U.S. citizens engaged to citizens of other countries can bring their fiancé(e)s to them by submitting a fiancé(e) visa petition, along with various application forms, results of medical exams and copies of fingerprints of both parties. When filing the proper documents needed to bring your fiancé(e) to the U.S. from another country, you should be aware that a marriage visa and a fiancé (e) visa are two different visas. Marriage visas are essentially Green cards and indicate you are already married to someone from another country. Fiancé (e) visas mean you intend to marry the person you want to immigrate to Maryland.
According to the Law Offices of Cheng, Cho & Yee: “The fiance visa is a popular method to get a soon-to-be spouse into the country. It is also generally faster than getting married in a country other than the U.S. and then trying to obtain a visa for your spouse. These visas have specific requirements and guidelines that you must adhere to in order to be eligible”
Qualifications for a Fiancé (e) Visa
Before you submit a visa petition, make sure you can answer “yes” to the following questions:
- Does your fiancé(e) intend to marry you within three months (90 days) of arriving?
- Have you physically (in person) met your fiancé (e) once in the past two years? (Exceptions would be applicants showing proof it would be extremely difficult financially or otherwise to meet this person either in their country or the U.S.).
- Is your fiancé(e) single or divorced? Is your fiancé(e) legally able to marry you in the U.S.?
After receiving a fiancé(e) visa, your fiancé (e) can enter and stay for 90 days. If the marriage does not take place, your fiancé(e) must return to their country. After getting married, your spouse qualifies to apply for permanent residency status.
Documents Needed to Apply for a Fiancé (e) Visa
You, your fiancé(e) and all children legally in the custody of your fiancé (e) will need to submit numerous documents to the U.S Department of Immigration, such as visa applications, passports and evidence that show a close relationship exists between you and your fiancé (e).
“Missteps in applying for a K visa in the U.S. can cost time and money”, the Law Offices of Cheng, Cho & Yee add. “More importantly, they can extend the time you must be separated from your loved one. Our lawyers understand how stressful this process can be and will help you through every step so that you can make the right decisions for you and your family”.
How To Apply for a Fiancee Visa
If you are wondering how to apply for a fiance visa, there are a few steps to follow. First, you need to file a petition. The US citizen in the couple has to file for a petition known as I-129 F on behalf of the person who needs a petition. This can be filed with the nearest US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services office. This is required to obtain a K-1 visa for a fiance looking to move to the United States.
After the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services office approves the petition, the petition is going to be sent to the National Visa Center for processing. The National Visa Center will provide the US citizen with a case number and forward the petition to the US Consulate General.
In addition, the United States citizen sponsor will receive a letter instructions on how to complete the application process for a K-1 Visa. It is important to note that in order to obtain this visa, there is an interview process. If children are involved, they can also apply using a K-4 visa. For each applicant, a separate application has to be submitted. Furthermore, each Visa applicant has to pay a separate Visa application processing fee.
If an application for a fiance visa is approved, he or she can travel legally to the United States.
Apply for a Fiancee Visa
These are the steps that everyone has to follow in order to apply for a fiance visa. It is important to look at the paperwork carefully to ensure that it is correct. This will place everyone in a position to be successful.
At the same time, these steps can be confusing. That is why it is important to work for trained legal professionals with an intricate understanding of the process. This could improve someone’s chances of filing a successful application for a fiance visa.
