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Are you looking for information about how to get a fiance visa (which is also called
a K1 visa)?
Hello! My name is Kimberley Schaefer and I'm an immigration attorney at the Schaefer Law
Firm in Boise, Idaho. This video will give you an overview of the fiance visa process.
Fiance visas are visas that allow the fiances of United States citizens to travel to the
United States so that the couple can get married and then apply for a green card.
You can think of this process as having three main steps.
First, the United States citizen submits what is called an I129F petition, which is a request
to the government to begin the fiance visa process.
After the I129F petition is approved, some additional paperwork is submitted and there
is a fiance visa interview overseas at an embassy or consulate.
If all goes well at the interview, the fiance visa will be approved. This visa allows your
fiance to travel to the United States so that you can marry.
You'll need to be careful to get married within 90 days of your fiance's entry to the United
States, which is a requirement for this type of visa.
If you marry within 90 days, you can then move on to the third step in the process which
is the green card application so that your fiance can become a permanent resident of
the United States.
WARNING: If you don't marry within 90 days, it is very important that you discuss your
case with an immigration lawyer to find out your immigration options.
How long does the entire process take?
The government's goal is to issue decisions on I129F petitions in around five months.
At times the decisions are made more quickly. Occassionally there are backlogs and it can
take much longer for the I129F to be approved.
Your immigration lawyer can tell you what the current waiting times are.
After the I129F petition is approved, most people are able to have a fiance visa interview
within a couple of months.
The green card application will normally take at least four months, and it is not uncommon
for it to take closer to a year due to backlogs in the government processing.
How much does the entire process cost? Depending on your situation, the costs can range between
$2,000 to $5,000.
The government filing fee for the I129F in the first step of the process is $340.
The fiance visa fee during the second step of the process is $240.
The fee for the green card application in the final step of the process is $1,070.
You'll also need to pay other costs such as the costs of a medical exam and passport photos.
If you hire an immigration attorney, you will also need to pay her attorney's fee.
You can learn more about the fiance visa process by checking out my other videos and the information
on my website at http://ImmigrationBoise.com