Bringing your fiancé who lives abroad to settle in New York City cannot be rushed. You must have sufficient patience. Only citizens of the United States are eligible to file through the K-1 visa pathway. From preparing documents to completing all procedures, every preparation must be carried out meticulously. Missing even a minor detail could delay the process. To prevent unnecessary complications for your fiancé’s ongoing visa application, we recommend that you first schedule a consultation with our legal team.
Phase One: Filing the Petition and Background Checks
The first step of your application, as a United States citizen, is to officially initiate the entire process by submitting Form I-129F to USCIS. Next, the staff at the immigration bureau will review all the materials you have submitted one by one. There is one hard requirement that you must pay special attention to, and you must never omit it. You must prove that you and your partner have met in person at least once within the two years before submitting this application. Submitting your travel air tickets from that time, and photos of the two of you together. This will demonstrate to the competent authorities that you are serious about getting married. And that this is not a relationship fabricated to obtain a visa.
The current average processing time for this initial stage is 7 to 12 months, so you must prepare in advance regarding your timeline. You may contact us and can review the relationship proof materials you have prepared against these regulations.
Phase Two: Consular Screening and NYC Entry
After your case receives approval from USCIS, the National Visa Center will transfer your documents to the local United States consulate that has jurisdiction over your partner’s place of residence. Next, your partner must complete the required DS-160 visa application form online and schedule the mandatory medical examination. Consular officials will conduct a strict in-person interview with your partner to verify the authenticity of your engagement.
After the visa is approved, your fiancé(e)’s passport will be stamped with the K-1 visa, after which they may set off for New York. Starting on the day they land at a local airport in New York, a 90-day countdown to marriage is activated immediately. You must complete your legal marriage registration within these 90 days to comply with regulations. If you need immigration related assistance, you may learn about our Immigration Lawyer in New York City services right now.
Actual Costs of Applications and a Real-Life Case
Couples who plan to file an immigration petition for their partner must stay vigilant when submitting the application. A real case took place in Brooklyn, New York City. A resident sought to sponsor his fiancé(e) residing in Brazil to reunite with him in the US. When submitting the application, he overlooked a required document. All foreign documents issued in Brazil must be accompanied by a certified English translation to be accepted, and he did not submit one. This seemingly minor oversight led USCIS to suspend processing of the entire application immediately. Preventing any progress whatsoever and added an unnecessary four-month waiting period for the couple.
If you are also preparing to initiate this type of immigration application, there is another critical task you must prepare for thoroughly. Sort out every mandatory government fee one by one. First, the Form I-129F submitted to USCIS requires a $675 application fee, which is the first sum you must have ready. Next, consular processing of the DS-160 form costs an additional $265. Then, your fiancé(e) must complete a medical examination in their country of residence outside the US. Finally, you will need to file an application to adjust your partner’s legal status in the country. That application fee is $1440, another fixed expense.
Adding these figures up, the total cost covering all mandatory government fees plus the medical expense of the examination falls roughly between $2500 and $3000. If you wish to obtain an accurate, customized breakdown of all legal-related costs your specific case may incur. You can contact us at The Law Office of Olena Manilich right away.
Secure Your Future With a Dedicated Legal Team
For couples, sorting out the complex federal-level US immigration process on their own can be overwhelming. In fact, there is a most reliable method to avoid most risks. Hiring a professional legal team to handle the process. The Law Office of Olena Manilich is fully prepared to help your fiancé(e) arrive in New York City smoothly. So you can focus solely on planning your shared life. We will handle all the complex paperwork, and we will also communicate directly with federal agencies on your behalf. You can schedule a consultation with us to properly organize the details of your case.
