Fiancé Visa Requirements
The fiancé visa requirements are as follows: You must be a US citizen in order to file for a fiancé visa for your partner. If you have a green card, you have to have had it for five or more years in order to file for citizenship. As a citizen, you can sponsor someone for a fiancé visa.
Also, one of the other important fiancé visa requirements is that the US citizen and their foreign-born fiancé meet in person within the last two years. That requirement is almost never waived. I always encourage any citizen who’s serious with someone to meet – many times, they come into my office, and it’s this exact scenario. They met on the Internet. They’ve been Skyping. They’re crazy about each other. I have to give them the good news and the bad news.
You have to plan a trip. Whether it’s Korea, or Ukraine, or Philippines, get a ticket. Plan your trip. Take lots of pictures. Meet the family because you do have to prove to immigration when you file a fiancé visa that you have met in person within the last two years. You have to show the bona fides of the relationship. All these pictures, and your receipts, and your passport stamps, and receipts from the hotels, and pictures of the parties, those are all perfect evidence of bona fides of your relationship.
The best advice for someone seeking a fiancé visa is document your relationship. If it’s another six months or a year until you become a citizen, continue to document your relationship. You can print out the texts. If you’re sending any money abroad, you can keep evidence that you’ve sent money, or gifts, or packages abroad.
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As soon as possible, file for your N-400. It takes about four to six months. Once you’re a citizen – of course, in the mean time, make plans to meet. Absolutely make plans to meet in person even while you have your green card. Then when you’re a citizen, you can discuss your case with an attorney.
They can come here. You can plan to marry. You must marry within 90 days in order for the fiancé visa to go well and for your foreign-born fiancé to file for adjustment of status.
If you have any further questions about fiancé visa requirements, please call experienced immigration attorney Susan Scheer today to schedule a consultation.