K-1 Fiancé Visas
The petition, the consular interview, and the 90-day window after arrival — planned as one sequence, through to the green card.
K-1 fiancé(e) visas
What is a K-1 fiancé(e) visa?
A K-1 lets a U.S. citizen bring a foreign fiancé(e) to the United States to marry, then apply for a green card from here.
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It is a citizen's petition.
Only a U.S. citizen can file a K-1. A permanent resident cannot; the alternative is marrying abroad and filing a spousal petition.
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The window after arrival is short.
The visa admits your fiancé(e) once, and the marriage has to happen inside the ninety-day period that follows. The status cannot be extended or converted.
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The visa is the middle of the journey.
A petition, a consular interview, entry, the wedding, and an adjustment of status filing are one sequence. Planning it that way keeps the second half from surprising you.
Our approach
How Olvera Law Office handles a K-1 petition.
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Weigh the K-1 against the alternative.
A K-1 usually arrives sooner but needs a separate green card filing after the wedding; a spousal visa takes longer and arrives as residence. We say which fits before anything is filed.
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Prove the relationship as it is.
The petition documents the in-person meeting, the intent to marry, and a genuine relationship. We assemble that record and make the disclosures the statute requires up front.
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Carry it past the wedding.
The petition stage and the consular stage answer to different offices. We coordinate both, prepare you for the interview, and file the green card package once you are married.
Eligibility
Eligibility.
The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen, and both of you must be legally able to marry.
You generally must have met in person within the two years before filing, intend a genuine marriage, and meet the income requirement. Your fiancé(e)'s unmarried children under twenty-one can be listed.
Prior marriages must be fully ended, with documents, and certain criminal history has to be disclosed — it can require a waiver or bar approval. An omission is more damaging than the fact.
Book a Consultation
Start with a consultation.
As an immigration attorney, Mosiah Olvera reviews your case, identifies the strongest path forward, and helps you take the next step.
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