The K-1 Visa Process is …

Stressful. Waiting to get married is stressful.  Waiting while physically separated from your fiance(e) is even more stressful.  Waiting to get married while physically separated and waiting for an immigration [...]

Can an Engaged Couple File a K-1 Visa While the Foreign National Fiance(e) is in United States?

It often happens that a foreign national and his or her U.S. citizen lover become engaged while the foreign national is already in the United States.  In many cases, the foreign national fiance(e) is in the United States on a short one or two month long visit to see the U.S. citizen. [...]

Consular Fee for K-1 Visa Interview Increases

Starting June 4, 2010, all K-1 visa applicants will be required to pay a fee of $350 when they apply for a visa interview at their country’s U.S. Consulate.  The previous fee cost was only $131.

When a couple pursues a fiance visa (or fiancee visa), the couple must first pay a $455 fee to the US [...]

Should You Marry on a Tourist Visa?

Many couples believe that a foreign national fiance (or fiancee) can simply enter the United States on a tourist visa, get married and then stay in the United States without leaving the United States and without facing any consequence.  This idea is very appealing to couples as they do not want to [...]

K-1 Visa's Meeting Requirement Waiver: Beneficiary's Long Established Cultural Practice

Normally, the K-1 visa requires the K-1 applicants to meet within the two years immediately prior to the filing of the K-1 fiance visa.  However, the immigration agency allows for two exceptions to this requirement.  One exception is based upon the extreme hardship that would be felt by the K-1 petitioner.  The second exception is based [...]

Recent K-1 Fiancee Visa Case Shows Need for Counsel When Seeking Waiver of Meeting Requirement

The USCIS recently made public a K-1 visa opinion from an applicant who sought to obtain a waiver to the K-1′s meeting requirement.  Due to a lack of evidence demonstrating that a K-1 waiver was appropriate, the applicant was denied and his Pakistani fiancee could not enter the United States to marry him.  K-1 visa lawyer [...]

K-1 Visa Does Not Convert To K-3 Visa

The K-1 process is long and often tests the will of many couples who simply want to marry each other.  An unfortunate result of the delay is that many couples who have filed a K-1 visa decide to get married before the K-1 visa is approved  These couples, who just want to get married, wrongly believe [...]

Recent K-1 Visa Decision Shows Need For Well Organized Documentation

Immigration Attorney Chris Gafner recently reviewed a K-1 Visa decision that shows just how thoroughly applicants must demonstrate that they have met within two years immediately preceding the filing of the I-129F application.  Although not involved with the case, Gafner Law Firm regularly reviews K1 visa appeal decisions to ensure that it remains in tune with [...]