FIANCE VISA / K-1 VISA

It should be noted that the application process for a K-1 visa is not the quickest process to begin with. There are several steps that must be taken before the visa is issued, and not all of them are reliant on the petitioner. Your fiancé will also be required to take steps of their own in order to ensure that they have the best chance possible of being approved for the visa.

First of all, the citizen applying for the petition will fill out paperwork with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS). This is done in the United States. Only after the USCIS has approved the paperwork will things move along to the next step. This second step occurs when your case is transferred to the United States’ embassy in the home country of your fiancé. They will be required to take a medical exam and fill out paperwork to ensure that they are eligible to enter the United States. Your fiancé will also need to complete an interview with the United States consulate/embassy. After all of these steps have been completed, their visa will be either approved or denied.

In general, this process takes anywhere from five to eight months. This will change depending upon your specific case and factors like where you live as well as where your fiancé lives. Other complications that could delay the case include the previous actions of the petitioner. If they have previously filed two or more fiancé visa petitions within their lifetime or have had such a visa approved within two years or less prior to the filing date of the current petition, the process could be delayed and they might have to seek a waiver in accordance with the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA). Additionally, someone who has been convicted of specific violent crimes or committed sex crimes (especially against a minor) might also need to seek a waiver in order to continue with the petition process.