K-1 Fiancée Visa: A Complete Guide for 2026
You’ve found the love of your life in another country, and now you’re ready to start your life together in the United States. The most common path to make that happen is the K-1 Fiancée Visa. This process can seem complex and intimidating, but it’s a well-trodden path for thousands of couples every year. This comprehensive guide will break down the entire K-1 visa process into simple, manageable steps, covering the requirements, timeline, costs, and the most frequently asked questions. The K-1 visa is the first step to bringing your foreign fiancée home. What is a K-1 Fiancée Visa? The K-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a United States citizen. It permits the foreign fiancé(e) to travel to the U.S. for the sole purpose of marriage. The core requirement is that you must marry the U.S. citizen petitioner **within 90 days of entering the country**. K-1 Visa Requirements: Do You Qualify? Before starting the process, you must ensure you and your partner meet the strict eligibility requirements set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Key Eligibility Requirements The Petitioner (You): You must be a U.S. citizen and legally free to marry. You must also meet specific financial income requirements to prove you can support your fiancée without them relying on public benefits. The Beneficiary (Your Fiancée): She must be legally free to marry and must not have certain criminal records or immigration violations that would make her inadmissible to the U.S. The Relationship: You must have met in person at least once in the two years prior to filing…
