marry within 90 days of the fiancé’s arrival in the U.S.
• The couple must have met in person at least once in the last two years.
• The U.S. sponsor must meet certain income requirements outlined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines for immigration.

The K-1 Visa Application Process

The process for the K1 fiancé visa is a long and in-depth process that requires petition filing, interviews, with time-sensitive deadlines. At Blue Lake Law, we are experts in making this process less daunting and easier to understand, supporting you throughout the process. 

Here we outline the key parts of the visa process: 

• Form 1-129 Petition Filing: Our team is on hand to help fill out this vital form to start the process
• USCIS Review: Once the petition has been filed, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will review your petition, and review you and your partner’s relationship. 
• National Visa Centre: After USCIS has reviewed your petition, the National Visa Centre will send your application to the relevant embassy or consulate, and will need the U.S. citizen sponsor to prove they can support you financially when you enter the U.S.
• Medical Examination: Before proceeding to the embassy interview, you will need to attend a medical examination undertaken by an authorised physician and receive the necessary vaccinations before entering the U.S.
• Embassy Interview: At this point, we will help you schedule and prepare for your embassy interview. 
• Visa Issuance and Entry to the United States: If your visa is approved, you will have a six-month window to travel to the U.S to get married
• Marriage Requirement: If, during the 90-day window, you fail to marry your partner, you may be subject to removal proceedings.

If you need more in-depth information on the visa process, we have a dedicated K1 fiancé visa page discussing the whole process.

Common pitfalls to avoid

When you get engaged, it’s very easy to be swept up in the moment and the exciting planning that comes with a marriage. However, some pitfalls could cause issues when you are looking to marry your fiancéin the United States. If you fail to meet any one of these requirements could lead to your application being delayed or rejected. 

These include: 

• Not meeting the in-person requirement
• Inadequate evidence of a genuine relationship
• Incomplete or incorrect form
• Missing deadlines or not tracking progress
• Not preparing properly for the interview
• Assuming the Visa means a guaranteed green card
• Entering the U.S. on the wrong Visa type
• Underestimating processing times
• Financial requirements not met
• Assuming legal help isn’t necessary

How Blue Lake Law helps you with a smooth fiance visa process

While the K1 visa process is lengthy and time-consuming, our team at Blue Lake Law are experts in offering engaged couples a smooth and stress-free visa application process. From advice to petition filing, we offer a seamless process so you can concentrate on planning your big day.  

Speak to our team today, and start the K1 finance process.