FAMILY VISAS TO THE UNITED STATES

SPOUSE OF US CITIZEN VISA TO THE UNITED STATES

The Spouse of US Citizen Visa, or K-3 Visa, enables US citizens to sponsor their spouses living abroad to live and work in the US on a permanent basis. The Spouse of US Citizen Visa can only be applied for while the foreign spouse is outside the United States. Upon approval of the K-3 Visa, the foreign spouse may enter the US to wait for processing of the foreign spouse’s permanent residence application.

SPOUSE OF US CITIZEN VISA (K-3) BASIC REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for a Spouse of US Citizen Visa, the foreign spouse must be legally married to a US citizen and remain outside the US until the visa is approved. Applicants must prove a legal marriage to their foreign spouse through valid documentation such as a marriage certificate issued in the country in which they were married. Applicants must meet certain health and character requirements.

SPOUSE OF US CITIZEN VISA (K-3) ENTITLEMENTS

The Spouse of US Citizen Visa provides applicants with the opportunity to reunite with spouses living in the United States while permanent residence applications are pending. In addition, the foreign spouse’s unmarried children under age 21 may accompany the foreign spouse to the US after obtaining the relevant visa. Permanent residence entitles applicants to live and work in the United States permanently as well as leave and return to the United States under certain conditions, attend public schools and colleges and become a US citizen when eligible.