K-1 Fiancé Visa Requirements in 2026 : Step-By- Step Guide

Reviewed and Updated On May 13, 2025, Author: Trixie Torres

You met a very special person in another country and now you want to marry them in the United States. So what do you do now and what is the next step? Well, you need to meet certain K1 visa requirements if you want to apply for a marriage visa like the K1.

This is where the K1 visa can be beneficial to you and your significant other. The K1 visa is also known as the K-1 nonimmigrant visa for your fiancé. This visa allows any U.S citizen to bring their foreign fiancé to the United States. However, there are some strict guidelines you need to consider before you begin the application process. This article will help you understand the requirements for obtaining a K1 visa.

How the K-1 Fiancé Visa Process Works

The list below will show you how the process works to get a K-1 Visa. This will serve as a high-level guide of what you will be expected to work through to bring your fiancé to the U.S.

File Form I-129F Petition: The U.S. citizen sponsor files Form I-129F with USCIS to start the K-1 visa process.
USCIS Review and Approval: USCIS reviews the petition. If approved, the case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).
NVC and Embassy Processing: The NVC forwards the case to the U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign fiancé’s country.
Complete The Visa Interview: The foreign fiancé completes Form DS-160, attends a medical exam, and is interviewed by a U.S. Consular Officer.
Visa Issuance and Entry: If approved, the fiancé receives a K-1 visa and travels to the United States.
Marriage Within 90 Days: The couple must marry within 90 days of the fiancé’s arrival in the U.S.
Apply for a Green Card: After marriage, the foreign spouse applies for a green card by filing Form I-485 with USCIS.

K-1 Visa Eligibility Checklist

When researching about the K-1 visa, make sure you can check off each item on the list below. These items are required to file for the K-1 Visa:

The petitioner (not the foreign fiancé) must be a U.S citizen.
Each person must be legally free to marry (this means all prior marriages must have legally ended).
You must get married within 90 days of your fiancé arriving in the U.S
Both of you must have met face-to-face within the last 2 years before filing the petition.
The U.S citizen (the sponsor) must meet the income requirements and be able to demonstrate that they are able to support your fiancé financially.

K-1 Fiancé Visa Income Requirements in 2026

To qualify for a K-1 visa, the U.S. citizen sponsor must show they can financially support their fiancé upon arrival in the United States. This is done by meeting at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size.

In 2025, the poverty guideline for a two-person household (sponsor and the fiancé) in the contiguous United States is $21,150. The required income is higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

If the sponsor does not meet this minimum income level, they may still be eligible by:

Submitting evidence of significant personal assets
Using a joint sponsor who does meet the requirement

To demonstrate financial eligibility at the K-1 visa stage, the sponsor must complete and submit Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, at the fiancés visa interview.

Note: After marriage, when applying for a green card, a separate and stricter financial review will be required. At that point, the sponsor must meet 125% of the poverty guidelines using Form I-864. Since we are talking about finances, make sure to study up on if your fiancé can work while on a K-1 visa or not.

K-1 Visa Eligibility Criteria (2026)

The K1 visa requirements are that the U.S. citizen petitioner must have met their foreign fiancé in person within the past two years, and prove that they have the intention to marry within 90 days of the foreign fiancé’s arrival in the United States. If you were unable to meet in person, USCIS may grant you an exception if it’s based on extreme hardship or you were unable to meet due to religious or cultural practices before marriage.

Other K1 visa requirements include that the petitioner prove they are able to financially support their fiancé during their stay, undergo a background check, and disclose any past criminal convictions on the K-1 visa petition. Not all criminal history will disqualify you.

Domestic violence or crimes involving minors must be disclosed and may require a special waiver under the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA). The USCIS will review your disclosures to ensure the safety of the foreign fiancé

K1 Visa Requirements Step-By-Step

To be eligible to apply for a K1 visa, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. The Sponsor Must Be a U.S. Citizen

As the petitioner, you must provide evidence that you are a U.S citizen. You will need to show proof by providing any of the following documents:

A current and valid U.S. passport
A copy of your birth certificate issued by civil authority showing you were born in the United States.
A copy of your Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship issued by USCIS or immigration or naturalization services
U.S Department of State issued passport card
A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Embassy of the U.S consulate
A copy of an original statement from a U.S consular stating you are a U.S citizen with a valid passport

Unfortunately, if you are a lawful permanent resident (a green card holder) you cannot apply for a K1 visa, but you may qualify for a marriage-based green card which is a different and longer process that can take around two years. To learn more read K-1 Visa Vs. Marriage-Based Green Card.

