Immigrant Visa Unit
How to Begin the K-3/K-4 Visa Process
What is
a K-3 visa?
A K-3
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 K-3 visas. The
K-3 visa is for spouses of U.S. citizens where a
Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) has
been filed but has not yet been approved by
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
of the
Department of Homeland Security or has been
approved by USCIS but has not yet been received
by the Immigrant Visa Unit. This type of visa
allows the holder to travel to the United States
and then become a legal permanent resident via
adjustment of status. K-4 visas are for the
children of K-3 applicants.
How do I obtain a K-3 visa?
Your U.S. citizen spouse must
file a
Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) by
mail at the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Service Center in the United States with
jurisdiction over your spouse’s place of
residence. Your spouse will then receive a Form
I-797 (Notice of Action) stating that the Form
I-130 has been received by USCIS. Your spouse
must send a
Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e))
and the Form I-797 with the appropriate fee to
the following address:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
PO Box 7218
Chicago IL 60680-7218
Once your spouse has filed a
petition for you, you may check its status by
accessing the
USCIS Case Status Search Page.
USCIS forwards the approved Form I-129F 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-3/K-4 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.
Once you enter the United
States on a K-3 visa, 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.
Important note:
The law generally requires that a K-3 visa for
an applicant who married a U.S. citizen outside
the United States be issued by a consular
officer in the foreign state in which the
marriage occurred.
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
K3/K4 Visa applicants. |
