Anybody who’s watched 90 Day Fiancé knows going through the process of bringing a foreign fiancé to the United States can be complicated, stressful and full of drama.
There are a number of important steps to take and problems that can arise, which is why getting a licensed immigration lawyer to help you is the safest bet to avoid a denial that can put enormous pressure on the lives and relationship of a young couple.
However, in my experience as an immigration attorney helping many couples through this process, there are some mistakes and misconceptions that I see more than others.
As with any immigration process, all forms must be properly filled out, and accompanied by the required supporting documentation. However, here are the top six mistakes to avoid specifically with a K-1 fiancé visa application:
Getting married before the foreign fiancé arrives to the USA;
Failing to getting married within 90 days;
Failing to provide enough evidence of bona relationship;
Being unprepared for to survive for several months without work authorization;
Failing to arrive in the USA in time;
Failing to provide an affidavit of support from a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Let’s get into the details…
Mistake #1 Getting Married Before the Foreign Fiancé Arrives to the USA
A requisite to qualify for a K-1 fiancé visa is that both the petitioner (the U.S. citizen fiancé) and the beneficiary (the foreign fiancé) must be a) unmarried, b) able and c) intending to enter into a marital relationship with one another. Applicants start the K-1 fiancé process with the filing of the I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) then they sometimes get impatient!
In their impatience, they get married while the K-1 visa process is still pending. This is a mistake that makes the foreign fiancé ineligible for the K-1 visa. In this instance, the couple must start an immigration process over again, this time likely applying for a marriage-based immigrant visa via consular processing.
This mistake could delay the foreign fiancé’s arrival to the United States by a year or sometimes even more.
Mistake #2 Failing to Get Married Within 90 days
Immigrants who enter the United States on a K-1 fiancé visa must marry their U.S. citizen fiancé petitioner within 90 days of entering the United States. Sometimes in the excitement and hustle of moving to the United States and adjusting to a new life, K-1 visa entrants forget or delay getting married until after 90 days.
This can be a big issue that results in difficulty applying for adjustment of status and can even result in a green card application denial.
Avoid this mistake!
Mistake #3 Not Providing Enough Evidence of Bona Relationship
When applying for a K-1 fiancé visa, the petitioner and beneficiary must prove to both USCIS and the interviewing consulate that their relationship is “bona fide.” This means that they have a real relationship based on love, and not just the desire to secure a visa to the United States.
This evidence comes in the form of pictures together, travel itineraries from trips to see one another, emails to one another, skype and telegram messages. Think of what a relationship scrapbook would look like.
Oftentimes, a couple will not provide enough of this evidence, which can delay the case or cause a denial.
Mistake #4 Being Unprepared for Several Months Without Work
Mistake #4 is one of the sneakiest and is an issue that very few K-1 couples know about or consider. It’s the fact that a foreign fiancé arriving to the United States will likely have to wait at least five months without having a work permit. That’s because a K-1 fiancé does not receive work authorization in the United States until either an I-765 work authorization application is approved or the green card application is approved.
Unfortunately many couples are ill equipped for the scenario in which the foreign fiancé has to stay in the United States, without the ability to work. If not properly planned for, it can cause financial hardship, emotional distress, and even strain on the relationship.
K-1 couples should consider this fact and plan ahead financially for this consideration.
Mistake #5 Not Arriving to the USA in Time
K-1 fiancé visas are usually issued for a single entry and valid for six months from the date they are issued. This means the foreign fiancé must travel to the United States within that six month time-frame.
Due to constantly changing travel restrictions and even travel bans, individuals arriving to the United States on a K-1 visa have to take care to make sure they plan their travel carefully so that they arrive during the period of the K-1 visa validity.
Failure to do so could result in the K-1 couple having to start the process over to apply for another K-1 visa or marriage-based consular processing.
Mistake #6 Failing to Provide Valid Affidavit of Support
One of the biggest sources of confusion for K-1 fiancé applicants is the affidavit of support (I-134). Plainly stated, affidavits of support can be confusing.
The form must be filled out correctly, the minimum qualifying income of the sponsor must be calculated properly, the correct accompanying documentation of income must be submitted. And finally, the sponsor must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. This means that if the U.S. citizen fiancé does not meet the income threshold, they may not qualify on their own as a sponsor. In that case, finding a qualifying U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident joint sponsor may be necessary.
We see lots of people slip up on one or more of these issues related to the affidavit of support. It’s critical to read and follow the I-134 guidance very carefully.
If you think you’re about to start a K-1 fiancé process, it can pay to have a consultation with a professional that has years of experience with the U.S. immigration system. In a consultation, you can have your case screened for potential problems- including ones you may not be aware of.
During the consultation, you can have your questions answered about the process, and find out how much it would cost to have the case handled for you by our firm, putting your mind at ease.
When you’re ready, book a consultation right away.
The Law Office of Parviz Malakouti does not guarantee the accuracy of information presented nor assume responsibility for actions taken in reliance of this information. The information in this page could become outdated. Each immigration case is particular and you should consult with a qualified, licensed immigration lawyer about your case before taking any steps.