In contrast, a Marriage Visa allows the foreign spouse of a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Resident to enter the United States for the purposes of immigration. While processing times have gotten significantly better for U.S. Citizens, the K1 Fiancee Visa is still quicker and simpler for unmarried international couples seeking to get married.

Marriage Visas generally take between 4-21 months from the time the I-130 Petition is filed at a USCIS Service Center to the day a Marriage Visa / K3 Visa is issued. First, the Petition is filed with the USCIS. Once approved, the Petition is sent to the overseas embassy for further processing, the spouse interview and the eventual issuing of a visa. U.S. Residents must wait an additional period of time--until an Immigration Visa Number becomes available--after the USCIS approval, which can add several more years to the timeline.

The K3 Visa was designed to speed up the waiting times for married couples who have a pending Marriage Visa Petition with the USCIS. The K3 Visa allows the foreign spouse of a U.S. Citizen to enter the United States-only after an overseas marriage, the I-130 Petition filing (Marriage Visa Petition), K3 Visa Petition approval and K3 Marriage Visa issuance. A K3 Visa is only available to a spouse of a U.S. Citizen and not a spouse of a U.S. Resident.

Thus, Marriage Visas, or a K3 Marriage Visa application forms, are generally recommended for those who have already been married overseas, or are in unique/rare situations where they must be married in a foreign country. A Marriage Visa/K3 Visa is typically more complex, slower, and the more expensive route compared to the K1 Visa.

K1 Visas -- You can begin the petition for a Fiancee Visa immediately, assuming that the couple have met within the past two years and meet other requirements.

Before you can begin the petition for a Marriage Visa / K3 Marriage Visa, the couple must first be married in the foreign country where, for many, there are residency and waiting period requirements--not to mention the problematic logistics of work schedules, finances and traveling.