Immigrant Visa Unit
How to Begin the Fiancé(e) (K-1) Visa Process
What is a fiancé(e) visa?
A fiancé(e) visa (or K-1 visa) is technically
a nonimmigrant visa. Because the process is similar to that of
an immigrant visa, however, the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S.
Embassy in Santo Domingo handles fiancé(e) visas. The fiancé(e) visa
is for foreigners who wish to marry a U.S. citizen in the United
States and then become legal permanent residents without having
to leave the United States. K-2 visas are for the children of
K-1 applicants.
How do I obtain a fiancé(e) (K-1)
visa?
Your U.S. citizen fiancé(e) must file a
Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) by mail at the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Service Center
in the United States with jurisdiction over your fiancé(e)’s
place of residence. If your fiancé(e) is living outside of the
United States, he or she must file the petition by mail at the
USCIS Service Center in the United States with jurisdiction over
his or her place of last residence in the United States. Once
your fiancé(e) has filed a petition for you, you may check its
status by accessing the
USCIS Case Status Search Page.
USCIS forwards the approved petition to the
Department of State’s
National Visa Center, which then sends it to the Immigrant
Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. The Immigrant Visa
Unit will send you a
Package of Instructions for K-1/K-2 applicants.
Please follow the instructions exactly.
Failure to do so could result in a delay in your case and could
even cause you to lose your chance to live and work in the
United States.
The consular officer cannot decide whether or
not to issue you a visa until you formally apply and are
interviewed. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you NOT make
non-refundable flight arrangements or other travel plans until
and unless you actually receive your visa.
You have ninety (90) days from entry into the
United States in which to marry your U.S. citizen fiancé(e).
After your marriage takes place in the United States, you and
your U.S. citizen spouse must contact
USCIS to change your status to that of legal permanent
resident. The change of status is NOT automatic.
What documents are required for my interview at the Consular Section?
In the interest of preparing for your interview with a consular officer,
please read the following instructions for
K1/K2 Visa applicants. |
