K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa in Washington in WA — Immigration… | CGMIMM
Immigration · WA
K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa in Washington
Washington K-1 fiancé(e) visa allows foreign fiancé to enter US for 90 days to marry US citizen — must marry within 90 days, then apply for adjustment of status to green card.
Published May 9, 2026
## K-1 fiancé(e) visa in Washington
The **K-1 visa** allows a foreign fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the United States to get married. The couple must marry within **90 days** of entry, then apply for adjustment of status to permanent residency.
## Eligibility requirements
**Both must:**
- Be free to marry (legally divorced if previously married, single)
- Have met in person within 2 years before filing (with exceptions)
- Intend to marry within 90 days of entry
- Have bona fide relationship
- Meet specific financial requirements
**US citizen petitioner:**
- US citizen (not LPR — different visa for that)
- Income at least 100% of poverty guidelines
- Background check clearances
- Specific declarations
**Foreign fiancé:**
- No legal bar to admission
- No criminal disqualifications
- No prior immigration violations (with limited exceptions)
- No medical inadmissibility
## In-person meeting requirement
**Generally required:**
- Met in person within 2 years before filing I-129F
- Both parties present
- Photos + travel records evidence
**Exceptions (waivers):**
- Extreme hardship
- Cultural / religious customs prohibit pre-marriage meetings
- Specific documentation
- USCIS discretion
## Application process
**Step 1: I-129F petition (US citizen):**
- Filed by US citizen with USCIS
- $675 filing fee (2025)
- 6-12 months processing typical
- Documentation of relationship
- Photos, communications, visit records
- Personal statements
**Step 2: NVC processing:**
- Approved petition sent to National Visa Center
- Approximate 1-3 month processing
- Forwards to embassy / consulate
**Step 3: Embassy interview:**
- Foreign fiancé applies for K-1 visa
- DS-160 application
- Visa fee ($265)
- Required documentation
- Medical exam
- In-person interview
- Specific consular procedures
**Step 4: Visa issuance + entry:**
- 6 months to enter US after visa issuance
- Multiple entry sometimes
- 90-day stay upon entry
**Step 5: Marriage within 90 days:**
- Civil ceremony required
- Cannot extend past 90 days without adjustment
- Specific document requirements
**Step 6: Adjustment of status:**
- I-485 application within 90 days (or after marriage)
- Plus I-693 medical exam (USCIS-designated doctor)
- Plus other supporting documents
- $1,440 fee
- Travel + work authorization usually included
- Conditional 2-year green card for new marriages
**Step 7: Removal of conditions (after 2 years):**
- I-751 joint petition with spouse
- 90 days before 2-year anniversary
- Show ongoing bona fide marriage
- 10-year green card upon approval
## Total timeline
**From petition to green card:**
- 12-24 months typical
- Sometimes faster
- Sometimes much longer
- Specific embassy + processing times vary
## Income requirements (Affidavit of Support)
**US citizen must demonstrate:**
- 100% of poverty guidelines for K-1
- 125% for permanent green card
- Specific household size calculation
- Joint sponsor possible if needed
- Specific documentation (tax returns, W-2s, employment letters)
**Form I-134** for K-1 stage
**Form I-864** for adjustment of status (more stringent)
## Common documentation
**Relationship evidence:**
- Photos together
- Travel itineraries
- Communication records (texts, emails)
- Affidavits from family / friends
- Joint financial accounts (if any)
- Lease / mortgage (if applicable)
- Specific cultural expectations
**Background documentation:**
- Birth certificates
- Marriage / divorce certificates
- Police certificates from each country resided
- Military records (if applicable)
- Adoption records (if applicable)
**Evidence of meeting:**
- Photos with dates
- Travel records
- Hotel receipts
- Boarding passes
- Specific meetings documented
## Embassy interview
**Critical step:**
- Foreign fiancé attends
- Multiple-hour appointment
- Detailed relationship questions
- Document review
- Medical exam results
- Often multiple appointments
- 221(g) administrative processing common
**Common questions:**
- How did you meet?
- When + where did you visit?
- Wedding plans?
- Family acceptance?
- Living arrangements?
- Financial support?
- Communications style?
- Specific relationship details
## What if don't marry within 90 days
**Foreign fiancé must depart:**
- 90-day limit strict
- No extensions
- Cannot adjust to other status
- Cannot be admitted again on K-1
**Options:**
- Marry someone else? (NO — must marry K-1 petitioner)
- Apply for marriage visa (CR-1/IR-1) abroad
- Different visa type
- Specific eligibility
## Children of fiancé(e)
**K-2 visas for children:**
- Unmarried under 21
- Same petition (Form I-129F)
- Concurrent processing
- Same 90-day limit
- Adjust with parent
## Common K-1 issues
**Inadmissibility issues:**
**Criminal records:**
- Most CIMTs
- Drug offenses
- Specific waivers possible
- Difficult cases
**Prior immigration violations:**
- Prior overstays
- Visa fraud
- Misrepresentation
- Specific bars + waivers
**Health-related:**
- Communicable diseases
- Mental disorders
- Drug addiction
- Vaccinations
**Public charge:**
- Likely to become dependent on government
- Specific criteria
- 2025+ rules
- Income + benefits considerations
**Prior K-1 history:**
- 2-year limit on K-1 sponsorships
- Same petitioner
- Limited exceptions
- Anti-fraud provision
## Marriage fraud concerns
**Increased scrutiny:**
- Stokes interview (separate spouses)
- Specific documentation
- Detailed relationship questions
- Background investigation
- Multiple petition filings flagged
**Penalties:**
- Both parties prosecutable
- Loss of all immigration benefits
- Criminal charges
- Lifetime bars
## CR-1/IR-1 marriage visa alternative
**Sometimes preferred:**
- Marry abroad first
- Then apply for marriage visa
- Fiancé enters as LPR
- No 90-day rush
- More expensive overall
- Slower than K-1 to first entry
- Faster to permanent status
## Strategic considerations
**K-1 advantages:**
- Faster to US than CR-1
- Quick reunion
- Time before formal adjustment
**K-1 disadvantages:**
- 90-day pressure
- More expensive overall
- Two-step process
- Conditional green card initially
**CR-1 / IR-1 advantages:**
- Permanent green card upon entry
- No conditional period (sometimes)
- Less paperwork after entry
- More predictable
## Recent issues
**Processing times:**
- Significantly extended in recent years
- Specific embassy delays
- 221(g) common
- Plan for 12-24+ month process
**COVID impact:**
- Lingering processing delays
- Specific consulate issues
- Always check current
**Country-specific issues:**
- Some countries higher fraud detection
- Specific cultural considerations
- Documentation challenges
## What you should do
If you're a US citizen in Washington pursuing K-1 visa: hire experienced immigration attorney — process is technical. Strong relationship documentation essential. Plan for 12-24+ month process. Cost typically $3,000-$5,000+ for full representation. Mistakes can cause years of delay. Major life decision — get professional help.
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*This guide is general information about US federal immigration law as of mid-2026 and is not legal advice. K-1 visas are technical. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney about your specific situation.*
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on your specific situation — talk to a licensed attorney before acting on anything you read here.