Fiancé(e) Visas (K1 & K2)

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Overview

The fiancé(e) beneficiary K1:

The fiancé(e) K-1 visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival. The foreign citizen will then apply for adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident (LPR) with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Because a fiancé(e) visa permits the holder to immigrate to the United States and marry a U.S. citizen shortly after arrival in the United States, the fiancé(e) must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa.

The fiancé(e) derivative K2: 

If a child of the fiancé(e) wishes to accompany the fiancé(e) to the United States, he/she needs to attend the same visa interview as the fiancé(e) and apply for a K-2 visa. He/she must follow all the same procedures as the application for a K-1 visa, including paying a visa application processing fee, preparing for all required documents, and attending a visa interview. Please note that the derivative child may be issued a K-2 visa within one year from the date of issuance of the K-1 visa to the parent. The derivative child of the fiancé(e) is not covered under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Therefore, if he/she turns 21, he/she is not eligible to immigrate to the United States and should not schedule an interview appointment.

 

The U.S. citizen sponsor must file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), with USCIS. Form I-129F cannot be filed at a U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or USCIS office abroad. Further information is available on the USCIS website under Fiancé(e) Visas. After USCIS approves the petition, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing. Then, the NVC will send it to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your fiancé(e) will apply for a K-1 visa.

Note:

  • The I-129F petition is valid for four months from the date of approval from USCIS. The validity of the I-129F petition will not affect your eligibility for a K1 visa because the validity is routinely extended by consular officers to ensure that applicants have sufficient time to complete the processing of their case.

A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met. For further information, please visit the website https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/

Receiving and Following Instructions from U.S. Embassy Bangkok

In Thailand, fiancé(e) visa applicants can only apply for a K-1 visa at U.S. Embassy Bangkok. Once the U.S. Embassy receives the approved petition from NVC, the Immigrant Visa Unit will send the Instruction and Appointment Packet email (Packet 3 & 4 for K Visa) with specific instructions on preparing to process your K-1 application and scheduling your K-1 visa interview appointment. If you do not receive the instructions from the U.S Embassy within four (4) weeks of the NVC notification of the transfer of your case to Bangkok, you should send an online inquiry about the status of your case directly to the Consular Section in Bangkok at visasbkk@state.gov.

Packet 3 will instruct you on how to complete Form DS-160, make the application fee payment, and list documents to be submitted on the interview date. Packet 4 will instruct you on how to schedule your visa interview appointment online and obtain your medical examination report.

Please read the instructions carefully, make the application fee payment, and schedule your interview appointment online.

Create USTravelDocs Account and Pay Application Fee

After receiving the notification letter from the National Visa Center (NVC), which tells you that NVC will forward the petition to the Bangkok Immigrant Visa Unit, please immediately follow the step-by-step instructions below to create your USTravelDocs Account and register your delivery address. The Bangkok Immigrant Visa Unit needs this information to deliver your passport to you.

As part of this process, you will be asked to provide your valid DS-160 barcode number. Therefore, please make sure you visit: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and follow the directions on the website to complete your Form DS-160. After having submitted the DS-160 successfully, please print out the DS-160 confirmation page, which includes the DS-160 barcode number, for future use.

Step 1 – Create an account at here. If you already have an account, move to Step 2.

Step 2 – Log in to your account.

Step 3 – After logging in, you will be taken to a Dashboard, please look at the left of the Dashboard, click on “New Application / Schedule Appointment”, and follow the instructions below:

  1. Choose “Immigrant Visa”, then click “Continue”.
  2. Choose “K Visa”, then click “Continue”.
  3. Select “K1 – Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizen”, then click “Continue”.
  4. Fill in all the required fields, then click “Continue”. Please make sure you enter your most updated Passport Number and please do not forget to provide your phone number. These fields are important.
  5. If you have unmarried children under 21 years old and wish for them to immigrate with you, you will be able to add them as dependents, then click “Continue”.
  6. Select your preferred delivery option, then click “Continue”.

YOU HAVE NOW COMPLETED REGISTERING YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS. Log out of the system and do not take any further action.

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

  • Please do not attempt to pay your K visa fee or schedule your K visa appointment at this stage. You should now wait until receiving an email with the Instruction and Appointment Packet (Packet 3 & 4 for K Visa) from the Bangkok Immigrant Visa Unit.
  • While waiting for the Instruction and Appointment Packet (Packet 3 & 4 for K Visa) email, begin preparing documents (except the Medical Examination Report) required for your interview, if circumstances allow. These required documents are listed onhttps://th.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/packets.
  • If it has been four (4) weeks since the date you received notification from NVC that they sent your petition to the Bangkok Immigrant Visa Unit, please submit an inquiry at visasbkk@state.gov to check the status of your case. When you submit your inquiry, please also include your visa case ID in your email’s subject line.

