Embassy of the United States

Non-Immigrant Visas

Fiancé(e) Visas

The fiancé (e) of an American citizen who plans to marry in the United States and reside there, requires a fiancé (e) visa (category K).

The first step in obtaining such a visa is for the American citizen to file a fiancé (e) visa petition (I-129-F) in the United States with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security office  that has jurisdiction over the petitioner’s residence.  A fiancé (e) petition cannot be filed outside the United States.

Once the petition has been approved, notification is sent to the Embassy.  The Embassy then contacts the beneficiary to describe the next steps.

After a fiancé(e) visa has been issued, the holder has 6 months in which to enter the United States, and must marry the petitioner within 90 days of entry.  Once married, the visa holder obtains conditional permanent resident status and may live and work permanently in the United States.  

The marriage must be concluded within 90 days of their admission into the United States. Following the marriage, the alien spouse must apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security(DHS) to establish a record of entry for conditional permanent resident status. After two years, the alien may apply to the Department of Homeland Security for removal of the conditional status.

MINOR CHILDREN

The minor children of a K-1 beneficiary derive "K-2" nonimmigrant visa status from the parent so long as the children are named in the petition. A separate petition is not required if the children accompany or follow the alien fiance(e) within one year from the date of issuance of the K-1 visa. Thereafter, a separate immigrant visa petition is required.

DOCUMENTATION

Since a fiance(e) visa applicant is an intending immigrant, he or she must meet most of the same documentary requirements of an immigrant visa applicant. In addition to the prescribed application forms and photographs, the following documents are normally required:

• Valid Passport
• Birth certificate
• Divorce decree or Death Certificate of any previous spouse
• Police Certificates from all places lived since age 16
• Medical Examination
• Evidence of valid relationship with the petitioner
• Passports and medical examinations for any accompanying children

VISA ISSUANCE

As soon as the processing of a case is completed and the applicant has all the necessary documents, a consular officer will interview the fiance(e) to determine eligibility for a K visa. Applicants who have a communicable disease, or have a dangerous physical or mental disorder; are drug addicts; have committed serious criminal acts, including crimes involving moral turpitude, drug trafficking, and prostitution; are likely to become a public charge; have used fraud or other illegal means to enter the United States; or are ineligible for citizenship, must be refused a visa. The two-year foreign residence requirement for former exchange visitors is also applicable. If there is an apparent ineligibility necessary, the consular officer will assist the applicant to apply for a waiver of ineligibility.  If found eligible, a visa will be issued gratis, valid for one entry during a period of 6 months.

Please call the Embassy to make an appointment.

Our phone number is 562-9100, press 1 and then again 1.  Our mailing address is American Embassy, Consular Section, Laufasvegi 21, 101 Reykjavik.  Click here for electronic inquiries.