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K1 Visa Singapore

The page is written in an attempt to provide brief insight into the K1 visa process for those American Citizens seeking US fiance visa benefits for a Citizen of Singapore.

The K-1 visa is a travel document that was designed to be used by the foreign fiance of an American Citizen to reunite in the United States of America for the specific purpose of marriage. Currently, the Singaporean fiance of a US Citizen who obtains a K-1 visa will be granted 90 days of lawful status in the US. During that time period the foreign fiance must marry their American counterpart. Failure to get married within the 90 day time frame necessitates the departure of the foreign fiancee. Therefore those that do not get married within 90 days of arrival in the USA are required to leave the US lest they begin accruing unlawful presence. Another interesting thing to note about the K-1 visa is the fact that the K-1 fiancee may only adjust status by marrying their American fiance. Even marriage to a different American would require departure from the USA as the K-1 fiance must marry the US Citizen petitioner in order to apply for adjustment of status to Lawful Permanent Residence.

At the time of this writing, the K-1 visa is the quickest route to bringing a foreign loved one into the USA. That said, it should be noted that those entering the USA on a fiance visa do not have lawful permanent residence upon entry. Conversely, the CR-1 visa provides lawful permanent residence to the visa holder upon entry to the USA, but those who obtain CR-1 visa benefits must be married in order to receive such benefits. Entering the country with lawful permanent residence attached from the outset is a significant benefit, but those who do so generally must wait for a longer period of time as Immigrant visas such as the CR-1 visa and the IR-1 visa usually take longer to process compared to the K-1 visa.

Those wishing to obtain a K-1 visa for a Singaporean fiance usually begin the process with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in the USA. After the adjudication, assuming petition approval, the case will be sent to the US State Department’s National Visa Center for further processing. Eventually, the case will end up at the US Embassy in Singapore where the K-1 visa interview will likely be conducted. After interview, the Consular Officer may choose to approve the application and if the application is approved then the K1 visa should be issued shortly thereafter.