2. Both Partners Must Be Legally Free to MarryFree to Marry

You and your fiancé are required to show proof that you are both legally free and able to marry. If you or your fiancé were ever married in the past, you will need to provide evidence that any marriage was terminated through divorce, annulment, or death. You can show proof by submitting any of the following listed below:

An original copy of a Divorce decree;
An original copy of an Annulment order; or
An original copy of a Death certificate of your former spouse.

3. You Must Intend to Marry Within 90 Days of Entry

The citizen sponsor and the fiancé must plan to marry each other within 90 days of the fiancé’s arrival in the United States.

In your visa interview, you will need to provide evidence and convince a U.S. consular officer during your visa interview that your relationship is genuine and that you plan to marry within 90 days of arriving in the U.S.

The agent or officer will interview both applicants and ask you questions about your relationship. This ensures that the intent is there and the marriage is not being done for fraudulent or immigration purposes. You may need to show proof of pictures, letters, or any other documents proving your relationship is valid.

Note: The U.S. citizen petitioner is typically not required to attend the interview, but may need to provide documentation to support the visa application.

4. You Must Have Met in Person Within the Past 2 Years

Another requirement is that you and your fiancé must have met in person at least once within a 2-year period before you filed a K1 visa application. In some circumstances, couples were not able to meet because it may have violated strict- in-person meeting; for example, in religious, cultural and social practices. Or you may have had an extreme hardship and were unable to travel to see your significant other.

If this was or is your case, you can still qualify as long as you file a waiver and note why you were unable to meet your fiancé. You will need to provide documentation or a detailed explanation of your circumstances. The more you can include the better it will persuade you. Unfortunately, virtual meetings like zoom, FaceTime, or Skype do not count as meetings.

5. Meet the Financial Requirement (100% of Poverty Guidelines)

You will also need to provide evidence that you meet the adjusted gross income of at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Make sure to check these guidelines each year. They are updated annually but the U.S. department of Health and Human Services. Meeting the Federal Poverty Guidelines will show that you can support your spouse once they arrive in the U.S. and is required to get a K-1 visa.

If your income does not meet the minimum requirement and falls under the amount, you can file an Affidavit of Support Form I-134 with your application.

If you have read the requirements and qualify, you can begin the application process, however, it’s best to contact an immigration attorney to help you file your application and prepare the documents.

In 2025, for example, the minimum income for a household of two in the contiguous U.S. is $21,150. This requirement ensures that you, as the sponsor, can financially support your fiancé without them becoming a public charge.

Check out this post If you are wondering what happens after you get married to your K-1 visa fiancé.

Frequently Asked Questions About the K-1 Visa (2026 update)

Who Can Apply for a K-1 Visa?

The K-1 visa is for a foreign-citizen fiancé who is engaged to a U.S citizen sponsor and plans to marry each other as soon as the foreign citizen arrives in the United States. They are required to marry within 90 days of arrival.

How Do I Qualify for a K-1 Visa?

To qualify for a K-1 Visa, the foreign fiancé must reside outside of the United States, be legally free to marry, have met the U.S. citizen partner in person within the last two years, and not have been convicted of serious crimes.

How Much Does a K-1 Visa Cost?

A K-1 visa costs around $1,140 in government fees alone. The Form I-129F has a USCIS filing fee of $675. The K-1 visa application fee paid to the U.S. embassy is $265. You also need a medical exam. The cost of the medical exam varies by country. Read our complete guide on the cost of a K-1 visa in 2026.

What are the Income Requirements for a K-1 Fiancé Visa?

The U.S. citizen fiancé sponsor has to have an adjusted gross income of at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The foreign fiancé has no income requirements.