The K-1 fiancé(e) visa: marry in the U.S., then apply for a green card

What is a K-1 fiancé(e) visa?

The K-1 is a nonimmigrant visa that lets the foreign fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen travel to the United States to marry. The couple must marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s arrival. After the wedding, the new spouse applies for a green card from inside the United States through adjustment of status. Only U.S. citizens can file for a fiancé(e); green card holders cannot, though they can sponsor a spouse after marrying. Unmarried children under 21 of the fiancé(e) may come along on K-2 visas.

K-1 visa requirements

• The petitioner is a U.S. citizen.
• Both partners are legally free to marry, and any earlier marriages have legally ended.
• Both intend to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s admission.
• The couple met in person at least once during the two years before filing. USCIS can waive this if meeting would cause extreme hardship or would violate strict, long-established cultural or religious customs.
• The fiancé(e) is admissible, or qualifies for a waiver.

Additional disclosure rules apply under the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act. The petitioner must disclose certain criminal convictions, and USCIS limits how many K-1 petitions one person can file over time without a waiver.

How to get a K-1 visa, step by step

The 90-day rule

The K-1 admission ends 90 days after entry. If the couple does not marry in that window, the fiancé(e) is expected to leave, and generally cannot change to another status or adjust through anyone other than the original petitioner. If the couple marries after day 90, adjustment may still be possible in some cases, but the fiancé(e) may be out of status in the meantime, which carries risk. An attorney should review any late marriage.

Adjusting status after the wedding

After marrying, the spouse files Form I-485 with USCIS. A new I-130 is not needed because the I-129F supports the case. The package includes an affidavit of support on Form I-864 from the U.S. spouse, and the medical exam record (Form I-693) if the overseas exam does not cover it. Filings postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 18, 2026 are decided under the new public charge rule, and USCIS revised Form I-485 and its instructions to go with it. Use the edition the USCIS Form I-485 page lists as accepted, because older editions can be rejected.

Because most K-1 couples marry shortly before adjustment, the spouse usually receives a two-year conditional green card and must later file Form I-751. See our marriage green card guide.

Work and travel during adjustment

A K-1 entrant can request a work permit based on K-1 status, which is valid only during the 90-day period, or file Form I-765 with the I-485 for a permit based on the pending adjustment. Travel abroad before receiving advance parole (Form I-131) usually abandons the I-485.

Documents to gather

Requirements vary slightly by consulate, so check the embassy's instructions. A typical K-1 file includes:

• For the I-129F: proof of the petitioner's citizenship (passport, birth or naturalization certificate), passport-style photos of both partners, divorce or death certificates for any prior marriages, evidence of the in-person meeting, and a signed statement from each partner about intent to marry.
• For the visa interview: the fiancé(e)'s valid passport, birth certificate, police certificates from countries of residence, the medical exam results, evidence of the ongoing relationship, and financial support documents from the petitioner such as tax returns and a recent pay record.
• For adjustment: the marriage certificate, the I-94 record showing K-1 admission, Form I-864 with the U.S. spouse's tax documents, and the vaccination record if not already completed.

Translate any document not in English, with a translator's certification of accuracy and competence.

Children of the fiancé(e)

Unmarried children under 21 of the K-1 fiancé(e) can be listed on the I-129F and apply for K-2 visas. They generally must enter with or after the parent and, after the wedding, file their own Form I-485 based on the K-2 admission. Timing matters: a K-2 child must still be under 21 when entering, and turning 21 later can create complications. Discuss age issues early with an attorney.

How much does a K-1 visa cost? (October 2026)

USCIS fees come from 8 CFR 106.2 and the State Department fee from 22 CFR 22.1. Our fee calculator adds them up. The H.R. 1 law also created a "visa integrity fee" charged when a nonimmigrant visa is issued. In July 2025 DHS said the fee needed cross-agency coordination and would be put in place in a later publication. Whether and how it applies to a K-1 visa can change, so check the State Department fee pages and your consulate's instructions before paying.

K-1 visa or spousal visa: which is better?

Some couples marry abroad and file an I-130 for a spouse instead. The trade-offs:

Which is faster varies by consulate and USCIS workload, so compare the posted processing times before choosing. Couples who already live together abroad, or who want the immigrant to be able to work immediately on arrival, often lean toward the spousal visa. Couples who want to hold the wedding in the United States with family present often prefer the K-1.

Common problems

• No in-person meeting proof. Keep boarding passes, hotel records and dated photos.
• Prior marriages. Final divorce decrees for both partners are required.
• Visa refusal or administrative processing. Consulates may hold cases for extra checks; the I-129F validity can lapse and need revalidation.
• Missing the 90-day deadline. Plan the wedding date before travel.
• Public charge. Since September 18, 2026 (see what changed), USCIS weighs the whole financial picture case by case at the adjustment stage.

Questions to ask an attorney

• Is the K-1 or a spousal visa better for our timeline and budget?
• Does either of us have a criminal or immigration history that needs disclosure or a waiver?
• What happens if the wedding is delayed past 90 days?
• Can my children come on K-2 visas, and how do they adjust status?

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