The U.S. citizen who wishes to petition for his/her fiancé(e) must file Form I-129F U.S. with the Department of Homeland Security Office in the United States nearest to their home. No fiancé(e) petitions are accepted at the Embassy in Tegucigalpa. For the location of the DHS Regional Services Center nearest your home in the United States, visit www.uscis.gov

What happens when the Embassy receives the approved petition?

When the Embassy receives the approved petition from NVC, the applicant will be scheduled for a visa interview. The packet of instructions and a list of required documents will be sent to the applicant at the address given in the petition. Only if the applicant meets all of the requirements of U.S. Immigrant Law will a visa be issued on the day of the appointment. Therefore, please do not make any travel plans until the visa has already been issued.

How long will the application take to process?

The period of time it will take to process the application will vary with each individual's circumstances. When filing the petition, Form I-129F, with the US Citizen and Immigration Services, your fiancé(e) should ask how long the petition will take to be processed.

Note: A petitioner may search for the status of a pending case on line at the USCIS website.

Timeframe for obtaining a K1 visa

Please file the petition with DHS at least ten months before your wedding. Do not arrange wedding plans until you have the visa approved. It can take up to six months for DHS to adjudicate the petition and send it to the Embassy. Your fiancé(e) will not be able to accompany you back to the US until we have received your approved petition from DHS, the applicant has been interviewed, and the case has been adjudicated by a Consular Officer of this Embassy.

What happens when the visa is granted?

After obtaining a fiance(é) visa, your fiance(é) can enter the U.S. through any U.S immigration port-of-entry. The U.S. immigration official will give your fiance(é) instructions on what to do when he/she enters the United States. You must get married within 90 days of your fiance(é)’s entry into the United States.

What happens after we get married?

After marriage, your spouse must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, with the USCIS office that serves the area where you live in the United States. You must fill out the Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, with the USCIS as part of your spouse's application to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR). For more information, please see the USCIS Frequently Asked Questions.

What about children of your fiancé(é) (K2 visa)?

Children under the age of 21 are eligible to derive status from the fiancé(e) visa petition filed on behalf of their parent; their name(s) should be included in the petition. If the U.S. Citizen is the natural father of the child, the child may have a claim to American citizenship and, therefore, should check with the American Citizen Services section of the Embassy about obtaining an American passport.

To apply for K2 visa:

• You must be less than 21 years old.
• You must be the unmarried child of a K1 applicant.
• You must be seeking to immigrate to the United States.
• Your mother/father must be applying for a K1 visa.
• You must have a step-parent relationship with the petitioner.

After the marriage of the child’s parent and the American citizen, the child will need a separate form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status.

What happens if we want to take the children (K2) after we get married in the United States?

The child may travel with (accompany) the K-1 parent/fiancé(e) or travel later (follow-to-join) within one year from the date of issuance of the K-1 visa to his/her parent. A separate petition is not required if the children accompany or follow the alien fiancé(e) within one year from the date of issuance of the K-1 visa. If it is long than one year from the date of visa issuance, a separate immigrant visa petition is required. Please contact us if you wish to arrange an appointment for the child of a K1 visa holder. Click here for information on the required documents during the visa interview.

Fee: There is a $100 application fee for this type of visa for each applicant.
Note: The fee is subject to change at any time.

Extension of the petition: The I-129F petition is valid for four months from the date of approval. A consular officer can extend the validity of the petition (revalidate the petition) if it expires before you finish processing the visa.

How to Apply for a Social Security Number Card

Before your fiancé(e) arrives in the United States, you can help her/him apply for a social security number card. To learn more about this process, visit the website for the Social Security Administration.

For more information, please see the Department of State website.