Fiancé Visa

When a United States citizen is engaged to a non-citizen, they may apply for a K-1 visa for their entry into the United States. This is also known as a fiancé visa. The purpose of a fiancé visa is to become married and for the new spouse to reside within the country. If your fiancé is granted a K-1 visa, you will need to get married within 90 days of their entry into the United States. Failure to do so would result in their removal from the country within 30 days. Once you are married, your new spouse can apply to adjust his or her status and become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The K-1 visa is an important tool and leads to many benefits. The K-1 visa is often processed by the Immigrant Visa Section of the United States embassies and consulates around the world with few issues. In order to protect your fiancé and ensure a smooth immigration process, it is important to contact an experienced law firm to guide you through obtaining a K-1 visa and making your soon-to-be spouse a United States citizen. If you need an experienced law firm, contact Katona & Associates, PLLC today.

In order to be eligible for a K-1 visa, you, the petitioner, must be a U.S. citizen. You must show that you intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé’s entry into the country. You must have met your fiancé at least once, in person, within two years prior to the filing unless this requirement would violate strict and long-established customs or social practice or if you can establish that the requirement to meet would result in extreme hardship.

There are many requirements that a couple must meet You will both need to show evidence that you have met in person. In order to satisfy immigration officials, it would be good to show photographs together, correspondence spanning a period of time, evidence of financial support, phone records, and anything else that can establish a continuing and prominent relationship. Failure to provide evidence may delay or deny the petition from being approved. The petitioner may be asked to provide further evidence of the relationship, including evidence of income that meets or exceeds 100% of the U.S. poverty guidelines.

The United States will conduct a background check to determine whether an applicant has a criminal record. Some crimes will prevent the issuance of a visa. Many minor crimes will simply delay the visa’s issuance as long as the person has served time or paid the proper fine. It is important to consult with an attorney if you believe that a criminal record may impact the process.

It is important to note that the approval of a petition does not automatically guarantee that the visa will be granted. The fiancé must go through and pass a medical exam and the interview. For the most part, the process will take around 8 months to complete. Many issues arise from people that do not fully complete applications or schedule the necessary appointments. In order to ensure a speedy process, contact an attorney to guide you through the process and keep you on track.

For nearly 20 years, Katona & Associates, PLLC has successfully handled numerous fiancé visas for clients across New York City. As is most immigration matters, the K-1 visa is a complicated matter. It is important to have the services of an experienced attorney to guide you through the process. If you need a committed and determined attorney to help you with your immigration matter, contact Katona & Associates, PLLC.