Skip Navigation
You Are In: Visas > Immigrant Visas > Fiance(e) Visa
Skip Left Section Navigation

Immigrant Visas

Visa for a Fiancé(e) (K1)

According to U. S. immigration law, I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) may be filed with and approved by one of the BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) offices in the United States. The petition may not be filed or approved by overseas BCIS offices or U. S. Embassies and Consulates. In order to file I-129F Petition the petitioner must be a U. S. citizen. I-129F must be filed with BCIS district office having BCIS jurisdiction over the petitioner's current or intended residence in the United States.

Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), information regarding filing the form as well as answers to Fiancé(e) visa related questions can be found on the U. S. Department of State web page at:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html

Approved I-129F Petition will be forwarded to the appropriate U. S. Embassy and the petitioner will be notified of I-129F Petition approval.

Once interview at the Embassy has been scheduled, the beneficiary is provided via mail with an invitation letter and information sheet outlining the steps to be taken.

Online Immigrant Visa Appointment Schedule Information makes it possible to obtain information regarding interview dates for those already scheduled. The information can be also received by contacting the Embassy Visa Information Service.

Please Note: The American Citizen petitioner may not attend the interview with his or her fiancé(e).

All K1, K2, K3 and K4 visa applicants must submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form. The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, applicants will be able to print a copy of their visa application form, which will include their data in a barcode format.

The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters. The applicants are welcome to use the Russian language translation to guide them through the online English Electronic Visa Application Form.

Instructions and List of Documents for Fiance(e) Visa Interview

  • Please read through these instructions before the interview and follow them carefully because they are the most complete available. All documents should be supplied ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW.
  • Children immigrating with you must also be present at the interview.
  • Please note that no one may accompany applicants into the Embassy's visa waiting room. This includes American citizens, attorneys, sponsors, friends, and family members.
  • Each applicant should bring all the required documents.
  • Copies and translations of each document into English are required. Translations must be notarized only when the original is in a language OTHER than Russian. (e.g. a translation from Ukrainian into English must be notarized, translation from Russian into English does not need to be notarized).
  • Payment. Please pay the application fee ($131 dollars for each applicant) ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW only after an Embassy employee instructs you to do so. We accept dollars and rubles. Credit cards are not acceptable.

    On December 14, 2009, the Department of State published a proposal to increase the nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, also called the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee.  To see what the proposed changes are, please click here http://travel.state.gov/news/press/press_4603.html.  

    You can submit your comments regarding the proposed fees in the next 60 days.

    • Web site: http://www.regulations.gov/index.cfm.
    • E-mail:  fees@state.gov.  You must include the RIN (1400-AC57) in the subject line of your message.
    • Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM): 
      • U.S. Department of State,Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of the Executive Director, U.S. Department of State, Suite H1001, 2401 E Street NW Washington, DC  20520.

  • It is necessary to submit the original DHL airway bill for express delivery of your visa after the interview.
  • Tickets. We strongly advise not to buy tickets or make any final travel arrangements before you receive a visa.

List of Documents for Fiancé (e) Visa Interview

  1. Biographical Form DS-230 filled out in English (part 1 and part 2). A separate form must be filled out for immigrating child over 16 years of age.
  2. 2 completed Electronic Visa Application Forms DS-156. ( The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, print a copy of the visa application form. The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters. The applicants are welcome to use the Russian language translation to guide them through the online English Electronic Visa Application Form). A separate Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156 must be filled out for immigrating child.
  3. Supplement DS-156K form. The form must be filled out in Russian. DO NOT SIGN DS-156K. No DS-156K supplement is required for immigrating child.
  4. International Passport with a photocopy of the first page and the page with information about immigrating child if the child's name in included in the parent's passport.
  5. Original birth certificate, photocopy and translation into English.
  6. Police certificates in all names as well as all dates of birth ever used. Police certificate must contain references to each place (subject to the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation) in which the applicant lives or has lived for more than six months since attaining the age of 16. This includes localities where applicants have lived during university studies. If the applicant was on military service, he/she should bring the certificate from the local draft board. If an applicant has lived abroad for more than one year, a police certificate must also be submitted from the country in which he/she lived. Police certificate validity is one year since the date of issuance.
  7. Evidence of termination of prior marriage(s) (if applicable), original, photocopy and translation into English.
  8. One color non-glossy full-face photo 50x50 mm for visa. The eye level should be between 28mm and 35mm from the bottom. Another two pictures will be required for medical examination.
  9. Visa application fee of $131 (or ruble equivalent) for each applicant
  10. Documents confirming relationship: photos of Petitioner and Beneficiary together, letters to each other, phone bills, airplane tickets, emails, etc.
  11. Results of Medical Examination in a sealed envelope. The medical must be taken at one of the embassy-designated medical centers. It takes 2 days to complete the medical examination.
  12. Financial documents from the petitioner – a US citizen: please note, that Affidavit of Support (form I-134) is not required, but may be requested. The document must be notarized. Please submit financial documents to show that the applicant will not become a public charge in the United States. Such documents may include, but are not limited to:
    - Most recent year tax returns (form 1040) or tax transcripts from IRS
    - Copy of bank account
    - Earnings and leave statement
    - W-2 forms
    - Letter from employer

If an applicant is required to provide additional documentation after the interview with an American consular officer has taken place, the documentation may be submitted to the 221G box at the Embassy North Gate between 2.00PM and 4.00PM on any working day or mailed to the Embassy.

 
Article translated in:
Русский