Phoenix Fiancé Visa Attorney

Uniting Spouses to Begin the Next Chapter of Their Lives

Are you a U.S. citizen engaged to be married to a foreign national? You may be eligible to bring your fiancé to the United States to get married and live with you. The K-1 fiancé visa allows your future spouse to enter the U.S. for 90 days, during which time you are expected to get married. After getting married, your spouse may apply for a green card to remain in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident.

The fiancé visa application process can be complicated and time-consuming. At Essien Law Firm, our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can guide you through each step and help you avoid delays and mistakes that could result in a denial of your application. We are committed to providing the personalized legal services you need and deserve.

Get in touch with us today at (602) 833-2650 to discuss your situation with our fiancé visa attorney in Phoenix, AZ. 

Requirements for a Fiancé Visa

There are several eligibility requirements that you and your fiancé must meet in order to apply for a fiancé visa. Our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can help you determine if you meet these requirements and guide you through the application process.

To qualify for a fiancé visa, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Intend to get married within 90 days of your fiancé’s entry into the U.S.
• Both be legally free to marry
• Have met your fiancé in person within the last two years (there are exceptions for cases where meeting would violate long-established customs or create extreme hardship)

Fiancé Visa Application Process

There are several steps involved in the fiancé visa application process, including:

Step 1: File a Petition

The first step in the process is to file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, and submit it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the required supporting documentation. Once the petition is approved, your foreign national fiancé will need to complete form DS-160.

Step 2: Apply for a Visa

After the petition is approved, the NVC will send the petition to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your fiancé’s home country. The consulate will then notify your fiancé and provide him or her with the necessary forms and instructions to apply for a visa. Your fiancé will need to submit the required forms and documentation to the consulate, including a medical examination and an affidavit of support from you.

Step 3: Attend the Visa Interview

After your fiancé submits the visa application, the consulate will schedule a medical examination and an interview. During the medical exam they will be checked for any conditions that could make them inadmissible to the U.S. After clearing the medical exam, your fiancé will be required to attend the interview and answer questions about your relationship. He or she should also bring the original documents that were submitted with the application, as well as any additional documents that the consulate has requested. If the visa is approved, the consulate will send your fiancé the visa packet.

Step 4: Enter the U.S.

Once your fiancé has received the visa packet, he or she can travel to the U.S. Your fiancé will need to present the visa packet to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry. The CBP officer will determine whether your fiancé is eligible to enter the U.S. If your fiancé is admitted to the U.S., he or she will receive a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, which will indicate how long he or she is allowed to stay in the U.S.

Step 5: Get Married

After your fiancé has entered the U.S., you must get married within 90 days. If you do not get married within this time frame, your fiancé will be required to leave the U.S.

Step 6: Apply for a Green Card

After you get married, your fiancé can apply to adjust his or her status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

Fiancé Visa Interview Questions

During the visa interview, the consular officer will ask your fiancé questions to determine if your relationship is real or if you are entering into a “sham” marriage for the purpose of obtaining a green card. The consular officer may ask your fiancé questions about how you met, how long you have known each other, your engagement, your wedding plans, your future plans, and your financial situation. Our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can help you and your fiancé prepare for the interview and answer any questions you may have about the process.

Documents Needed for Fiancé Visa

There are several documents that you and your fiancé will need to submit with the visa application, including:

• Proof sponsoring fiancé is a US citizen
• A copy of the foreign fiancé's valid passport
• Proof of your relationship
• Proof that you have meat in person at least once in the past two years
• Copy of all previously issued Form I-94 records
• A passport style photo for each partner

Fiancé Visa Financial Requirements

To apply for a fiancé visa, you must meet certain financial requirements. You will need to submit an affidavit of support to show that you can financially support your fiancé. The affidavit of support is a legally enforceable contract, so it is important to understand your obligations before signing it. Our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can help you understand the requirements and help you prepare the affidavit of support.

Common Fiancé Visa Mistakes

The fiancé visa application process can be complicated and time-consuming. There are several common mistakes that people make when applying for a fiancé visa, including:

• Not providing enough evidence of a bona fide relationship. The purpose of the fiancé visa is to allow a U.S. citizen and a foreign national to get married and live together in the U.S. You will need to provide evidence that your relationship is real and not entered into for the purpose of obtaining a green card. Some examples of evidence that you can submit include photos of you and your fiancé, letters from family and friends, and evidence of trips that you have taken together.
• Not having a clear plan for the wedding. You will need to get married within 90 days of your fiancé’s entry into the U.S. If you do not get married within this time frame, your fiancé will be required to leave the U.S. You should have a clear plan for the wedding, including the date and location.
• Not meeting the financial requirements. You will need to submit an affidavit of support to show that you can financially support your fiancé. The affidavit of support is a legally enforceable contract, so it is important to understand your obligations before signing it. You should also be prepared to provide additional evidence of your financial situation if requested.
• Not preparing for the visa interview. During the visa interview, the consular officer will ask your fiancé questions to determine if your relationship is real. You and your fiancé should be prepared to answer questions about how you met, how long you have known each other, your engagement, your wedding plans, your future plans, and your financial situation. Our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can help you and your fiancé prepare for the interview and answer any questions you may have about the process.

How Long Does the Fiancé Visa Process Take?

The fiancé visa process can take three to six months to complete. The processing time can vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case and the volume of applications that USCIS is processing. Once the petition is approved, it can take several weeks to send the petition to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your fiancé’s home country. The consulate will then schedule an interview, which can take time to be scheduled. After the interview, it can take a few more weeks or longer for the visa to be issued.

At Essien Law Firm, our Phoenix fiancé visa lawyers can help you navigate the process and help you avoid delays and mistakes that could result in a denial of your application. We are committed to providing the personalized legal services you need and deserve.

For experienced and dedicated K-1 Visa services, contact our office online or call (602) 833-2650. Our Phoenix fiancé visa attorney is ready to help your dreams come true.