US Fiance (K1) Visa Application Guide

The US K1 fiancé visa is granted to foreign nationals who are engaged to a US citizen and who are traveling to the United States to get married and obtain permanent residence status.

The K1 visa, which grants the right to marry in the United States, is also known as the American marriage visa. The application process for the K1 visa begins with the US citizen applying to USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) in America to sponsor his/her foreign fiancé.

Eligibility for US Fiance Visa

Eligibility for the US fiancé visa is stated below.

  • Being engaged to a US citizen
  • Intend to marry within 90 days of entering the U.S.
  • Being able to provide evidence of your relationship before the engagement
  • The marriage must be legally possible under the laws of the U.S. state in which it will take place.
  • Having met a US citizen fiancé in person at least once in the last 2 years
  • Previous marriages have been legally terminated

What are the steps for applying for a US marriage visa?

For K1 visa applications from Turkey, the steps that must be completed separately by the person in the US and his/her fiancée are listed below.

  • A US citizen files an application with USCIS using an I-129F petition.
  • An application letter is received from the National Visa Center.
  • The necessary documents for the engagement visa are prepared.
  • An appointment for a visa interview is made at the American Embassy.
  • On the day of the interview, the document submission, fingerprint registration and visa interview are completed.

I-129F Petition Application for US Fiancé Visa

For a US fiancé visa, the I-129F petition must be submitted to the USCIS office serving the region where your fiancé lives in the US. The I-129F petition must be submitted from within the US; applications from abroad are not accepted.

The I-129 petition image is provided below.

The following documents must be submitted to USCIS along with the I-129F form.

  • Proof of U.S. citizenship (ID card, passport, birth certificate, etc.)
  • A biometric photograph of each party taken within the last 30 days
  • Proof that you will get married in the USA within 90 days
  • Proof that you have met in person within the last 2 years

Once the I-129F petition reaches USCIS, officials review the petition and review evidence of your relationship, whether you intend to marry, and whether you meet the eligibility criteria. If you and your U.S. citizen fiancé meet the requirements, USCIS will approve the petition.

Getting K1 Visa Application Letter from National Visa Center

Once USCIS approves the I-129F petition, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC assigns a case number to the U.S. citizen and sends the petition to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Ankara.

After sending the file to the US Embassy, ​​NVC sends an e-mail to your fiancé in the US, at which point your fiancé needs to inform you to start the necessary procedures to apply for the K-1 visa and prepare for the interview.

Documents Required for US Fiance Visa

The documents you need to prepare for the US fiancé visa are listed below.

  • America DS-160 online visa form approval page
  • Valid and up-to-date passport
  • Passport with past US visa, if any
  • 2 biometric photos (5×5 mm)
  • Documents proving engagement
  • Financial status documents or I-134 Affidavit of Sponsorship
  • Health report
  • Original copy of the certified public registration certificate and a photocopy for each family member
  • Criminal record
  • Court records, if any (for cases such as trial, adoption, name change, etc.)
  • A copy of a divorce certificate or death certificate for those previously married
  • Military service certificate (or exemption certificate)

The consular officer may ask for additional information, such as photographs and other evidence of your relationship with your U.S. citizen fiancé. Documents in languages ​​other than the language of the country in which the application is being made must be translated. You should bring clear, legible photocopies and translations of civil documents, such as birth and divorce certificates, to your U.S. fiancé visa interview. The originals and translations will then be returned.

Health Report for K1 Visa

In preparation for your K1 visa interview, you will need to undergo a medical examination.

Relevant instructions are given from the US Embassy regarding the medical report for the US visa , including information about the authorized delegation doctors .

Criminal Record for Marriage Visa

For a U.S. marriage visa, you must provide a criminal record check from your country of residence and from all countries where you have lived for six months or more since you were 16 years old.

You must specifically request that both current and archived records be displayed on the criminal record for a US visa.

Documents Regarding Financial Situation

For the K1 visa, financial documents indicating that the person will not be a public burden as per INA 212(a)(4) of the constitution must be submitted to the consular officer.

