I got engaged in Pakistan two weeks ago (thank you, thank you :D) and have a question about Fiance visa. She’s currently working on her Bachelor’s degree and will be finishing up in March of next year, so we will be getting married in March/April time Insha Allah. I have heard that the processing time for fiance visa can be between 3-6 months. My question is this: How long does one have after he/she gets their fiance visa to come to the US? In other words, when does the visa expire? I have heard from some people that it’s good for 3 months and some said it’s good for 6 months. I want to find out for sure since if it’s good for 3 months, I will probably apply for the visa around Sept/Oct, so that she can be done with her Bachelor’s and still have time to come to the US. If it’s good for 6 months, I’ll go ahead and apply now since she will still have 6 months to come to the US even if the application is processed within 3-4 months.
A few months ago I had a long discussion with a person on marriage based visa (k3) and mentioned K1 visa (fiancee visa).
Search for it.
For your information: These days it is hard for a person from a muslim country to come on a fiancee or marriage based visa. It can take more than a year because the huge backlog on FBI fingerprints. Plus, special muslims countries have even more stringent security checks.
A person who is married or is a fiancee to a US citizen has very hard time getting tourist visa because they are deemed to be likely to be Visa overstays.
They are being forced to apply for marriage or fiancee visa.
A K1/K3 visa can take from 3 months (european countries) to more than a year. That is, if there is no problem.
It took my cousin’s husband 2 1/2 years to get K-3 visa. On the other hand a friend of mine’s wife got her visa within 5 months. It seems like if the visa seeking person is a male then it takes a long time otherwise females get visa quicker. I think in case of men they do more background checking etc. On the other hand, my cousin’s husband didn’t have a legal status in US previous to their marriage so he had gone back to Pakistan so this fact might have delayed the process in their case.
I believe fiance visa is K-1 which is similiar category as K-3 (which is spouse visa). For K-1 visa I'd suggest you get lots of proofs like pictures etc of the cermony as well as your wife must know you and your family well as well as you do, how often you guys talk etc. If she doesn't know you well or visa officer senses that there is not enough strong relationship between you then they can deny the visa.
The whole K-1 process (fiance visa) takes 3 months to complete. that means she will called for interview in the embassy after 3 months of yoyu applying. If she gets the visa, it will be valid for 6 months. That means she has 6 months to come to USA from Pakistan. Once she enters USA she will be stamped for a 3 month entry. That means she has to get maaried in US in those 3 months and do the Adjustment of Status.
Hope that helps.....
Goodluck.
Check out this website for people doing K1 & k3 visa.
You can ask them how long it usually takes. But I can tell you that it usually takes much much longer than 3 months.
I got engaged in Pakistan two weeks ago (thank you, thank you :D) and have a question about Fiance visa. She's currently working on her Bachelor's degree and will be finishing up in March of next year, so we will be getting married in March/April time Insha Allah. I have heard that the processing time for fiance visa can be between 3-6 months. My question is this: How long does one have after he/she gets their fiance visa to come to the US? In other words, when does the visa expire? I have heard from some people that it's good for 3 months and some said it's good for 6 months. I want to find out for sure since if it's good for 3 months, I will probably apply for the visa around Sept/Oct, so that she can be done with her Bachelor's and still have time to come to the US. If it's good for 6 months, I'll go ahead and apply now since she will still have 6 months to come to the US even if the application is processed within 3-4 months.
Thanks everyone! :)
My wife got her fiancee visa around December 2006.. Carpdiem is right, you need to get a court marriage when she gets here to extend her stay...
Apllied for the green card and recieved that last month... So I would say you have a good 6 months...
