Petition Process

• 1). The U.S. citizen must file Form I-129F with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the center that serves the geographical area where the U.S. citizen lives. Once it is approved it is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for processing. The NVC contacts the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country of the foreign national.
  
  
• 2
  Passports, processing fees and other documents are needed for approval.cash money image by sergey kochetov from Fotolia.com
  
  The U.S. embassy or consulate will provide instructions on where to go for a medical examination and arrange an interview meeting. At this meeting fingerprints will be taken, documents will be reviewed and an interview with a consular officer will take place. All documents should include a photocopy to be kept with the file. Any document in a language other than English should be translated.
  
  
• 3
  Some states require proof of vaccination before granting marriage licenses.code blue image by Rckhnd from Fotolia.com
  
  The foreign national is not required to get vaccinations in order to be approved for a K1 visa. The vaccinations will be required during the change in legal residency status.
  
  
• 4). During the interview the foreign national must provide proof that they will not be a financial burden to the U.S. The U.S. citizen can provide Form DS-156K to prove that he can support his fiancee or the fiancee has the ability to support herself without assistance. The U.S. citizen must prove that he earns at least 100 percent of the federal poverty line.
  
  

Visa Use

• 1). Once approved for a K1 visa, the consular officer will provide the foreign national with a sealed packet of documents and her passport with the K1 visa. The packet of documents must remain sealed and only opened by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security immigration official. This visa allows for a single admission by the foreign national at a U.S. point-of-entry within six months of visa approval.
  
  
• 2
  Check state marriage law to ensure all documents can be provided.wedding rings image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
  
  The engaged couple must legally marry within 90 days of the foreign national's entry to the U.S. Failure to do so will void the visa.
  
  
• 3). Once married, the couple must begin the process of changing the foreign national's immigration status.