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INA § 101(a)(15)(K) / Form I-129F ($675 Fee) / 90-Day Marriage Rule

K-1 Fiancé Visa Guide (2026)

Guide to the K-1 fiancé(e) visa process, Form I-129F, eligibility requirements, USCIS and Department of State processing stages, financial-support evidence, the 90-day marriage requirement, and adjustment of status after marriage.

Core Statutory Eligibility Requirements

RequirementDetails
U.S. Citizen PetitionerPetitioner must be a U.S. citizen (Green Card holders cannot file Form I-129F for a fiancé).
Free to MarryAny prior marriages must be legally terminated by divorce, death, or annulment prior to filing.
Met in Person Within 2 YearsMust have physically met at least once within the 2 years immediately preceding Form I-129F filing.
90-Day Marriage RuleMust marry the petitioning U.S. citizen within 90 days of admission as a K-1 nonimmigrant. The K-1 period cannot be extended.

K-1 Processing Timeline Estimator

Enter a planned Form I-129F filing month to create an illustrative milestone schedule. Actual USCIS, NVC, embassy, medical-examination, administrative-processing, and visa-issuance times vary by case and location, so these dates are not official processing-time predictions:

K-1 Process After I-129F Approval

After USCIS approves Form I-129F, the case proceeds through the Department of State and National Visa Center before the foreign fiancé(e) applies for the K-1 visa at the designated U.S. embassy or consulate. The visa process generally includes the DS-160, required civil documents, a medical examination with an authorized physician, financial-support evidence, and a consular interview.

A K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa. Admission to the United States is inspected by CBP, and the 90-day marriage period runs from admission as a K-1 nonimmigrant. After a qualifying marriage to the petitioning U.S. citizen, the foreign spouse may apply for adjustment of status. The K-1 cannot be used as a general pathway to marry someone other than the petitioner and remain in the United States.

K-2 visas may be available to eligible unmarried children under 21 of the K-1 beneficiary when they are included in the petition and otherwise qualify. Their adjustment and work/travel applications are separate from the principal K-1 beneficiary's applications.

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At-A-Glance
Form NameForm I-129F
Filing Fee$675 USD
Marriage Window90 Days
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Under INA § 214(d), a K-1 fiancé(e) is admitted for the purpose of marrying the U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days of admission. The K-1 period cannot be extended. If the required marriage does not occur within the 90-day period, the K-1 loses that K status and must depart the United States or may become subject to removal proceedings.

No. Under INA § 101(a)(15)(K), only U.S. citizens can petition for a foreign fiancé(e) using Form I-129F. Green Card holders must get married abroad first and file Form I-130 for a CR-1/F2A spousal visa.

The current USCIS fee schedule lists a $675 filing fee for Form I-129F. The applicable fee and accepted payment method should be verified against the current USCIS Fee Schedule and Form I-129F filing instructions before submission.

For a K-1 visa, the consular officer may request Form I-134 and supporting financial evidence, and the Department of State states that the sponsor's income is generally evaluated at 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for this purpose. After marriage and adjustment of status, Form I-864 generally applies and has a 125% income requirement, with a 100% exception for qualifying active-duty military sponsors petitioning for a spouse or child. The exact household size, military status, assets, and joint-sponsor rules must also be considered.

Yes. Under 8 CFR § 214.2(k)(2), the couple must have physically met in person at least once during the 2-year period immediately preceding the filing of Form I-129F, unless extreme hardship or strict cultural customs apply.

After the K-1 entrant marries the U.S. citizen petitioner within the required 90-day period, the foreign spouse may apply for adjustment of status by filing Form I-485. Form I-765 for employment authorization and Form I-131 for advance parole may also be filed when eligible; these additional applications are not mandatory merely because the couple marries.
Official U.S. Government References

• USCIS Form I-129F Petition Page: uscis.gov/i-129f
• State Department Fiancé Visa Process: travel.state.gov/fiance-visa