All You Need To Know About A Visa For Mail Order Bride
International marriages, especially mail order marriages are registered more and more often, and this, in part, is explained by the fact that the online dating industry is constantly growing. How to get a mail order bride? Sign up for a dating site. How to take foreign mail order bride to the US? Well, that’s more complicated. The better question is, “What visa does a mail order bride get in order to enter the US?”
In short, it’s a famous K-1 visa, which, however, is received not only by mail order brides but also by all other foreign citizens who’re going to enter the US to get married to an American. How long does it take to obtain it? Are there any limitations and additional requirements in mail order bride industry? You’ll find the answers below.
An algorithm to obtain a visa for mail order bride
Of course, there is an algorithm for taking foreign mail order brides to USA. An American citizen needs to file a petition, Form I-129F, pass the background check, prove that his relationship with a future wife is real (about love, and not about money), wait until the petition is approved, take a future spouse to the US and get married. It sounds simple, but there are some more details you need to consider to finally marry a woman of your dreams. Let’s take a look at them.
The most important requirements for an American citizen
An American citizen who’s going to get married to a foreign woman needs to meet certain requirements, too.
First, he needs to prove that he’s an American citizen by providing a passport or birth certificate. Applying for this visa is not available to permanent residents.
Secondly, he needs to earn enough to financially support a mail order wife. When you apply for K-1 Visa, you also need to submit a Form I-134 to prove that you earn enough (have income, own real estate property, stocks, etc.) that’s at least the min income for your household size. However, once you get married to your bride, and she’ll apply for a green card, you’ll need to prove that you have 125% of the min income.
The most important requirements for a foreign bride
A K-1 visa also known as a mail order bride visa can be obtained if:
- A petitioner lives in another country. If a bride is in the US, she doesn’t need to apply for it.
- She was never convicted of any crime. In other words, a woman who has ever convicted of a criminal crime or a crime related to a controlled substance will never get this visa, unless there’s something extra special about her case (for example, a political offense.)
- Prospective wife has never violated any of the American immigration laws.
- She is a healthy person. We mean, a woman who applies for this visa can’t pose a health risk to American citizens and residents, and that’s why a bride needs to complete a medical examination to prove that she doesn’t have a communicable disease, is vaccinated, is mentally healthy and won’t harm other people, etc.
Requirements you both need to meet
The very fact of applying for this visa means that you are a couple. As a couple, you need to meet certain requirements, too. Let’s take a look at them.
- A couple needs to prove that they met in real life (i.e., not only online, in live chat, or on Skype). You can provide your real pics, tickets, stamps, and any other proofs of your meeting with mail order brides.
- You both need to prove that you are single/divorce. Polygamy is illegal in the US when it comes to the institution of the family. No wonder you both need to prove that you are not married (single, divorced, or widowed.)
- A bride and a future husband need to prove that they’re really going to get married within three months. You can provide any proofs, including wedding invitations.
Costs of K-1 visa
Entering the realm of international dating with the aim of marrying a foreign woman involves understanding and preparing for the financial implications associated with the process. Acquiring a K-1 visa for your prospective bride, often found through mail order bride services, is one critical aspect with significant costs attached.
The initial step to bring your foreign spouse to the United States involves filing a visa petition with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition, an essential part of the K-1 visa application process, currently involves a filing fee of several hundred dollars. After USCIS approves the petition, it is forwarded to the National Visa Center, who then directs it to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your bride will apply for the K-1 nonimmigrant visa.
The visa application process itself carries its own set of charges. Your mail-order bride from Latin America, Asia, Eastern European countries, or any other part of the world will have to pay a non-refundable visa application fee. Costs can vary depending on the country and the specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but you can expect this to also be several hundred dollars.
Additionally, the complexities of the immigration process often make hiring a legal expert, like an international marriage broker or an immigration attorney, a wise decision. Their fees, which can easily run into thousands of dollars, should be factored into your budget.
Furthermore, as a sponsor, you will have to demonstrate that you can financially support your foreign wife. This might mean having to show a certain income level or amount of savings.
Lastly, it’s important to consider travel and logistical costs. Most international dating sites or mail order bride platforms are based in overseas locations like Asian countries or Eastern European countries. Meeting mail order brides in person is a crucial part of the K-1 visa process, which means you’ll likely have to plan for at least one trip abroad before your bride can enter the United States.
Potential Problems in Obtaining a K-1 Visa
Engaging in the process of finding a wife through a mail order bride site, particularly from overseas locations such as Eastern European countries, Asia, Latin America, or Russia, entails navigating a few potential problems while obtaining a K-1 visa for your bride-to-be. While online dating sites and mail order bride websites have simplified the initial stage of finding a foreign bride, the journey to get her to the USA is filled with complexities and potential hitches.
