Fiance(e) Visa: K-1 Information and Questionnaire

Note that Officers have great authority to reject K Visas at the Embassy.  In fact, they are instructed to review the K-1 package and conduct the interview to assess whether or not the beneficiary will qualify for an immigrant visa (the Adjustment of Status/Greencard that we will apply for once you are married).  

Therefore, when we are retained on a fiance/e case, we prepare most of the actual adjustment (Green Card) package even though we are not submitting it for the K-1 visa petition.   We also spend a substantial amount of time preparing the interview packet and preparing for the fiance/e's Embassy Interview.  

Only about 15% of the total time devoted to a K Visa case is devoted to actual preparation of the K Visa forms... and that is nearly the last step in the process.  Other attorneys and services do not take our comprehensive approach and this is why you can find attorneys and "forms preparers" who only charge $500 for a K Visa.  If all you want to do is fill out the forms as soon as possible, you can probably do it yourself and save your $500. 

Only if you want to take a comprehensive, long term approach which includes both interview preparation and anticipatory steps towards a successful Green Card application, should you consider retaining Attorney Pai.  

Getting the K-visa from USCIS is easy.  Getting it from the Embassy is the real test.

The filing fees to USCIS for a K-1 Visa are $455.

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      1.    I-129F Petition filed by U.S. Citizen (the "Petitioner") $455 filing fee

2.   Basic Requirements

a.    Have you met your fiancé(e) in person within the last 2 years?  If NO, see #3 below

b.    Have you been previously married here or abroad?

c.    Are you able to conclude a valid marriage in the U.S. within 90 days after your fiancé(e)’s arrival?*

*If the parties do not marry within 90 days, the K-1 fiance(e) will be required to depart, and failure to depart renders them deportable.

3.    The “Previous Meeting” Requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Attorney General if proof of compliance would:

a.    Result in extreme hardship to the Petitioner; or

b.    Violate strict and long-established customs of the fiancé(e)’s foreign culture or social practice, as where marriages are traditionally arranged by the parents of the contracting parties and the prospective bride and groom are prohibited from meeting subsequent to the arrangement and prior to the wedding day.

c.    Have you not met your fiancé(e) in person because of either or both of these two conditions (extreme hardship, strict customs)?  If yes, please explain:

4.    Information

a.    Do you have any criminal convictions for any crime (felony or misdemeanor) whether or not it was later sealed, expunged or otherwise concluded?

b.    Do you have a criminal conviction for any of the following:

                                          i.    Domestic violence?

                                         ii.    Sexual assault?

                                        iii.    Child abuse and neglect?

                                       iv.    Dating violence?

                                        v.    Elder abuse?

                                       vi.    Stalking?

c.    Did you meet your fiancé(e) through any kind of online or matchmaking service?

5.    Filing Limitations

a.    Have you ever filed for a K-1 Visa before?

b.    Have you filed for a K-1 Visa within the last 2 years?

6.    Procedure to Petition for K-1

a.    File I-129F at the U.S. USCIS office where the Petitioner resides with the following

                                          i.    color photographs of both parties

                                         ii.    G-325A for both the Petitioner and the Fiance(e)

1.    Supporting Proof

a.    Proof of legal termination of prior marriages if applicable

b.    Affidavits of parties and persons with personal knowledge of the relationship

c.    Photographs of the parties together

d.    Correspondence between the parties

                                                                                          i.    Letter

                                                                                         ii.    Email

e.    Telephone bills

f.     Receipt for engagement ring

g.    Documentation of wedding plans e.g.

                                                                                          i.    Invitations

                                                                                         ii.    Receipt for deposit at a party hall or church

h.    Similar evidence

b.    Upon receipt of the I-129F packet, the USCIS creates an “A” file for the fiancé(e)

c.    USCIS approves the petition (or denies or requests further evidence)

d.    Approved petition send to the U.S. Consulate where Fiance(e) resides

e.    U.S. Consulate sends Fiance(e) letter to Fiance(e) to present the following documents (or some close variation of the following):

                                          i.    Form DS-156 or DS-160 (in duplicate) and Supplement (in single copy)

                                         ii.    Valid Passport (obtain a new passport if it is expiring within 6 months)

                                        iii.    Birth Certificate

                                       iv.    Evidence of termination of prior marriages

                                        v.    Police Certificates, if available, from Fiance(e)’s present place of residence and any place he or she has resided for six months or more since the age of 16

                                       vi.    Form DS-157

                                      vii.    Medical Examination Record (http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html)

                                     viii.    Evidence of available financial resources to demonstrate that Fiance(e) will not become a public charge

We charge $1,900 to prepare a K Visa petition.  This includes preparation for the inteview at the U.S. Embassy.  We normally chage $500 for interview preparation but this $500 interview fee is waived for our K Visa Clients.

NEW FOR 2010:  SAVE $900 ON THE K-VISA + GREENCARD PACKAGE

We offer a $3,900 package rate for preparation of the K Visa Petition AND Green Card Application (without children).  If, through no fault of the Client, the K Visa is rejected, $2,000 of the flat fee will be fully refunded to the Client.  The full cost of the K Visa and Green Card, if purchased separately, would be about $4,800.

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