United States of America · family · Leads to settlement
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 7 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Non-immigrant visa allowing the fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the US to marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card.
- Processing time
- I-129F: roughly 6–12 months; consular processing 3–6 months; overall 9–18 months to entry.
- Government fees
- I-129F USD 675; DS-160 USD 265; medical and police clearances additional.
- Typical duration
- Single-entry 6 months; must marry within 90 days of entry.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen for United States of America has typical processing of 6 months – 18 months. Sources: official United States of America government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/us/k-1#answer
What is the K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen in United States of America?
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen is a sponsor-led United States route. Indicative government fees are I-129F USD 675; DS-160 USD 265; medical and police clearances additional; indicative processing time is I-129F: roughly 6–12 months; consular processing 3–6 months; overall 9–18 months to entry; typical duration is Single-entry 6 months; must marry within 90 days of entry. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The K-1 is a non-immigrant visa for the fiancé(e) of a US citizen. The US-citizen petitioner files Form I-129F; once approved, the fiancé(e) applies at a US consulate. The couple must marry within 90 days of entry, after which the K-1 spouse files Form I-485 to adjust status to permanent residence.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Filipino applicants
Filipino K-1 applications are the largest single national cohort globally — Manila consular processing handles tens of t…
Indian applicants
Indian K-1 applications are routed through Mumbai consular processing for most petitioners. Mumbai expects strong eviden…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian K-1 applications are processed through Rio de Janeiro consular processing. Polícia Federal certidão de anteced…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian K-1 cases face heightened bona-fide-relationship scrutiny at Lagos consular processing — the post applies eleva…
Russian applicants
Russian K-1 applicants cannot interview in Moscow — the US Embassy has suspended all visa services since 2022. NVC route…
Ukrainian applicants
Ukrainian K-1 applicants in Ukraine continue to interview at the US Embassy in Kyiv (limited operations) or are routed t…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Petitioner is a US citizen.U.S. Department of State ↗
- ✓Both parties are legally free to marry.U.S. Department of State ↗
- ✓The couple has met in person within the 2 years before filing (limited waivers available).U.S. Department of State ↗
- ✓Intent to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)’s entry.U.S. Department of State ↗
Common blockers
- !Insufficient evidence of a bona fide relationship.U.S. Department of State (Foreign Affairs Manual) ↗
- !Petitioner income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (125% for subsequent I-864 adjustment).U.S. Department of State ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Evidence of relationship (photos, travel, communication).U.S. Department of State ↗
- ·Proof of US citizenship and free-to-marry status.
- ·Affidavits from friends and family.
Application pathway
US citizen files I-129F
USCIS adjudicates the fiancé(e) petition.
National Visa Center and consular processing
Case forwarded to NVC, then to consulate for DS-160 and interview.
Enter US and marry within 90 days
Marriage certificate filed with adjustment package.
File I-485 to adjust status
Transitions K-1 spouse to conditional permanent resident.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplySponsorFile Form I-129F ↗
The U.S. citizen petitioner uses Form I-129F to start the K-1 fiance(e) process with USCIS.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · verified
- ApplyApplicantComplete DS-160 ↗
The fiance(e) uses DS-160 for the K visa application after USCIS approval and consular case creation.
U.S. Department of State · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: I-129F USD 675; DS-160 USD 265; medical and police clearances additional.. A decision then typically takes 6 months – 18 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
Also explored by
Compare United States of America with
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
Can the K-1 spouse work after entering the US?+
The K-1 spouse may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-765), but the authorisation expires 90 days after entry. Most applicants wait and file for combined work/travel authorisation together with the adjustment of status after marriage.
Do my fiancé(e) and I have to have met in person before filing the K-1 petition?+
Yes. The couple must have met in person within the two years before filing the K-1 petition, both parties must be legally free to marry, and you must intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s entry. Limited waivers of the in-person meeting requirement are available.
We're already married, do we use the K-1 or a spousal green card?+
The K-1 is for the fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the US to marry within 90 days and then adjust status, so it is for couples not yet married. Couples who are already married use the spouse route: US citizens sponsor a spouse as an immediate relative (IR1/CR1) and lawful permanent residents sponsor under the F2A preference. Check the official USCIS pages for each route to confirm which fits your situation.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in United StatesHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Last checked: 1 June 2026