K1 Visa Guide | A Detailed Journey to Approval

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K‑1 Visa Process

Follow this step-by-step guide for insights on each phase of filing your K‑1 Visa. We’ve paraphrased each stage to help you prepare for what’s next.

Step 1 Filing I‑129F Start the process to bring your fiancé(e) to the U.S. by completing the I‑129F form and gathering all required documents. Pay attention to the filing instructions for accuracy.

Step 2 I‑129F NOA1 USCIS will send a “Notice of Action” (I‑797C) confirming they’ve received your petition. It includes a case number for tracking on the official government website.

Step 3 Did You Get an RFE? An RFE (Request for Evidence) means USCIS needs more information or documents. Send the requested materials promptly to avoid delays.

Step 4 NOA2 Received This notice confirms your petition has been approved. Keep the original letter safe, as you’ll need it later. Your case is now forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC).

Step 5 DOS (NVC) Stage The NVC processes your approved petition and forwards it to the U.S. embassy in your fiancé(e)’s country. Track your case number to see updates or request information.

Step 6 Embassy You’ll typically receive a “Welcome Letter” when your embassy receives the case. Each embassy has unique instructions, so follow them closely for the final steps.

Step 7 Medical Exam & Interview Complete a medical exam with an authorized physician and attend the visa interview at the embassy. Procedures vary by location, so do your research in advance.

Step 8 K‑1 Visa Received! Once approved, you’ll receive your K‑1 Visa. You must enter the U.S. and marry within 90 days of arrival. Keep your visa documentation handy for entry at the port of arrival.

I-129F Filing

Ready to marry your special someone? Congratulations. You have reached the first step of the K-1 visa journey. It involves paperwork, but it is definitely worth it to be together. Let us begin with the I-129F “Petition for Alien Fiancé(e).”

First of all, the sponsor who files on your behalf must be a U.S. citizen. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to petition for a foreign fiancé(e) under the K-1 visa category. Both partners must be legally free to marry (single or fully divorced) and plan to marry within 90 days of the K-1 visa holder’s arrival.

Another important requirement is that the U.S. petitioner (American fiancé) and the foreign fiancé have met face to face at least once in the two years before filing. You will need proof of this, so collect items such as photos, flight tickets, boarding passes, and passport entry stamps. USCIS may grant exceptions if extreme hardship or strong cultural and religious practices prevented an in-person meeting, but this requires substantial documentation.

Additional I-129F Details

Official Form: Visit the USCIS website
Current Edition Date: 04/01/24
Filing Fee: $675
Where to File: Most petitions go through the USCIS lockbox in Dallas (although many are ultimately processed in California). Use the addresses below, depending on your shipping method:

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
Attn: I-129F
P.O. Box 660151
Dallas, TX 75266-0151

For FedEx, UPS, or DHL:
USCIS
Attn: I-129F (Box 660151)
2501 South State Highway 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067-8003

I-129F Checklist

	Step	Item
Check item 1	1	Filled out I-129F
Check item 2	2	Copy of Petitioner Birth Certificate or
Check item 3	3	Copy of Petitioner U.S. Passport
Check item 4	4	If applicable, evidence you have legally ended any prior marriages For example, divorce decree or death certificate.
Check item 5	5	A passport-style photo of you and your fiancé
Check item 6	6	Evidence of relationship Examples: Photos with fiancé and family, plane tickets, proof of gifts, hotel receipts, affidavits from relatives, etc.
Check item 7	7	Letter of intent to marry within 90 days of entering the U.S.
Check item 8	8	Form G-1145 (Optional)

RFE (Request for Evidence)

After months of waiting, you have received an RFE in the mail. Do not worry; the letter will specify what you need to send to resolve it. Simply gather the requested items and respond within the provided deadline.

Below are some common reasons for an RFE. Avoid these by double-checking your petition before submission and ensuring all documents are correct, complete, and properly translated when necessary. Remember, Certling certified translations are a reliable option for any documents not originally in English.

Missing documents: For example, divorce decrees or death certificates if they apply to your situation.
Omitted check boxes or signatures: It is easy to overlook parts of the I-129F. Review your application carefully and have someone else proofread it.
Incorrect documents: Police certificates not in certified copy format or missing translations for foreign-language paperwork. Certling can provide certified translations to satisfy USCIS requirements.
Insufficient evidence of meeting: You might not have enough proof of having met in person at least once in the last two years. Make sure to include relevant travel and photo documentation.

NOA2

After many months of waiting, you have finally been approved. Congratulations. The wait is worth it, and you are almost at the finish line.

USCIS will send you a paper copy of your NOA2 approval. Keep the original in a safe place because you will need it later for references and additional photocopies as you move through the rest of this process.

Next, USCIS forwards your approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further checks, which can take two or more weeks. If you need certified translations during this phase, Certling is ready to help ensure your documents meet every requirement.

NVC

Approximately two weeks after your case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), you can make a public inquiry to check if they have received it and to obtain a case number for tracking. Due to current delays, it may take up to 90 days for an approved case to arrive at the NVC, so many applicants reach out for updates.

To inquire, you may use the online form or send an email to [email protected]. Be sure to include your WAC number in the subject line of your message. If you need certified translations for any documents, remember that Certling can help ensure they meet the requirements.

Example Inquiry Template

Dear National Visa Center,

I am writing to inquire about the status of our approved I-129F petition with Receipt Number: . We received the hardcopy of our approval letter from USCIS on , and it was stated that the case has been sent to your office for further processing. Could you please provide any available updates on our case, including our case number assignment?

Below are the relevant details for reference:
Petitioner’s Name:
Date of Birth:
Applicant’s Name:
Date of Birth:

Your prompt reply is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Important: Do not forget to attach your NOA2 approval to the email or the public inquiry form.