For the US fiancé visa, bank account statements and financial savings documents of the fiancé living in the US can be submitted. By filling out the American I-134 form (Declaration of Financial Support) and submitting the necessary documents, your fiancé in the US guarantees that you will not be a financial burden to the US.

Appointment Process for America K1 Visa

You can make an appointment for the US K1 visa after you have prepared all the documents and paid the visa fee. Before the visa interview for the K1 visa, you must also choose the PTT branch where the passport will be collected.

You can make your payment for the US K1 visa, determine your appointment date and make your PTT selection at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tr/iv. Appointments for the K1 visa are limited, so check the site regularly to make a new appointment. If you cannot attend your interview and want to make a new appointment, make a new appointment at usvisa-info.com.

US Fiance Visa Embassy Interview

For the US fiancé visa interview at the embassy, ​​please bring with you the visa application documents and the appointment registration receipt showing the PTT branch you chose to pick up the passport.

After you submit your documents and provide fingerprints, the Embassy officer will conduct a K1 visa interview with you. The questions asked during the US visa interview consist of your relationship with the US citizen and other details about your past.

How Much Is The K1 Visa Fee?

The application fee for the US K1 visa in 2024 is $280, and the fee for a health report from an Embassy-approved clinic is $290. The application fee for the US citizen sponsor to USCIS before the visa process is $560.

The total K1 visa fee may increase if a sworn translation is required for the documents and if consultancy services are received.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a US Fiance Visa?

After your US fiancé visa application, if your file is complete, your visa will be issued within 7 to 10 business days and your passport and visa will be given to PTT to be delivered to the passport delivery point.

Some applicants may require additional administrative procedures before the visa is issued, and this process can take several months. Once the administrative review process for the US visa is complete, the file number will be published on the website and you will be notified by email. After the final review, if your application is complete, your passport and visa package will be sent to the PTT branch you selected in Turkey within five to ten business days after your passport is received.

While you are waiting for the administrative process to be completed, your examination may expire, in which case you will need to renew the medical examination.

How Long Is a US Fiancé Visa Valid?

The US fiancé visa is valid for a maximum of 6 months from the date of issue. You must marry your US citizen fiancé within 90 days of entering the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions frequently sent to our center regarding US fiancé visa applications from Turkey and the rights granted to visa holders are answered below.

What are the proof documents regarding engagement?

For the US fiancé visa, your fiancé living in the US must provide evidence of your relationship. Proof that your relationship is real and ongoing, including photographs of you together, travel tickets you traveled together, call records, e-mail or letter correspondence, must be provided for the US fiancé visa.

What are the requirements for marriage in the USA?

States in the United States have different procedures for getting married. Some U.S. states require you and your fiancé to reside in the state, while others have a waiting period between the issuance of a marriage license and when you can get married. Age requirements for getting married in the U.S. also vary. To get married in the U.S., you may need a copy of your birth certificate or other important records.

You can get information about marriage requirements by selecting the relevant state on the US state governments page.

What Happens If We Cannot Get Married Within 90 Days With a K1 Visa?

If you do not marry within 90 days on a K1 visa, you must leave the United States after 90 days or you will be in violation of U.S. immigration law. Violating U.S. immigration law can result in deportation and may affect your eligibility for future U.S. immigration benefits.

How Can I Get a Green Card After Getting Married in the USA?

After marrying a person living in the US with a K1 visa, you can apply for legal permanent resident status (Green Card) in the United States.

You can apply for a Green Card by filing Form I-485, Application for Registration of Permanent Residence. In this case, you and your spouse will be expected to attend the interview for the Green Card. If you have been married for less than two years when the Form I-485 is approved, USCIS will grant you conditional permanent resident status and a Green Card valid for 2 years. You must remove the conditions of residence by filing Form I-751 90 days before the Green Card expires.

Can Children Be Included in the US Marriage Visa Application?

Your unmarried children who are under 21 years of age may apply for a K-2 visa based on Form I-129F approval, but your U.S. citizen fiancé must list the children on the petition. A separate visa application must be submitted for each K-2 visa applicant, and each applicant must pay the K visa application fee.