Persons planning to the United States to marry American citizens and reside there must apply for a K-1 visa. Your fiancé(e), must file a petition, Form I-129F, Petition for Relative or Fiancé(e), with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) having jurisdiction over his/her place of residence in the United States. The approved petition will be forwarded by the INS to the American consular office, where you will apply for your visa. The two-year foreign residency requirement for former exchange visitors is also applicable. Since, as a fiancé(e) visa applicant, you become an intending immigrant, you must meet most of the documentary requirements of an immigrant visa applicant.
You and your fiancé(e) must have previously met in person within the past two years. The visa is valid for one entry during a period of six months. At the US port of entry, you will receive a stamp in your passport giving temporary permission to work, pending marriage to the US citizen. The marriage must take place within 90 days of entry into the US. You will then be given conditional permanent residence status. After two years, you may apply for removal of this status.
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