You’ve met the love of your life, and you’re ready to take the next step in your relationship. It’s time to consider a K-1 fiancé(e) visa. Hialeah lawyers can help you prepare to celebrate your special day. Our legal team can help you complete the petition required to move your K-1 visa request forward, freeing you to focus on wedding planning.
Attorney Maria and her team of experienced immigration professionals have helped over 100,000 clients protect themselves under United States immigration law since opening Mendoza Law in 2016. We are proud to offer client-first services that center on detail-oriented strategies while upholding ethical immigration practices.
Don’t let paperwork slow down the start of your new life. If you need help applying for a K-1 visa, you can contact our Hialeah immigration lawyers today.
What is a K-1 Visa?
The United States’ K-1 visas, also known as “fiancé(e) visas,” allow United States citizens to legally bring foreign partners into the United States, provided that the couple marries within 90 days of the fiancé(e)’s arrival. A K-1 visa is often seen as a precursor to a Green Card, as the visa can make it easier for its holder to apply for permanent residency.
Only United States citizens may apply for a K-1 visa. Unfortunately, the right to petition for these visas is not available to permanent residents (Green Card holders).
Petitioners must also prove that they’ve met their partner-to-be in person at least once in the past two years. Both parties must also be legally capable of marrying. They may not have other partners.
When Don’t You Qualify for a K-1 Visa?
You may not qualify for a K-1 visa if:
- You’re not a United States citizen
- You hold a Green Card
- You do not have the required documents to move forward with your petition, including proof of legal single status
- You do not give consistent answers during your visa interview
- You have a complex immigration history and don’t apply for applicable waivers
- You have a criminal history concerning sex offenses, drug possession charges, gun-related charges, or other serious felonies in the United States
What Do You Need to Apply for a K-1 Visa?
If you want to apply for a K-1 visa, you, as a United States citizen, will need to complete a Form I-129F and file it with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Our Hialeah K-1 fiancé(e) visa attorneys can help you include proof of your citizenship, be that a copy of your passport or a birth certificate.
We can also help you gather the evidence you need to prove that you have a strong relationship with the person you intend to marry. This may include shared photos, tickets showing that you’ve traveled to visit them, and electronic data detailing your relationship. Video call logs are incredibly helpful when making your case.
You and your fiancé(e) must each provide a statement indicating your intent to marry within 90 days of their arrival in the United States.
What to Expect From a K-1 Interview
Your fiancé(e) can expect to undergo an interview with representatives at the United States embassy or consulate in their country. If you’re a United States citizen applying for a K-1 visa on your partner’s behalf, you can help them prepare for this process by ensuring they have documents proving their citizenship and their relationship with you.
Our attorneys can also help you ensure that your answers to common interview questions align with your partner’s, preventing inconsistencies that might make it harder for you to secure your visa.
How Long Does It Take to Get a K-1 Visa?
The amount of time it takes to secure a K-1 visa can vary depending on your circumstances and your foreign fiancé(e)’s country of origin. You can discuss what to expect from the filing process when you meet with our staff, but we encourage you to give yourself at least a year to see the process through.
As soon as you and your fiancé(e) receive your K-1 visa, you have 90 days to get married. You cannot miss this deadline, or else you may put a foreign partner’s right to residency at risk.
Let Mendoza Law Support You
It’s not always easy to gather the documents you need to petition for a K-1 visa while also planning your wedding and meeting your everyday needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the process of applying for a visa alone. Working with Mendoza Law makes it easier to request a K-1 visa without making avoidable and costly mistakes.
Our K-1 fiancé(e) visa attorneys in Hialeah can walk you through the process of completing a petition and interviewing for the right to residency. We know what to expect from this process and can ensure that you go into conversations with immigration professionals prepared to put your best foot forward.
Contact Mendoza Law today and let our legal team support your love story.