Scheduling Interview Appointment Online

If you have received the Instruction and Appointment Packet email (Packet 3 & 4 for K Visa) from the Bangkok Immigrant Visa Unit, please follow the step-by-step instructions below to schedule your interview appointment:

Step 1 – Log in to your account.

Step 2 – After logging in, you will be taken to a Dashboard, please look at the left of the Dashboard, click on “Continue”, and follow the instructions below:

  • Choose “Immigrant Visa”, then click “Continue”.
  • Choose “K Visa,” then click “Continue”.
  • Select “K1 – Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizen”, then click “Continue”.
  • Fill in all the required fields, then click “Continue”. Please make sure you enter your most updated Passport Number and please do not forget to provide your phone numbers. These fields are important.
  • If you have children and wish for them to immigrate with you, you will be able to add them as dependents, then click “Continue”.
  • Select your preferred delivery option, then click “Continue”.
  • On the “Payment Options” window, click on “Cash Payment” and print out the “Cash Deposit Instructions”.

Step 3 – After making your payment by following the “Cash Deposit Instructions”, the cashier will give you the receipt(s). You will need the receipt number(s) to schedule your appointment. On the next business day, after 12 p.m., please log back to your USTravelDocs account. You will be taken to the Dashboard, please look at the left of the Dashboard, click on “Continue” and follow the instructions below:

  1. Select your preferred delivery option, then click “Continue”. 
  2. Select “Close” to close the pop-up “Payment Option” window. You will be able to enter the Receipt Number for each applicant in your case. Once done, please click “Continue”.
  3. Please allow 10 business days to obtain your medical examination from your preferred interview date on the appointment calendar, then click “Schedule Appointment.”  If there are currently no appointments available, please return to the scheduling system later. Our office typically schedules additional appointment slots on a rolling basis depending on the demand for appointments. We recommend you check the appointment system periodically for availability.
  4. Click on “Printable Version” and print out 2 copies of the Appointment Confirmation Page. (1 for your medical examination and the other 1 for your visa interview appointment).

Notes:

  • Even though the Fiancé(e) K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa, your application will be processed as an immigrant visa. Please be sure to select “Immigrant Visa” when scheduling your interview appointment online.
  • You must enter a valid DS-160 confirmation number for your visa application. Your visa application will be processed based on this DS-160 confirmation number. Failure to provide a valid number may result in denial of your visa application and/or cancellation of your visa interview appointment. The information in your DS-160 application must be valid and accurate to the best of your knowledge. If you complete a new DS-160 application after scheduling an appointment online, please remember to log into your ustraveldocs account, update the new DS-160 barcode number on your appointment, and print out a new Appointment Confirmation Page.
  • If you have any inquiries or need assistance regarding creating an account, paying visa application fee and scheduling appointments online, you can contact our Call Center at 021054110 if calling in Thailand or + 17036657349 if calling from the United States or by email at:  support-thailand@ustraveldocs.com.
  • For case-specific questions, please submit an inquiry at visasbkk@state.gov.

Complete Medical Examination and Prepare for Visa Interview

After  you have scheduled an appointment online and have an Appointment Confirmation Page, please follow the Medical Examination Instructions and obtain a medical examination report for your interview. Please make sure you come to your interview with an Appointment Confirmation Page bearing the valid and most up-to-date DS-160 barcode number, valid medical examination report, and other required documents listed in Packet 3.

Warning:You will not be interviewed if you bring a mismatched Appointment Confirmation Page with DS-160 barcode or without your medical examination report to your interview.

Attention:You should not make any final travel arrangements until you receive your passport containing a K-1 visa. There is no guarantee that a visa will be issued at the time of the interview.

Rescheduling or Cancelling Interview Appointment

If you are unable to attend your appointment, you can reschedule or cancel your appointment online. Please log in your account here. On the home page, select “Reschedule Appointment” or “Cancel Appointment” on the left of the screen.

Please note that the fiancé(e) visa application processing fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

However, the receipt is valid for one year from the date of payment. Applicants can use this receipt to reschedule their interview appointment while the receipt is valid but must attend a visa interview within one year of the fee payment. After one year, the fee payment will expire, and applicants must pay the fee again.

More Information

For more information about K-1 visa, please visit the websites of the Department of State and U.S. Embassy Bangkok. If you have any further questions, you can submit your inquiry at  visasbkk@state.gov.