K-1,Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiance(e)

What Is a “Fiancé(e)”?

A fiancé(e) is a person who is engaged or contracted to be married. The marriage must be legally possible according to laws of the state in the United States where the marriage will take place.

In general, the two people must have met in person within the past two years.

The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grant some exceptions to this requirement. For example, it may be contrary in some country traditions for a man and woman to meet before marriage.

Sometimes the USCIS considers a person a "fiancé(e)" even though a marriage contract has been concluded. In such cases, the American citizen petitioner and his/her spouse have not met, and they have not consummated the marriage.

How Does a Fiancé(e) Immigration Visa Work?

If you are an American citizen and you want your foreign fiancé (e) to travel to the United States to marry you and live in the U.S., you must file Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) in the United States.

Filing the Immigration Petition

You must file the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), Immigration Form I-129F, with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office that serves the area where you live. See the Department of Homeland Security's USCIS Field Offices for information on where you can file the petition.

Note: You cannot file this petition at an embassy, consulate or U.S. Immigration office abroad

After the USCIS approves the immigration petition, it sends the petition to National Visa Center for processing, prior to sending it to the embassy or consulate where your fiancé(e) will apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e).