K-1 Visa: What Is a Fiancé Visa and How to Apply

Marshall Cohen
13 hours ago
3 min read

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⚡ Express Read

Quick Summary: The K-1 fiancé visa allows US citizens to bring their foreign fiancé to the United States to marry within 90 days. The process requires filing Form I-129F and meeting specific eligibility requirements.

Key Points:

The couple must have met in person within the last two years.
The fiancé may only marry the sponsoring US citizen to continue on the path to becoming a lawful permanent resident.
The K-1 process is complex, detailed, and time-consuming.

Are you and your fiancé eligible for a K-1 visa? Contact our Atlanta immigration attorneys today at (470) 428-3200 to schedule a consultation.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

📖 Standard Read

The K-1 fiancé visa represents one of the most direct paths for US citizens to unite with their foreign fiancés in the United States. Marshall Cohen, founding member of Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group, explains the key requirements and steps for obtaining this nonimmigrant visa, which can lead to permanent residence.

At Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group, we have helped countless couples navigate the K-1 visa process from initial petition through Green Card approval. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced Atlanta immigration lawyers and determine if the K-1 fiancé visa is the right path for your relationship.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

Fiancé Visa Application: Form I-129F

The K-1 visa process begins when the US citizen files Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, with USCIS. This petition establishes their relationship and confirms that both parties intend to marry within 90 days of the foreign fiancé's arrival in the United States. The application requires detailed information about both parties, evidence of the relationship, and proof that the couple met in person within 2 years prior to filing.

Once USCIS approves the I-129F petition, it is forwarded to the National Visa Center and then to the US consulate in the fiancé's home country. The consulate schedules an interview where the fiancé must demonstrate the genuine nature of the relationship.

K-1 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a K-1 fiancé visa:

The sponsor must be a US citizen.
The couple must have met at least once in person in the two years before filing.
The marriage must take place within 90 days of the fiancé’s arrival in the US.
The foreign national must marry the US citizen sponsor. Marriage to anyone else will render the foreign national ineligible for lawful permanent resident status.

Professional Guidance for Your K-1 Visa Journey

The K-1 visa process involves strict deadlines and detailed documentation. Working with an experienced immigration attorney ensures thorough preparation, strategic planning for potential complications, and proper filing.

Contact Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group today at (470) 428-3200 to schedule a consultation with our experienced Atlanta immigration attorneys.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

📚Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Marshall Cohen, founding member of the Antonini & Cohen Immigration Law Group. Today, I'd like to speak with you briefly about the K-1 fiancé visa.

If you are engaged to a foreign national, and you'd like them to come here and get married, you would file a Form I-129F, K-1 visa petition. If it's granted, the person will undergo an interview at a US consulate abroad and then be given a nonimmigrant visa to come to the US. That person will be required to marry the US citizen petitioner within 90 days and then file for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence.

You must know that if a foreign national comes to the US on a K-1 visa petition, one, the foreign national and US citizen must have met in person within two years prior to filing. Two, the foreign national fiancé must marry the US citizen that petitioned for them. If they marry another person, they will not be able to get lawful permanent residence status through that marriage.

At Antonini & Cohen, we've helped countless couples navigate this process, from the initial petition to the Green Card interview. If you're engaged to a foreign national and wondering whether the K-1 fiancé visa is right for you, give us a call because we can help you understand your options and plan your next steps.

At Antonini & Cohen, we know how. We fight harder.

Resources

Marshall Cohen, a founding partner of Antonini & Cohen, has devoted his career to helping immigrants achieve their dreams. For more than 35 years, he has practiced immigration law exclusively, guiding thousands of families, professionals, and individuals through every step of the process — from visas and green cards to naturalization, deportation defense, and appeals.