How to Get a Fiancee Visa for the USA?
To obtain a Fiancee Visa For the United States in Colombia, the U.S. citizen sponsor must file petitions with USCIS, followed by DS-160 applications, medical exams, and interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. Approved applicants then enter the U.S. to marry or await immigrant visa processing.
What is the USA K1/K3 Visa?
USA K-1 or K-3 visa in Colombia. The K-1 visa, designed for a foreign-citizen fiancé(e), the sponsor files Form I-129F, demonstrating a genuine relationship and intent to marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)’s arrival in the U.S. After USCIS approval, the case is processed by the National Visa Center (NVC) and forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, where the fiancé(e) completes the DS-160 visa application, undergoes a medical exam, and attends an interview. If approved, the fiancé(e) receives a K-1 visa to enter the U.S., marry within 90 days, and then apply for adjustment of status (Form I-485).
For a K-3 visa, intended for a foreign-citizen spouse, the sponsor first files Form I-130, followed by Form I-129F. Since the Covid USA visa shutdown, the fiancee visas are no longer a very fast option. For this reason many people are going for the spousal visa option. After USCIS and NVC processing, the spouse completes the DS-160 application, has a medical exam, and attends an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. If approved, the spouse receives a K-3 visa to enter the U.S. while waiting for the immigrant visa petition approval, eventually applying for adjustment of status. Both visas require documents like passports, birth certificates, proof of relationship, financial support (Form I-134), and medical exam results. Consulting an immigration attorney, preparing thoroughly, and staying organized are crucial for a successful application process.
What are the processing times for the K1/K3 Visa applications from Colombia?
Processing times for K1 Visa applications from Colombia to the United States can take some time. If someone promises you a quick turnaround, they may not be giving you accurate information. You can verify the USCIS immigration center processing times for the K1 Visa Colombia by visiting this link. Once there, you can select your processing center at the bottom of the page: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
The average processing times for forms such as the I-129F K1 Visa for Colombia and the (K3) I-130 Family Petition forms can be found on the official page. For spouses, the filings are now done in three phases, with two before the consulate interview and one package sent in to schedule the visa after the K1 Visa application in Colombia is approved. This process applies to everyone with a fiance or spouse living overseas, as there is no direct filing for fiances or spouses overseas anymore. This rule came into effect in August 2011, and it applies to all embassies to have more central control over visas.
Related Topics of Interest for You:
What are the requirements for the K1 USA VISA?
A Few Important Qualifying Points for American Citizens that want to file for the K1 Fiance/Fiancee Visa in Bogota Colombia:
Before applying for the K1 Visa Colombia, it’s crucial to consider the following guidelines. Failing to meet these requirements may result in your petition being rejected. It’s advisable to consult with a professional or wait until you fulfill the necessary criteria. We prioritize the success of our clients’ applications and therefore, we only accept clients who meet the specified requirements. To avoid the risk of rejection or delays due to errors or insufficient evidence, it’s recommended to utilize professional services and thoroughly review the basic requirements outlined here.
Financial Support:
For K1 Visa Colombia applicants without children, the United States government requires an American sponsor with an annual income of $24,000. If the American Citizen does not meet this requirement, they can have a financial sponsor who does meet these conditions. Additionally, for every child or dependent person, $4,000 per year should be added to the sponsor’s salary. This includes all children of the foreign fiance and American citizen.
Current on Filing Taxes:
It is important for American citizens, including those in Puerto Rico, to stay up to date with their United States Federal tax filings. Even if you are on a payment or installment plan, make sure that your tax filings are current.
Limit to 2 fiances in your life:
You are allowed to apply for a K1 Visa for a fiance from Colombia or any other country only twice. You are not permitted to bring more than two fiances to the United States.
If you’re reading about How to Get a Fiancee Visa for the United States, you might also find these articles helpful: For living trust guidance, visit What is a Living Trust in Colombia?. To learn about marriage procedures, see How to Get Married in Colombia. If you’re interested in divorce, check out How to Divorce in Colombia. To explore parent visas, visit What is the Colombia Parent Visa?. Lastly, explore Colombian Prenuptial.
A Detailed Explanation of How We Process the K1 USA Fiance Visa Especially for Colombians
An information welcome packet will be sent to both the American citizen and Colombian citizen.
We will be sending an information welcome packet to both the American and Colombian citizens. The packet will include detailed instructions on how to gather the necessary information and supporting documents required for us to prepare your petition.
Fiance/Spouse Visa Application Preparation:
Upon receiving your information packet, we will promptly initiate the preparation of your Fiance Visa petition. Should we require any additional information or documents from you, we will promptly contact you to ensure that we have all the necessary materials for the successful submission of your petition to the USCIS.
Ship and file Package with USCIS:
Remember to keep this information handy: After the USCIS confirms the receipt of your petition, we will send a full copy of your Fiance Visa petition to your fiance/fiancee in Colombia. This copy will be crucial for your appointment in Bogota.
Ship and file Package with USCIS:
After your fiancée arrives in the United States on his K1 Visa from Colombia and you get married, we will be glad to offer you information on the necessary steps to adjust his/her status with the USCIS at no extra cost. Adjusting the status will be essential for fiancé visa holders who plan to stay beyond the initial 90 days. This process is filed to demonstrate that you have married and satisfied the requirements of the fiancée visa.
Unlimited Consultations via Phone and Email:
You’ll have unlimited consultations via phone and email. After receiving our information packet, we will consult with you and your fiancé over the phone to go through all the details and answer any questions you may have. We provide guidance and recommendations in English and Spanish for the Colombian fiancé, offering step-by-step assistance.
We will write a detailed cover letter to the USCIS:
I will make sure to write a comprehensive cover letter to the USCIS, detailing our relationship and how we met. Additionally, I will include a thorough checklist outlining the contents of our K1 Visa Colombia petition. I will organize the petition neatly and logically, following the USCIS preferences, which can help speed up the processing times.
Visa Approval in USA with USCIS:
After receiving your approval from the USCIS in the United States, please get in touch with us. We will help you inform the Embassy about the successful approval of your K1 Visa Colombia petition. Additionally, we will assist you in scheduling the medical exam and expediting an interview date. This way, you won’t have to wait for the Embassy to contact your Fiancee and set up an interview date, which can take many months.
Our Story
James Lindzey founded the website ColombiaVisas.com, which is constantly updated with new information explaining visa resolutions, procedures, and laws in Colombia to expats. James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States through the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats, but currently works as Director of Legal Services for Visas by James, and Colombia Legal & Associates SAS since June of 2023.
Colombia Legal & Associates acquired the brand name Visas by James as it became a more familiar and easy way for foreigners to remember the business, than the previous Visas y Tramites Internacionales.
While MedellinLawyer.com focuses more on legal issues for expats, ColombiaVisas.com focuses more on visas, and holds the trademark Visas by James. ColombiaVisas.com is the oldest website and provider of visa information for expats in Colombia. We are proud to be the first and always on the cutting edge of providing interactive website content to our visitors.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James previous legal experience in the United States.