Firstly, a K-1 visa application requires you to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine. This includes proof that you’ve met your mail-order bride in person within the past two years. If you have only communicated with your bride online, or through the mail order bride site, and haven’t actually met her, this could pose a significant problem.
Secondly, even if you have met your bride in her home country, the U.S. government might still reject your K-1 visa application if it suspects the marriage is only for immigration purposes. A substantial amount of evidence, such as photographs, correspondence, and detailed plans for the wedding, may be needed to prove that the relationship is not a sham.
Furthermore, background checks are a crucial part of the K-1 visa process. Any criminal history, either on the part of the American petitioner or the foreign bride, could lead to visa denial. This includes minor offenses that may have been dismissed or overlooked in the past.
Next, financial requirements pose another hurdle. The U.S. citizen must meet certain income thresholds to prove they can support the foreign spouse financially. Failure to meet these can result in visa refusal.
Health issues may also pose a challenge. Your prospective bride must undergo a medical examination as part of the K-1 visa process. Certain communicable diseases or mental health issues can result in visa denial.
Lastly, the immigration process is generally time-consuming, with wait times ranging from several months to over a year. This can be stressful, particularly if your bride is in a precarious situation in her home country.
K-1 visa limitations
Of course, there are also certain limitations to consider, too. Try to remember all of them — this is really important.
- Mail order brides who obtained this visa can come to America within the next six months only. If they fail to do it for any reason, they won’t be able to enter the US in the future.
- You can’t apply for this visa twice. It’s used once.
- After you meet the most important requirement, i.e., get married to a foreign bride, she’ll get an opportunity to apply for a green card.
Mail order brides divorce visa sponsorship
Now you know how to take a foreign girl to the US and marry her. But anything can happen, and we just can’t deny that a certain number of divorces (which is still lower than the national divorce rate) between international couples take place.
No wonder rational people want to know what happens when an American citizen sponsors a bride’s immigration application (confirms that he’s ready to financially support mail order spouses before they becomes an American citizen, too). The good news is that you can withdraw your sponsorship not to support your ex-spouse. But you need to do it promptly — if you married a foreign bride and divorced, withdraw your petition for alien relatives and the affidavit of support as soon as possible.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the journey to bring a mail-order bride into the USA via a K-1 visa is one that requires careful planning and adherence to several requirements. While the process of finding a foreign bride may start on a mail order bride site, it extends into the complicated terrain of immigration law.
Whether the potential spouse is a Ukrainian mail-order bride, a Russian bride, an Asian bride or from other mail-order bride countries, they must meet specific criteria to qualify for the K-1 visa. These requirements include having a clean criminal record, not posing a health risk to US citizens, and being able to prove a genuine relationship with their American petitioner.
The American citizen, in turn, needs to demonstrate that they have met their foreign bride in person and have the financial capability to support their future wife. This process involves an immigrant visa petition and filing of several forms and can result in top mail order bride marriages.
While this process may sound daunting, it can be facilitated with the help of a legal expert or an international marriage broker, making it possible to find a bride from overseas. This could be particularly helpful when looking for a wife from Asian countries or Eastern European countries, given the distance and cultural differences.
In addition to the financial implications, potential couples should also be prepared for the time-consuming nature of this process. Delays in visa processing could potentially extend the waiting period to over a year. However, with patience and diligence, one can navigate this process to find a soulmate and get a wife from another part of the globe, ensuring the entry of these brides into the United States.
In the event of a divorce, it’s important to know that sponsorship can be withdrawn, thus limiting the financial implications for the American citizen. But remember, the K-1 visa is a one-time opportunity, and if a mail-order bride fails to enter the USA within six months of obtaining it, future entry might be denied.
Hence, while marrying foreign women for marriage might seem like a daunting task, understanding and adhering to the requirements of the K-1 visa process can ease the journey, whether you are seeking Latin mail order brides, Russian mail order brides, Ukrainian brides, or Asian mail order brides.
What is the difference between K1 and CR1 visa?
The main difference between a K-1 visa and a CR-1 visa is the marital status of the couple. A K-1 visa is for engaged couples who plan to marry, while a CR-1 visa is for already married couples. K-1 visas are temporary, while CR-1 visas are meant for spouses who will live in the U.S. Greatly consider the couple’s marital status and immigration plans when deciding which visa is appropriate.
Who is eligible for K-1 visa 2023?
To be eligible for a K-1 visa in 2023, the sponsoring partner must be a U.S. citizen and both partners must be legally able to marry. Same-sex partners can also apply for a K-1 visa, even if their country of birth does not recognize same-sex marriages. Ensure you meet all the basic eligibility requirements before applying.
Can I marry a U.S. citizen on a tourist visa?
Yes, it is possible to marry a U.S. citizen who is in the country on a tourist visa. However, it is important to understand that marrying a U.S. citizen does not automatically confer immigration benefits. The couple will still need to follow the necessary legal processes to secure the appropriate immigration status.
