Readers ask: What Is K3 Visa?

The K-3 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen spouse of a United States (U.S.) citizen. K-3 visa recipients subsequently apply to adjust status to a permanent resident (LPR) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) upon approval of the petition.

How long does a K3 visa take to process?

• K-3 visa processing, on average, takes about 6-9 months. This is just about as long as it takes USCIS to approve the marriage green card application. Because of this lengthy processing time, most people find that it’s not worth it to apply for a K-3 visa.

How long does it take for a K3 visa to be approved?

K-3 visa processing, on average, takes about 6–9 months. This is just about as long as it takes USCIS to approve the marriage green card application.

Is K3 visa faster than I-130?

K-3 visas are supposed to be available to couples after they are marred and have initiated the marriage visa process by filing a Form I- 130 petition. All of this should happen far faster than the lengthy processing time for the Form I- 130 marriage visa petition.

Is K3 visa still available?

The K3 has been obsolete for several years, and if you submit a K3 nonimmigrant visa petition it will likely be changed to the CR1/IR1 Immigrant visa. Today, there is no longer a substantial backlog of I-130 petitions so there is no real need for the K-3 in most cases.

What is the difference between K1 and K3 visa?

Differences between K1 and K3: K1 visa is for a fiance (fiancee) of a U.S. citizen (before marriage), while K3 is for a spouse of a U.S. citizen (after marriage). K1 is a one-entry visa, while K3 allows multiple entries. K1 visa is valid for six months, while K3 visa is valid for two years.

Can a K3 visa be denied?

When a K-3 visa holder is denied permission to stay, that denial extends to any children who have entered on K-4 visas. K-3 applicants and their sponsors should understand how complex the process is, and how easily a mistake can cause delay, additional expense and denial.

How much does a K3 visa cost?

Currently, the processing fee for the K3 visa is $265. The embassy or consulate where the foreign spouse resides will then schedule an interview with the applicant. It is usually scheduled 4-6 weeks after notification is given to the applicant.

Can my wife visit me in the US while I-130 visa is processing?

If your spouse or other family member has filed an I- 130, Petition for Alien Relative, on your behalf, then it may be challenging to convince a consular officer that you do not have “immigrant intent” in the US. Nevertheless, it is possible to visit the US with a pending I- 130, and we have seen many clients do it.

Can my spouse stay in the US while I-130 is processed?

If you are a U.S. citizen, once you file Form I- 130, your spouse is eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa. This will entitle him or her to come to the United States to live and work while the visa petition is pending. Your spouse may wait abroad for immigrant visa processing.

How long does it take for I-130 to get approved for spouse?

For immediate relatives ( spouse, parent, or child), the USCIS I- 130 processing times will vary between 6 and 11 months. For family preference visas (for example, siblings), processing times can range anywhere from 6 months to 20 or more years.

Can I stay in America if I marry an American?

Once you marry, your spouse can apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while we process the application. If you choose this method, file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at www. uscis.

What is a K3 visa to the US?

The K-3 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen spouse of a United States ( U.S. ) citizen. Eligible children of K-3 visa applicants receive K-4 visas. Both K-3 and the K-4 visas allow their recipients to stay in the United States while immigrant visa petitions are pending approval by USCIS.

Can my wife get a tourist visa?

It’s possible to visit your spouse in the United States while your marriage-based green card application is pending. In order to do so, you would need to apply for a tourist visa. You also must never lie about being married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

Can I marry in US on tourist visa?

Can I Marry A US Citizen on A Tourist Visa? The short answer is: yes, you can get married in the US while on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or on a visa waiver program. In fact, you are even allowed to come to the US as a visitor with the sole intention of getting married.

What happens if an American marries a Nigerian?

After your marriage in the U.S., your new spouse can apply to USCIS for a green card, through a process called adjustment of status (the primary form for which is the I-485). The two of you will attend a green card interview at a local USCIS office.

How much income do I need to sponsor my fiance?

In dollars and cents, this means that you must have stable earnings of at least $16,910 per year for a two-person household (in 2019) to qualify as financial sponsor for a fiancé (e) visa petition, and you must have stable earnings of at least $21,137 per year for a two-person household to qualify as financial sponsor