Not every romantic relationship develops without challenges. Some couples live far apart from one another and have to tackle major logistical hurdles if they want to spend their lives together. Simply needing to arrange a long-term move would be enough of a challenge, but when people fall in love while living in different countries, they may also need to handle immigration matters.
A K-1 or fianc(é)e visa allows someone to bring the person they intend to marry to the United States. Citizens can apply for a visa that will eventually secure their fiancé a green card after they get married. However, bringing a loved one to the United States with a K-1 visa requires more planning than people realize because of strict rules on timing.
Couples have to marry very quickly
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will look very closely at an individual’s history and a couple’s relationship when determining whether or not to grant a K-1 fiancé(é)e visa. If the USCIS does approve the visa, then things often start to move quite quickly for the couple. They will need to have some very detailed discussions with one another before arranging for travel to the United States. Determining when they will get married and planning the details of the service will be very important. They will not have much time to handle those concerns after the fiancé(é)e enters the country, as they will only have 90 days to legally marry each other.
Those trying to plan a wedding often say that planning for large events should start at least a year ahead of time to ensure that there are professional venues and services available. Those trying to put together a wedding on a timeline may benefit from taking an unusual approach to the matter, such as getting legally married and holding a wedding later or solemnizing their relationship on a weekday when there may not yet be a wedding scheduled.
Although it can be a challenge, even couples living in different countries from one another can potentially put together a meaningful wedding that complies with the timeline set by the USCIS. Delays and mistakes could mean that the fiancé who enters the country with the K-1 fiancé(é)e visa will be at risk of removal, which means that advance planning with the assistance of a legal professional is of the utmost importance for success. Understanding and complying with the specific requirements for a K-1 fianc(é)e visa will be necessary for those who want to marry a loved one from another country.