Foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent residency (a Green Card) through the engagement and eventual marriage to a U.S. citizen must apply for K-1 status. K-1 status confers a temporary nonimmigrant visa that ensures protection from deportation while the applicant is applying for a Green Card and marrying their U.S. citizen spouse.

In this article, we’ll cover essentials for how to obtain a K-1 visa, supporting documents for the required Form I-129F petition, and basic info for how to obtain U.S. citizenship through marriage.

How to obtain a K-1 visa

The process for obtaining a K-1 visa can be broken down into the following nine steps:

  1. Verify eligibility.
  2. File Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  3. Receive I-129F approval, denial, or request for evidence (RFE) from USCIS.
  4. National Visa Center (NVC) processing.
  5. Transfer to the U.S. embassy or consulate.
  6. Attend a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
  7. Enter the United States and marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days.
  8. File Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
  9. Receive Form I-485 approval, denial, or request for evidence (RFE) from USCIS.

To read more about the K-1 visa application process and eligibility criteria specific to the K-1 visa classification, visit the full comprehensive K-1 visa guide. Here, you’ll find more specific details regarding the steps outlined above.

Form I-129F Checklist

The Form I-129F petition requires the petitioner to submit additional supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of petitioner’s U.S. citizenship
  • Proof that the U.S. citizens and fiancé(e) have met each other in person within the last 2 years
  • Additional evidence that the couple are in a bona fide relationship and intend to marry each other within 90 days of the fiancé(e) entering the U.S.
  • Proof of previous marriage, if either the U.S. citizen and/or the fiancé(e) has previously been married
  • Passport-style photographs of both the U.S. citizen and their fiancé(e)
  • Evidence of any name changes for both parties

There are several types of documents that can be used to provide the evidence listed above. View the full I-129F checklist of supporting documents to find some examples.

How to obtain U.S. citizenship through marriage

After holding a Green Card for at least three years, individuals who entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa can begin the process of applying for U.S. citizenship through marriage. This process is officially referred to as “naturalization”. To be eligible for citizenship, you must also have a legitimate marriage to a U.S. citizen, be present in the U.S. for at least 18 months out of the required three-year residency period, have good moral character, and successfully pass an English test and a U.S. civics test.

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