K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Checklist

This checklist covers the full K-1 process: the I-129F petition, the consular stage abroad, and the critical 90-day window after your fiancé(e) enters the U.S. Work the sections in order — the consular items cannot start until the I-129F is approved, and the post-arrival items are on a hard deadline.

Stage 1 — I-129F petition (U.S. citizen files with USCIS)

• Form I-129F, signed — filing fee $675, paid electronically (no checks accepted since 10/28/2025)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship — passport bio page, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate (permanent residents cannot file a K-1)
• Passport-style photo of each of you, taken within 30 days of filing, per the current photo spec
• Proof you met in person within the 2 years before filing — passport entry/exit stamps, boarding passes, flight itineraries, hotel bookings
• Dated photos of the two of you together during that in-person meeting (identify the date and place on each)
• If claiming an exemption from the meeting requirement (extreme hardship or strict cultural practice) — detailed evidence; expect a high bar
• Signed statement of intent to marry within 90 days of entry — one from each of you, signed and dated
• Wedding planning evidence if any — venue inquiries or deposits, ring receipts, engagement announcement
• For each prior marriage of either party: final divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate, plus certified English translation if not in English
• Evidence of the ongoing relationship — message logs, call records, money transfers, additional trip records
• IMBRA disclosures — petitioner's certified court dispositions for any convictions involving domestic violence, sexual offenses, child abuse, stalking, or certain violent/controlled-substance crimes (disclosure is mandatory even if records are sealed or expunged)
• If you met through an international marriage broker — the broker's name and evidence of compliance with IMBRA
• If the petitioner has filed 2+ prior I-129Fs, or one approved within the last 2 years — be ready to request a filing waiver with an explanation
• K-2 children: list each unmarried child under 21 of your fiancé(e) on the I-129F with birth certificates (no separate petition needed)

Stage 2 — Consular processing abroad (after I-129F approval)

• Form DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application completed online for the fiancé(e) and each K-2 child — includes 5 years of social-media handles
• K visa application fee — $265 per applicant (MRV fee), paid per the embassy's instructions
• $250 K visa integrity fee — confirm the amount and payment method with the specific consulate before the interview
• Valid passport for the fiancé(e) (and each K-2) — valid at least 6 months beyond intended entry
• Birth certificate for the fiancé(e) and each K-2 — with certified English translation if needed
• Police certificate from every country of residence per the reciprocity schedule (generally 6+/12+ months of residence since age 16 — check the schedule for each country)
• Court and prison records for any arrest or conviction, anywhere — certified copies plus certified translations
• Medical exam by the consulate's designated panel physician — schedule so results are ready by the interview; bring vaccination records; do not open the sealed results
• Two passport-style photos per applicant, per the consulate's spec
• Evidence of financial support — Form I-134 from the petitioner with the most recent tax return, employment letter, and pay stubs (many posts request it; the binding I-864 comes later at adjustment)
• Updated relationship evidence since the I-129F filing — new photos, messages, trips, wedding plans
• Copy of the I-129F approval notice (I-797) and the NVC case number letter

Social media and vetting prep

• List every social-media handle used in the last 5 years — all platforms, including deleted-but-remembered accounts — exactly as entered on the DS-160
• Set accounts to public during the vetting period — K applicants are expected to make accounts viewable; private accounts can delay or complicate processing
• Review your own accounts for relationship consistency — relationship status, tagged photos, and timelines should match your case story
• Make sure names, birth dates, and locations on profiles match your application documents (explain any nicknames or maiden names if asked)

Stage 3 — After entry: the 90-day window

• Calendar the deadline on day one: marriage must occur within 90 days of the K-1 entry date stamped in the passport/I-94 — the K-1 cannot be extended
• Get the marriage license promptly — check your state's waiting period and ID requirements (NY: 24-hour wait after the license issues)
• Marry and obtain the certified marriage certificate from the recording office (order 2–3 certified copies)
• Download the I-94 record from the CBP website and save the K-1 visa page copy
• Apply for a Social Security number (allowed on the K-1 while status is valid — do it early)
• Begin building joint-life evidence immediately — joint bank account, add spouse to lease, insurance, and beneficiary forms
• File the adjustment package: I-485 ($1,440), plus optional I-765 ($260) and I-131 ($630) — no new I-130 is needed after a K-1 marriage; total about $2,330
• Schedule the I-693 civil surgeon exam against your I-485 filing date (the K-1 panel exam's vaccination record may be reusable — bring the DS-3025 vaccination worksheet)
• Do not leave the U.S. after filing until advance parole is approved — departure without it abandons the I-485

Notes: The two hard rules of the K-1: you must prove an in-person meeting within the 2 years before the I-129F is filed, and you must marry within 90 days of entry — if you don't marry (or marry someone else), your fiancé(e) must leave and cannot adjust on that K-1. If plans change and you marry abroad instead, the case converts to a CR-1 spouse petition — call before filing anything. Budget for both stages: the K-1 gets your fiancé(e) here, but the green card requires a separate adjustment filing (about $2,330) after the wedding. Usher Law Group, P.C., (718) 484-7510.