How to Apply for a Fiancé Visa

If you are a United States citizen and have a fiancé in a different country, your fiancé may be eligible for a visa to live in the U.S. For your fiancé to get a visa, you both must meet certain requirements.

To apply for a visa, there are multiple steps to take before approval.

Eligibility requirements

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, two of the eligibility requirements are that you must be a U.S. citizen, and you and your fiancé must plan to marry within 90 days after your fiancé enters the country. You both must also have a genuine intent to spend your life together, and you must both be legally available to marry.

Another requirement is that the two of you have met in person at least once within the last two years. Exceptions to this include if doing so would have put you in danger or hardship, or if the meeting would violate the social practices or culture of your fiancé.

How to apply

According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, your fiancé would apply for the K-1 nonimmigrant visa. The first step is for you, the U.S. citizen, to file Form I-129F. After approval of the petition, the National Visa Center sends the petition to the U.S. Embassy of the country in which your fiancé lives.

Once this occurs, your fiancé can apply for the K-1 visa, which includes filling out Form DS-160. Next, there is a scheduled interview in which your fiancé must bring:

• Birth certificate
• Valid passport
• Police certificate
• Evidence of financial support
• Medical examination
• Two 2×2 photographs

Your fiancé must present the divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse, if applicable. Some fees are due at the time of the interview.

Upon visa approval, if you and your fiancé marry within 90 days, your fiancé is eligible to apply for a Green Card.