Many men who want to marry a foreign girl ask the same question, “Are mail order spouse illegal?” The answer is simple — of course, they are not! However, it does not mean that you can just take someone to another country and say something like, “Hey, I’m going to marry her so, you know, you should let her in” — your mail order bride needs a visa, 1-K visa, to be exact. What do you need to do to get it? All the answers can be found below.
A green card bride is a foreign woman who gets married to a US citizen. The spouse of an American citizen gets an IR1/CR1 visa, which is known as a family-based green card. This document enables the spouse of a US citizen to join their partner in the US as a legal permanent resident. However, before entering the United States, potential green card brides should get a K1 (fiancé) visa. This visa allows for legal entrance to the country and residence in it for 90 days before official marriage.
Numerous American brides for green card have already assured the benefits of applying for an immigrant visa petition and marrying a foreign man. Some of these advantages include:
Green card brides may also experience potential risks, for example:
It is worth mentioning that not all green card marriages are fraudulent, and many are legitimate and successful.
A marriage green card is a legal document that allows a foreign bride of a US citizen or permanent resident to live and work in the country permanently. The procedure of obtaining a marriage green card by foreign brides in USA is also known as the Marriage-Based Immigration Process.
To be eligible for a marriage green card, the foreign woman be married to a citizen or permanent resident of a country. Moreover, it is necessary to meet certain requirements, including passing a background check and a medical exam. Besides, it is crucial to prove that the potential groom has sufficient income to support the mail order bride in USA, either through employment or through other means.
The process of obtaining a marriage green card can be complex and time-consuming, and it generally involves submitting several forms and supporting documents to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The process can take several months to over a year to complete, depending on the specific circumstances of the case and the terms of application issuance.
As you have probably guessed, K-1 is a visa a foreign bride needs to live in the US. Obtaining it is a fast and relatively simple way to become a permanent resident. It is often associated with foreign brides men can meet on top mail order bride sites, but it is not only for wives men meet on dating websites but also for people who met each other during vacation/business trip, etc. In other, it works well for all foreign citizens who are going to get married to an American man or woman. To begin the process, you need to file this petition.
Yes, you both need to meet certain requirements to have your bride’s visa approved. What are they? Let us take a look.
The first requirement is pretty obvious — you need to be a US citizen to apply for a K-1 visa. You can prove it by providing your birth certificate or passport.
You also need to prove that you earn enough to support a foreign citizen in the US by submitting form below. Please note that there is a minimum amount you need to earn or own to have a right to obtain this visa. But, in practice, you need to have at least 125% of this amount.
Applicants (foreign citizens who are going to marry an American,) in turn, need to meet the following requirements:
As you can see, there is nothing unexpected or extraordinary — just a basic set of documents needed to prove that your mail order bride is not a threat and that she needs this visa.
We bet you know that sometimes foreigners marry a US citizen not because they are in love but because of the green card. The purpose of the immigration service is not to let it happen. That is why there are some additional requirements for couples.
Simply put, you need to confirm that your relationship is real by providing any proofs from photos to tickets.
I met Natalia on an international dating site and soon we discovered that we have a lot of shared activities and similar outlooks on life. After 4 months of communication, I decided to visit her country to see whether we really match each other. The outcome of our vacation was a decision to live together. We consulted an immigration lawyer to discover all the nuances of getting an immigrant visa. After our wedding ceremony, my spouse applied for adjustment status and currently, she is a permanent resident of the US. It was a complicated way, but now we enjoy our life as a happy married couple.
I signed up for a dating site to find a soulmate from China. When I came across Mei’s personal page, I decided that I couldn’t live without this woman. After 3 months of getting to know each other online, we met in person in China. The spark between us was so bright, so we didn’t delay our marriage. Mei applied for an immigrant visa, known as a K1 visa, and entered the US upon approval. After getting married, my wife applied for adjustment status to obtain permanent residence. Now she is a green card holder and has the opportunity to work and live a full life with me. Thanks to the dating site, I’ve got a chance for happiness.
The bride visa USA or a K-1 visa has the following benefits:
There are a few more important things that should be your priority before filling in the petition form:
Of course, taking someone to the US is not a piece of cake. It is a long and complicated process, and we recommend you get legal advice in the dedicated marriage broker agency before you get started to make sure that you did not miss anything important and avoid fraud.
Study the comparison of a K-1 visa and a marriage green card to avoid illegally and fraudulent issues in your international marriage.
K-1 visa:
Marriage green card:
Fiancé visa (K-1):
Marriage green card:
Fiancé visa (K-1):
Marriage green card:
Fiancé visa (K-1):
Marriage green card:
The fiancé visa typically takes about 6–9 months to process from start to finish. The marriage green card process, on the other hand, can take anywhere from 8 months to over a year to complete.
The K-1 visa and marriage green card are both options for individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States to be with their spouse. The main difference between these documents is that the K-1 visa is intended for individuals who are engaged to be married to a US citizen, while the marriage green card is for individuals who are already married to a citizen or permanent resident of the US.
Our expert Michael S. Solomon specializes in K1 visas and marriage-focused immigration law. He has numerous successful cases in intermarriages and is experienced enough to help cross-cultural couples. Michael compiled the most effective tips on international relationships and the immigration process for our readers to use only relevant information.
A K1 visa isn’t the only immigrant visa you can apply for your spouse to enter the US legally. Here are the other visa types that you should know about.
