Immigration And Criminal Defense Lawyers

2 important restrictions on fiance visas

On Behalf of | Jun 9, 2022 | Immigration Law |

When most couples get engaged, their biggest concerns will be finding a venue or picking a date when all of their family members can come. For people who fall in love across international boundaries, going from engagement to marriage can be a bit more challenging.

When one fiance is a United States citizen, the other can apply for a K-1 visa. Securing a fiance visa can mean a quick path to legal entry to the United States for qualifying applicants. However, there are important limitations on K-1 visas that you need to know about before applying.

You need proof of a bona fide relationship

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews every K-1 visa application carefully. If they see any indicator that the relationship is not legitimate, that could be reason for them to deny the visa or at least significantly increase the processing time and review involved.

Evidence of a real relationship, ranging from prior communication to family photos, can help those trying to prove the validity of their relationship.

There is a quick timeline for K-1 visa marriages

Once your fiance gets approved and can enter the country, you will need to marry them quite quickly. You typically only have 90 days from the date that they arrived in the United States to marry them. Otherwise, they may need to leave the United States. You will probably need to have most of the planning already completed before they travel to enter the country.

Learning more about family-based immigration, like fiance visas, can help those aiming to start a new family with someone from another country.