If your fiancé is permanently residing in another country, then you may need to add another item to your wedding planning list: submit a fiancé visa application.
Each couple’s circumstances are a little different, so you should consult with an immigration attorney to know if a fiancé visa is the best option for you and your partner. Fiancé visa requirements often change, so you should check to know if there may be a better or quicker path available to you and your partner.
General Process for a Fiancé visa
There are several steps in the process to obtain a fiancé visa in addition to additional documents you will need to submit at different stages after the initial application.
Stage 1: Initial Application to USCIS
- Schedule a first-time consultation with Attorney Jones. During this consultation, you will have an opportunity to ask any question you may have about your fiancé’s immigration options, so come prepared with questions! Additionally, Attorney Jones will also ask you a variety of questions about you and your fiancé to know what kind of information we will need to consider in your application.
- You hire us! After you officially hire us, our team will gather the information and documentation we need to submit your application. The main form we submit is the I-129F. This form helps to establish your relationship, legitimize your relationship, and to provide information about both of your backgrounds.
- Our team will compile all the completed forms and documents and then Attorney Jones will do a final review of the paperwork to ensure that everything is ready for filing. Then you will review and sign the necessary documents and we will submit the paperwork to USCIS for initial processing.
- After submission, we wait for the receipt notice and the approval notice in the mail.
Stage 2: Application to National Visa Center (NVC)
- Once your form I-129F is approved, we will gather more documentation from you to submit a DS-160 to NVC. We will guide you on how to complete these steps as you must submit the DS-160 through your own account.
- We will continue to gather other appropriate information as necessary to prepare the form I-134 which is a form that your fiancé will need when they get scheduled for an interview at their embassy.
- Before the interview, we will help prepare your fiancé for their interview.
- Your fiancé will attend a scheduled interview at their country’s embassy.
Stage 3: Coming to the United States
- Once your fiancé’s immigration status is approved, they can come to the United States!
- You must get married within 90 days of their entry into the U.S.
- After you are legally married, you can start the process to adjust your fiancé’s status and apply for a Green Card.
Applying for a Green Card After the Fiancé Visa
After you are married and have your marriage certificate, we can start the process to get your fiancé their Green Card so they can become a Permanent Resident. To learn more about this process, read our page about Green Cards Through Marriage. As long as you married within 90 days of your fiancé arriving in the U.S. on a K-1 Visa, you may be exempt from having to file specific forms for the Green Card such as the I-130, I-130A, and the I-693 (the medical exam). You can learn more about some of the required documents by reading our blog post about Green Card forms.
Contact Us Today!
Attorney Tim Jones has helped many couples navigate the fiancé visa application process. He is able to advise couples as to what their best and quickest options would be regarding fiancé visas and immigration after marriage. Attorney Jones has even published a book about the fiancé visa, which you can find on Amazon. He is comfortable handling both straightforward and complex fiancé visa cases, so don't hesitate to give us a call even if you have some concerns about your situation.
Even after the fiancé visa is completed, our team can help with the Green Card process. Whether you hired us to help with your fiancé visa application or not, we are more than happy to help with the next steps in your immigration process. To learn more about how our team can help you, contact us today.
