A K-1 visa is a highly specialized visa for the fiancés of United States citizens. People planning to enter the country to marry a citizen may qualify for a K-1 visa.
Provided that they pass a background check, undergo a medical evaluation and show that they legitimately intend to marry a citizen, a K-1 visa can make a foreign national eligible for entry into the U.S. and possibly also a conditional green card once they get married. However, K-1 visas are only valid for a brief time.
There are two important K-1 visa deadlines
A K-1 visa becomes valid the day that immigration authorities award a foreign national fiancé the visa. It remains valid for six months from that date. Engaged couples typically need to plan carefully to ensure that the foreign fiancé is ready to enter the country shortly after visa approval.
The second important deadline relates to the wedding. Once the foreign national fiancé enters the U.S., the couple generally only has 90 days to get married.
They may need to begin planning their wedding well in advance, especially if they want family members from abroad to attend the service. Other times, the best arrangement may be to hold a private civil ceremony shortly after the fiancé enters the country, followed by a bigger wedding that is intended for celebration with others at a later date.
Discussing marriage plans with an immigration attorney can help people ensure their compliance with the restrictions on the most popular visas. Those seeking K-1 visas generally need a plan to travel promptly and marry quickly.