Learn All You Need to Know About the K3 Marriage Visas

Up until five years ago, it used to take three or four times longer to receive a marriage visa than a fiance(e) visa. In late 2001, however, the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act established the K3 marriage visa, which has dramatically reduced the waiting period for a marriage visa for an international marriage. The K3 visa allows spouses of U.S. citizens to enter the U.S. in a nonimmigrant visa category while they wait until they are able to receive lawful permanent residence status.

Officials within the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) and the U.S. State Department feel that about half of all international marriages involving Americans to foreigners are fraudulent, or sham marriages. As a result, the government closely scrutinizes all related applications, petitions and visas—in fact, the paperwork required for the K3 visa process is almost twice that required for a fiance(e) visa.

Before applying for the K3 marriage visa, the U.S. citizen spouse must file form I-130 on behalf of the foreign spouse with the USCIS that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. The I-130 is an application for lawful permanent residence status, or a green card. Even when a I-130 petition has already been filed, obtaining a K3 can reduce the time it takes to get a spouse into the country by two years or more. Generally, the K3 visa time line is shorter than just a marriage-based immigration visa petition.

A K3 visa can only be obtained by the spouse of a United States citizen, and where the foreign spouse is from and where the overseas marriage took place can impact the K3 visa process. One of the major benefits of the newly created K3 is that, instead of having to wait outside the country as the law previously required, a spouse can remain in the United States while awaiting approval of form I-130. All unmarried children under the age of 18, prior to the marriage between the United States Citizen and the foreign beneficiary who wish to accompany or join the spouse in the U.S. can apply for K4 visas.

As you can see the K3 visa process can involve a lot of steps and a lot of emotional ups and downs. You want an experienced, compassionate partner to help you through the procedure, and that’s why RHC Law Group is the right fit for you. We’ll work with you to navigate the bureaucratic red flags and loopholes and assist you in avoiding the mistakes that lead to lengthy delays and denials.

Fill out a contact form for further information and request a customized consultation with RHC Law Group. Call us in the United States at (877) 354-7463 if you have additional questions about the K3 visa time line or other concerns.

Contact RHC Law Group now to get stared. We GUARANTEE our success!