Once the Fiancee Visa is issued, is the foreign fiancee free to go to the United States to get married?

Yes. Once the Fiancee Visa/K1-Visa is issued, the fiancee is free to enter the United States once a valid Fiancee Visa/K1 Visa is issued. Once the fiancee enters the U.S., the marriage between the Petitioner and the fiancee must take place within 90 days of the fiancee's entry. If the fiancee does not marry the Petitioner within 90 days, or if the fiancee marries someone other than the Petitioner, the fiancee must leave the United States after 90 days.

Who is eligible to file a Petition for a Fiancee Visa?

The U.S. Citizen who intends to marry a foreign national in the United States, or his / her legal counsel, must file the Petition. The U.S. Citizen and foreign fiancee must be free to marry. This means that they are both unmarried, or that any previous marriages have ended in divorce, death, or annulment. The couple must also have met in person (at least once) within the last two years prior to the filing of the Petition. Sometimes and only in extraordinary circumstances (religious or hardship cases) will a Fiancee Visa be issued to a couple who have not met as required.

How long does it take to get approval of the I-129F Petition?

Generally speaking, without the assistance of an Attorney, the process can take from 8-12 months. With the help of our firm, we believe that the processing time will be greatly improved. Once we have received your contact information questionnaire filled out in its entirety and all supporting documents, we will file your petition within 48 hours of receipt. In most cases, we will use email to communicate with you. If you do not use or have access to email, we will advise you of the fastest form of mail delivery.

Once you are approved, your Petition is forwarded to the National Service Center for further processing (allow at least one week) and then sent to the appropriate foreign consulate for continued processing overseas.

While there are a number of uniform requirements and laws that each foreign consulate must adhere to, most have their own unique way in which they handle the K1 Fiancee Visa process. Thus, timeframes can vary depending upon factors such as specific foreign consular section agendas, visa application backlogs, or any unique requirements of the U.S. Consular Section at your fiancee's country or place of filing.

Generally speaking, once most consulates receive your approval from the USCIS, and assuming your fiancee has the properly prepared paperwork and documentation, you can expect to wait between 3 to 12 weeks for the eventual interview and issuance of the K1 Fiancee Visa depending upon your fiancee's country.

Once your petition has been approved and sent to the US Consular in your country, our office will check, monitor and advise you on matters particular to your country of residence.