Visas for Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizens

If you are a U.S. citizen and want to bring your foreign fiancé(e) to the United States to marry, you must file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). This is the first step in obtaining a K-1 nonimmigrant visa for your fiancé(e). The K-1 nonimmigrant visa is also known as a fiancé(e) visa.

To obtain a K-1 fiancé(e) visa, you and your fiancé(e) must intend to marry within 90 days after your fiancé(e) is admitted to the U.S. as a K-1 nonimmigrant. Your marriage must be valid, which means that both you and your fiancé(e) have a genuine intent to establish a life together and the marriage is not for the sole purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit. 

If your fiancé(e) marries you within 90 days after being admitted to the U.S. as a K-1 nonimmigrant, you may apply for lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. (Green Card).

If you have already married, plan to marry outside the U.S., or if your fiancé(e) already resides legally in the U.S., your spouse or fiancé(e) is not eligible for a fiancé(e) visa. Go to the page on Bringing Your Spouse (husband or wife) to Live in the United States as a Permanent Resident for more information on how to help your foreign spouse apply for a Green Card.

Who can apply for a fiancé visa

You may be eligible to bring your fiancé(e) to the United States on a fiancé(e) visa if you meet the following requirements:

·         You are a U.S. citizen;

·         You and your fiancé(e) intend to marry each other within 90 days of your fiancé(e)'s admission to the United States on a K-1 nonimmigrant visa;

·         You and your fiancé(e) are legally free to marry (this means that both of you can legally marry in the United States and any previous marriage has been legally terminated by divorce, death, or annulment); and

·         You and your fiancé(e) met in person at least once within the 2-year period before filing your petition. You may request a waiver of this in-person meeting requirement if you can show that the in-person meeting: 

·         Violates the strict and long-established customs of your fiancé(e)'s culture or foreign social practice; or

·         Involves an extreme hardship to you, the U.S. citizen applicant.