Fiancée Visa

First Step - Filing the Petition

To begin the K-1 process, you file a petition at the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)-formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) - office having jurisdiction over your current or intended residence in the U.S. The filing fee is $185.00 for the petition. There is no separate petition or separate fee for the children of the Fiancé|e-they are listed on the same petition. As with all fees connected with visas, this fee may change without prior notice. The children of your Fiancé|e should be listed in the petition even if they will not be traveling at this time. BCIS sets the requirements for petition approval. Petitions for K-1 visas cannot be filed or approved outside the United States.

You must present the following supporting documentation with your petition:

• Evidence that you are an American citizen, such as your birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or your American passport 
• Your Fiancé|e's birth certificate
• Proof of termination of any prior marriages of the petitioner and beneficiary (such as a divorce decree or death certificate) and documentation of any name changes
• Evidence that you have met your Fiancé|e within two years of the petition filing and evidence of your continuing relationship, such as letters, telephone bills, and photos

Original documents bearing the signatures and seals of the issuing authorities are required. Any documents in a foreign language other than Macedonian must be accompanied by an English translation. This documentation confirms your identity and that of your future spouse and proves that both of you are legally free to marry. Ask BCIS directly if you have further questions about the petition process and petition approval requirements. Petition approval is only the first phase of the visa process. Petition approval is not visa approval. The petition only supplies the basis on which your Fiancé|e can apply for a K visa. Your Fiancé|e must still establish eligibility to receive a K visa. Be sure to specify that the approved petition should be sent to Skopje if your Fiancé|e is in Macedonia or Kosovo. The U.S. Office in Pristina does not process Fiancé|e visas or any other visa. If your petition has been misdirected, it will take eight to 12 weeks before it reaches Skopje. If you have directed your petition in error to another Foreign Service post, you should contact that post and ask them to forward the petition to Skopje. Please do not contact the Embassy in Skopje with a request to retrieve your petition from another Embassy.