K-1 fiance visa: bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry
The K-1 fiance visa, also called the fiancé(e) visa, allows the foreign fiancé(e) of a US citizen to travel to the United States to get married. After the wedding, your new spouse applies for a green card from inside the US, without returning home for another interview. For many couples, it is the fastest way to start their married life together in the United States.
The K-1 visa is available only to fiancé(e)s of US citizens. Green card holders cannot use it, but they can sponsor a spouse after marriage through a marriage green card petition.
Who qualifies for a K-1 fiance visa?
- The petitioner is a US citizen.
- You are both legally free to marry. Any prior marriages must have ended by divorce, annulment or death before you file.
- You intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s arrival in the United States.
- You have met in person at least once in the two years before filing. USCIS may waive this rule if meeting would cause extreme hardship or would violate strict and long-established cultural or religious customs.
Additional disclosure rules apply if you met through an international marriage broker, if the petitioner has certain criminal history, or if the petitioner has filed K-1 petitions before.
The K-1 fiance visa process
- Form I-129F petition. The US citizen files a Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) with USCIS, with proof of citizenship, proof you are free to marry, evidence of your relationship and evidence that you have met in person.
- National Visa Center. After approval, USCIS sends the case to the National Visa Center, which forwards it to the US embassy or consulate in your fiancé(e)’s country.
- Visa application and medical exam. Your fiancé(e) completes the online visa application, attends a medical exam with an approved physician and gathers civil documents such as a birth certificate and police certificates.
- Financial support. The US citizen shows they can support their fiancé(e), usually with an affidavit of support and income records.
- Consular interview. Your fiancé(e) attends an interview at the embassy or consulate, where an officer asks about your relationship and plans.
- Travel to the US. Once approved, your fiancé(e) receives a K-1 visa, usually valid for a single entry within six months.
- Marriage within 90 days. You must marry within 90 days of arrival. The 90-day period cannot be extended.
- Green card. After the wedding, your spouse files for a green card through adjustment of status, along with requests for a work permit and travel document.
Bringing children on a K-2 visa
Unmarried children under 21 of your fiancé(e) can come with them, or follow later, on K-2 visas. They can then apply for green cards along with their parent after the marriage.
Evidence of a genuine relationship
A strong K-1 fiance visa case shows a real, ongoing relationship. Helpful evidence includes:
- Photos of the two of you together, with dates and locations
- Travel records, boarding passes and hotel bookings from your visits
- Messages, call logs and emails over time
- Evidence of your engagement, such as a ring receipt or engagement event
- Wedding plans, venue bookings or letters from family and friends
K-1 visa or spouse visa?
Some couples choose to marry abroad first and then apply for a spouse visa through consular processing. A spouse visa leads straight to a green card on arrival, but it can take longer. The K-1 fiance visa lets you marry in the United States and often reunites couples sooner, but it requires a second application for the green card after the wedding, with additional fees. We help you compare cost, timing and convenience for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if we don’t marry within 90 days? K-1 status cannot be extended, and your fiancé(e) generally must leave the United States. A K-1 visa holder also cannot change to another status or get a green card through anyone other than the petitioner.
Can my fiancé(e) work after arriving on a K-1 visa? They can apply for a work permit, but most couples wait for the work permit that comes with the green card application after the wedding.
Can we have the wedding anywhere in the US? Yes. You can marry in any US state, as long as you follow that state’s marriage requirements.
Talk to a K-1 fiance visa attorney
Book a Zoom consultation, in English or Hindi, to choose between a K-1 and a spouse visa and plan your timeline together.
This page is general information, not legal advice.