The Philippines K1 visa process is very detailed and complicated.

Summary of the fiancee visa process.

What Is a Fiancee?

A Fiancee is a person who is engaged or contracted to be married. The marriage must be legally possible according to laws of the state in the United States where the marriage will take place.

In general, the two people must have met in person within the past two years. The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants some exceptions to this requirement. For example, it may be contrary in some traditions for a man and woman to meet before marriage.

Sometimes the USCIS considers a person a "Fiancee" even though a marriage contract has been concluded. In such cases, the American citizen petitioner and his/her spouse have not met, and they have not consummated the marriage.

How Does a K1 Fiancé Visa Work?

If you are an American citizen and you want your foreign Fiance to travel to the United States to marry you and live in the U.S., you must file Petition for Alien Fiance in the United States.

Filing the K1 Visa Petition

The K-1 visa is similar to processing an immigrant visa petition in that civil and financial documents are required. You must file the Petition for Alien Fiancee, Form I-129F, with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office that serves the area where you live. See the Department of Homeland Security's USCIS Field Offices for information on where you can file the petition. Note: You cannot file this petition at an embassy, consulate or U.S. immigration office abroad.

After the USCIS approves the petition, it sends the petition to National Visa Center for processing, prior to sending it to the embassy or consulate where your Fiancee will apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa for a Fiancee.

The unmarried children under age 21 of the K-1 visa holder may be given K-2 visa, if they seek to accompany or follow to join the primary visa holder. Although the K-1 and K-2 visas are described as nonimmigrant visas, these visas are processed at the Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. 

What Should I Know about International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA)?

The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) has requirements that must be followed.

A Fiancée Is Also an Immigrant

A K1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa. Because K-1 visas permit the holder to immigrate to the U.S. and marry an American citizen shortly after arrival in the United States, the Fiance must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa.

Applying for a K1 Visa Philippines

• You must be a USA citizen. Lawful permanent resident "green card" holders of the United States are not allowed to obtain fiance visas.
• You must be able to prove that you are ready, willing and legally able to marry. This means that if either of you has been married previously, you are either divorced, widowed or the marriage was annulled.
• You must have met your fiancee in person within the previous two years and you must demonstrate the existence of a serious relationship between you. In addition, you must prove that you and your fiancee have met face to face at some point within the last two years. The proof of the meeting can consist of photos together, passport stamps, hotel vouchers, phone log records from the petitioner, hotel to the fiancee phone.
• You must demonstrate genuine intentions to marry your fiancée after she arrives in the U.S.
• The petitioner must also meet certain income requirements, normally 125 percent of the current poverty level.
• There are also new statutes which are part of the Homeland Security Act, which pertains to K 1 Visas that you need to be aware of.

The visa application procedures involve two steps:

1. Filing the Fiancee Visa Philippines Petition .
2. Applying for the K1 Philippine visa at a U.S. Consulate in Manila, Philippines.

• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).
• Birth certificates from both of you
• Divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse for both the applicant and the petitioner
• Police certificate from all places lived since age 16
• Medical examination & vaccinations
• Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiance). If you have minor children who are eligible to accompany you, then you must enter their details on this form
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, examples include U.S. passport, original U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization
• Evidence of financial support (Form I-134, Affidavit of Support may be requested.)
• Two Nonimmigrant Visa Applications, Form DS-156 (A Form DS-156, prepared in duplicate.)
• One Nonimmigrant K1 Fiance Visa Application, Form DS-156K
• Evidence of approval to marry if you or your fiance are subject to any age restrictions
• Two nonimmigrant visa photos
• Proof of valid relationship with your fiancee
• Payment of fees



• Vaccination Requirements

• All applicants for immigrant visas are required to have the following vaccinations, if appropriate, for age, medical condition, or medical history:
• Mumps
• Measles
• Rubella
• Polio
• Tetanus and diptheria toxoids
• Pertussis
• Influenza type B
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella
• Pneumococcal

Required documents for the K-1 visa medical examination:

1. Original and Photocopy of Proof of Payment for the Visa Interview.
   Passport and photocopy of first and last page of your Passport.
2. NSO (National Statistics Office) issued copy of your birth certificate.
3. Copies of Termination of Prior Marriage (if either petitioner or fiance has been previously married).
4. NBI Clearance (recent copy).
5. Foreign Police Clearance (if fiance has resided outside the Philippines after the age of 16. This shall include residence as an expatriate or overseas contract worker).
6. Evidence of Financial Support which shall include the I-134 (Affidavit of Support) which shall be filed up by the petitioner and duly sealed and notarized, the Income Tax Returns for 3 previous years as well as the 3 previous W-2’s of the petitioner.
7. Bring evidence of your ongoing relationship; which should include letters, 6-12 photos, phone bills, and emails. Do not bring just photos or just letters; you should give at least 6 copies of both pictures and letters.
8. Forms provided in the packet which are required to be filled up.