A K-1 visa is a popular option for those looking to bring a foreign fiancée to the United States. In 2023, the number of foreign women who received K-1 visas already reached 29K, reflecting the growing trend of international relationships and marriages. This visa allows your fiancée to travel to the U.S., where you can marry and start your life together. My aim is to provide a clear guide, ensuring you’re well-prepared for every step. Let’s start this journey together towards a successful visa application and a new life with your partner.
Filing a petition
The first step to getting your soon-to-be wife into the country is filing a petition, specifically the I-129F Form, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This can be done in any office nearby you that has the proper jurisdiction. Once approved, the USCIS forwards the petition to the American consular in your bride’s home country. This is where you may have to do some waiting, as it can take up to 1–3 months.
Applying for K1 visa
If all is good and everything gets approved, your bride will have to send in all the necessary paperwork for her K-1. The documents are the same as for a standard visa. When approved, a fee is paid, after which a sealed envelope is given out with a copy of the petition and other necessary paperwork. It’s to be presented at the United States port of entry. The cost to apply for a K-1 visa is $800. To know exactly how much is a Thai bride or mail order brides from other popular countries add the cost of online dating (about $200 per month) and travel expenses.
Background check
Applying for a K-1 visa is not a guarantee that you’ll get it. The USCIS is known to reject many applications for a number of good reasons. To improve your chances with them, make sure your mail-order bride does not have any criminal record or some kind of shady questionable background that will raise a lot of questions and unwanted attention. Here are some of the reasons for which a K-1 is almost guaranteed to be denied: drug addictions, criminal records, various mental and physical disorders, and communicable diseases. Additional reasons not to give out a visa would include your fiancée entering the United States illegally, being ineligible for citizenship, or being deemed likely to become a public charge.
Is the relationship legitimate?
The USCIS will want some kind of proof that you have met with your future wife during the 2 years that are before you fill out the petition. For proof, the USCIS considers boarding passes for the plane, stamps in the passport, or itineraries. If a face-to-face meeting has not taken place yet, as this may violate some of your fiancée’s home country traditions, you can prove your point by presenting your phone bills, emails, or perhaps even postmarked letters.
Bride arrival
Once your bride enters the country, you have a deadline of 90 days to hold your wedding and marry her. There can be no extensions to this rule. If you fail to do so, you can count on her being deported back home. Also, if your bride chooses to leave the country before marriage for whichever reason, she’ll have to reapply for a new visa.
Marriage
Once the two of you marry each other, you have to apply for an Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, for your new wife to become a permanent resident. If you plan on traveling outside of the country and reentering it before receiving a green card, you must apply for advance parole. It may take up to a year if not more until she is interviewed for her green card. After two years, during which she was still “conditional”, she can apply and be recognized as a permanent resident. All of these steps are mandatory for her to become a naturalized American.
In conclusion, securing a K-1 visa is a vital step for those planning to marry a foreign girlfriend and start a life together in the US. Having the necessary information and useful hints, you can navigate the visa process with greater confidence and clarity. I hope you found this piece useful.
