If you are an American citizen and you would like your foreign fiancé(e) to immigrate to the United States to marry you, you must file a K1 Visa, aka Petition for Alien Fiancee) in the United States.

First, you must file the Petition with the Department of Homeland Security's office that serves the area where you live.

After the USCIS approves the fiancee visa petition, it forwards the petition to the NVC for processing, prior to sending it to the embassy or consulate inthe country where your fiancee resides

The K1 Visa petition is valid for four months from the date of approval from DHS. Embassy or Consular officers can extend the validity of the petition if it happens to expire before the processing of the visa application is completed.

Because a K1 visa permits the beneficiary to immigrate to the U.S. and marry an American citizen shortly after arrival in the United States, the beneficiary must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa.

U.S. immigration law requires all immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. As a fiancee, you are not required to fulfill this requirement at the time of your medical examination for a fiancee visa. However, you may want to do so. These vaccinations are required when you file for the adjustment of status following your marriage.

After getting the fiancee visa, your fiancee enters the U.S. through a U.S immigration port-of-entry. You must marry within 90 days of your fiancee's entry into the United States, or he/she must return to their country of origin.

After marriage occurs, your spouse must file an application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status.

The K1 visa is a single entry visa. If you leave the United States after entering on a K1 visa, you may not re-enter on the same visa. If you want to leave and re-enter the United States, you should apply for a travel document with the USCIS office that serves the area where you live in order to be able to return to the United States.

The children of a fiancee may receive a "K-2" visa attached to his/her parent’s fiancee visa petition and this will allow them to immigrate on the same visa petition. The length of time to obtain a K1 visa varies from case to case, and according to its circumstances. Some cases can be delayed because the applicant does not follow instructions carefully, or if he/she does not submit the required documents or information as requested. If you are interested in filing a K1 visa petition without major difficulties, it is best to contact an immigration specialist who can assist you through the process, avoiding long delays or possible denial.