Tracking Status

Once you have your case number, you can use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to keep track of your application’s progress. Simply visit this tracking page and select immigrant from the dropdown, since K-1 applicants are categorized as immigrants in this system.

At NVC: Your case has been created at the National Visa Center and is waiting to be shipped.
In Transit: Your case is on its way to the embassy.
Ready: Your case is now at the embassy and ready for processing.

Once you see that your case is ready, be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your assigned embassy because each embassy has different procedures. If you need certified translations for any documents, Certling is here to help you meet every requirement.

Embassy Stage

DS-160

While your case is on its way to the embassy, the beneficiary must complete the DS-160 form online at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ . There is a fee of $265 that you either pay at this stage or later, based on the rules of your specific embassy. Be sure to confirm your embassy’s procedures.

I-134 Overview

Current form edition date: 01/20/25
Financial documents: The petitioner and any joint sponsor should include official IRS tax transcripts, pay stubs, a statement from a bank officer, and other supporting materials to demonstrate financial ability.

Once your case arrives at the embassy, the next steps involve scheduling your interview and medical exam, but the process varies depending on the embassy. If you need any certified document translations for this stage, Certling can handle that for you.

I-134 Checklist

	Step	Item
Check item 1	1	Filled out I-134
Check item 2	2	Copy of Petitioner Birth Certificate or
Check item 3	3	Copy of Petitioner U.S. Passport
Check item 4	4	Most recent Tax Return Transcript (Embassy dependent) (1040) + W2/1099
Check item 5	5	Paystubs
Check item 6	6	Letter of employment
Check item 7	7	Bank statements – Petitioner

Medical Exam

U.S. law requires every K-1 visa applicant to complete a medical examination with a physician approved by the U.S. Public Health Service. The cost generally ranges from 200 to 600 USD, but it can vary based on your location. Embassy websites typically provide a list of authorized panel physicians for each country.

Bring several passport-style photos (often four, but it varies by country or doctor).
The examination process differs by age, and the required vaccines depend on current CDC guidelines. Review the CDC chart and USCIS requirements .
Panel physicians usually note "vaccinations completed" on your DS-3025 after the first dose of any required multi-dose vaccines.

If you have lost vaccination records:
Option 1: Get vaccinated again before or during the medical exam.
Option 2: Do a blood titer test before the exam to confirm immunity.

How to Get a Copy of DS-3025

Ask your panel physician to fill it out and sign it before you leave. You will need this document for Adjustment of Status (AOS), since the same medical exam supports your Green Card application. Detailed scope and requirements are found in the CDC Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians as well as your embassy’s guidelines.

Although vaccinations are not always required for the K-1 visa itself, they are needed for AOS. You can potentially save money and time by completing your shots in advance so you do not need a second medical exam. Keep a copy of the DS-3025 if possible, and always consult groups dedicated to your specific embassy or country for up-to-date information.

After your medical exam, the physician either sends it directly to the embassy or gives it to you to bring on your interview day. The embassy will include an official copy of your Medical Exam Record in the sealed visa packet for your port of entry, later forwarded to USCIS.

Interview

Interview procedures vary by country, so be sure to read your embassy’s official instructions. Below is a broad checklist of documents that many embassies request, but confirm your own embassy’s guidelines to be certain. If you need any certified translations, remember that Certling is ready to assist.

Interview Checklist

	Step	Item
Check item 1	1	Filled out I-134 and supporting documents
Check item 2	2	Copy of beneficiary passport and original document
Check item 3	3	Copy of beneficiary birth certificate and original document
Check item 4	4	2 passport-style photos of beneficiary
Check item 5	5	DS-160 confirmation page
Check item 6	6	Updated evidence of relationship (photos, receipts, flight tickets, etc.)
Check item 7	7	Updated letter of intent to marry
Check item 8	8	Copy of petitioner birth certificate
Check item 9	9	Copy of petitioner passport bio page
Check item 10	10	Original police certificate or background check

Each embassy has its own process, so confirm you have any additional documents required by your local embassy.

After the Interview

Visa Approval Time: If approved, final checks can take a few more weeks. Once issued, the visa is valid for up to six months.
Next Steps: Continue monitoring your status through the embassy or any tracking tools they provide. Stay organized with your documents for the next stages, including potential travel or your Adjustment of Status down the road.

K-1 Visa Issued

Arriving on a K-1 Visa

Bring the sealed envelope you received along with your passport. Present it to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at your port of entry.
Obtain your I-94 record once you have entered the United States. You can usually access it immediately after valid entry at i94.cbp.dhs.gov .
We recommend verifying your I-94 data at the port of entry in case there are any issues such as a wrong last name or incorrect middle name. Ask a CBP staff member for help if something appears wrong.

What to Do After Arriving

Apply for an SSN: You can apply within the first two weeks of arriving on a K-1 visa. Technically, you can work on a K-1 if you have an EAD, which makes you eligible for an SSN as long as the K-1 is valid. K-2 holders are not eligible at this point. You can apply until around day 75 after entry. Find the form at ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf . You usually need your passport and I-94 record. If you face difficulties, show this reference or try another Social Security office.
Get married within 90 days: Plan your wedding soon after you arrive. You need the official marriage certificate in time for the next steps, such as Adjustment of Status (AOS). If you do not marry within 90 days, you can still file for AOS but will need to submit an I-130. Be sure any non-English documents are properly translated. Certling can help with fast, certified translations that meet USCIS requirements.

Once you have your marriage certificate, you are ready to proceed with the AOS process for your Green Card. Always keep track of essential documents and check for any embassy-specific guidelines for final instructions.

Useful Links

The following resources can help you during your K-1 visa journey. Remember, if you need any documents translated, Certling can provide certified translations that meet USCIS standards.