The K1, or fiancee visa, is a quick and easy way for an American citizen to invite his (or her) intended spouse to come to the US for the purpose of marriage. The process has seeped into American pop culture, with reality TV shows like “90 Day Fiancee” in its 10th season. In absolute numbers, the US Dept of State issued over 31,000 K1 visas in 2023.
However, for many K1 applicants, the visa interview process can be difficult to prepare for. The visa applicant must establish a bona-fide relationship with the US citizen petitioner and their intention to legally marry within the 90-day time frame required. So why is this often a difficult thing to establish during the interview, and what proof will help a K1 visa applicant meet this requirement?
Here are five tips to help establish proof of a relationship:
Tip 1: Explain the Initial Connection
In the K1 visa interview, the Consular Officer will want to know how the applicant and American fiance initially met each other and how the relationship started. This is your chance to retell your ‘meet-cute’ story or, in a different culture, how your families know each other that led to the arranged introduction.
Years ago, internet meetups were rare, and many K1 applicants tried to hide the fact they met their fiancee online. However, now, in 2024, online dating is mainstream and many couples find each other virtually or on apps, so there is no need to try to cover up if your relationship started this way.
Whatever the case, the K1 applicant should be comfortable retelling this during the interview to the Consular Officer, and the facts should be supported by other evidence.
Tip 2: Know Your Future Spouse
In the K1 visa interview, the Consular Officer will want to know how much the visa applicant knows about the American petitioner. This is logical because these are two people who plan to spend the rest of their lives together as a married couple. So, it is reasonable to expect the visa applicant to know and be able to retell personal details about their fiance, like their family, job, living situation, previous marriages, children, hobbies, etc. These are common things that people talk about when getting to know each other. Vague or short answers will usually attract the Consular Officers’ attention. Also, expect extra scrutiny if there is no common language between the applicant and the petitioner.
Tip 3: Print photos/emails/texts
As part of the K1 petition, the American petitioner usually includes evidence supporting the relationship, like photos, emails, texts, letters, etc. However, during the USA visa interview, the Consular Officer will want to see additional evidence of the ongoing relationship. Most happy couples will have extensive text threads, emails, photos, and call logs to prove the ongoing relationship. Unfortunately, many applicants forget that only printed documents can be provided during the interview and their visas are delayed as they prepare and submit them to the Consular section. Be prepared and print a selection of recent communications and photos to bring to the interview. (And please, please, please do not submit any ‘spicy’ photos or emails!)
Tip 4: Wedding plans
By law, the American petitioner must legally marry the K1 visa applicant within 90 days of them entering the US – which is not a long time to plan and prepare for a wedding! Logically, by the time of the K1 visa interview, the couple should be well underway in planning the actual wedding in the US, so the Consular Officer may ask about these wedding plans. What venue? Who is attending? How many people are invited? Plans for the honeymoon? Of course, things may change, but having specific and credible plans for the wedding and after will go a long way to showing the legitimacy of the relationship.
Tip 5: Avoid common mistakes
Finally, successful K1 visa applicants should avoid some common mistakes.
Be certain that both the American petitioner and the foreign fiancee are legally capable of being married in the US, so any previous marriages must be legally terminated to a conclusion, and there are no other legal roadblocks to either party getting married in the US like age or mental competency.
The couple should pay attention to any foreign laws on marriage when planning any parties, signing any legal documents, or engaging in religious ceremonies together outside of the US. For a K1 visa, both the petitioner and fiancee must be unmarried and, depending upon the county, a simple ceremony or party in the fiancee’s country could meet the threshold of a legal marriage, thus making the fiancee ineligible for a K1 visa.
DISCLAIMER:
This blog does not endorse or advocate for any illegal activities. All content presented here is intended for educational purposes only. The viewpoints expressed do not constitute legal advice and are solely based on the writer’s opinions and experiences. Please use the information provided responsibly. Any advice given is of a general nature and should be applied to your specific circumstances with caution and consideration.
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