A U.S. citizen who wishes to bring a foreign national fiancé(e) living abroad to the United States to marry must obtain a fiancé visa. The
petitioner must show that:
- The petitioner (the person wishing to bring a fiancé into the country) is a U.S. citizen.
- The petitioner plans to get married within 90 days of the fiancé entering the United States.
- The petitioner and the fiancé are both free to marry, and any previous marriages have been legally terminated by divorce, death, or
annulment.
- The petitioner and fiancé met each other in person at least once within 2 years prior to the petition. However, under two exceptional
circumstances, a waiver may be obtained. These circumstances include those where the requirement to meet would violate the strict and long-established customs of the petitioner or the fiancé’s
foreign culture or social practice, or if the petitioner is able prove that the requirement to meet would result in extreme hardship.
K-1 status (fiancé status) is valid for 90 days after the fiancé is admitted to the United States in order to allow the parties to marry.
When the marriage is solemnized, the petitioner’s new spouse may apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while USCIS processes the adjustment of status application.